Re: MSN messenger audio connections & XP SP2?

From: Jonathan Kay [MVP] (msnewsreplies_at_jonathankay.com)
Date: 06/28/04 

Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 23:19:00 -0400

Hi Andy,

Actually the current Windows XP Firewall supports Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and will
automatically open the necessary ports for Messenger. The SP2 firewall also supports UPnP,
but in SP2, this is even expanded further by allowing you to be specific about which
applications can use the Internet connection (in this case MSN Messenger 6.2).

Just for fun, I took a screenshot of what it looks like (and for reference purposes, it put
"MSN Messenger 6.2" there by itself; another new feature of SP2 and MSN Messenger 6.2):
http://messenger.jonathankay.com/screens/sp2firewall.png
____________________________________________
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
Associate Expert
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2004 Jonathan Kay.
You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.

"Andy Weller" <getstuff@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message news:2k8qcbF18p1f4U1@uni-berlin.de...
> Jonathan
>
> Great news! I was hoping to use the new XP SP2 firewall, and that it would
> allow me to connect both Audio & webcam via MSN messenger to keep in touch
> with my daughter at university.
>
> Does this news mean that MS have somehow overcome the audio issue in
> http://messenger.msn.com/Help/Issues.aspx (April 2004) which says:
>
> "To ensure we deliver the best audio technology for computer-to-computer or
> computer-to-phone communications from MSN Messenger, we have made technical
> enhancements. This means you will only be able to use Messenger version 4.5
> or higher for these features if:
> a.. You are not behind a firewall or
> b.. You are behind a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) firewall or
> c.. You are using a UPnP-enabled Network Address Translation (NAT) device"
>
> Maybe an obvious question, but I'd expected the XP firewall would have
> stopped MSN messenger audio connections - how does it allow MSN messenger
> audio through without compromising security?
>
> Cheers
>
> Andy
> -----------------------------------------
> "Jonathan Kay [MVP]" <msnewsreplies@jonathankay.com> wrote in message
> news:%230ZvczFXEHA.2964@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>> Greetings Andy,
>>
>> MSN Messenger 6.2 automatically integrates with the SP2 Windows Firewall
> and works without a
>> problem -- it's been well tested (not only by yours truly but by many
> others as well).
>> Basically it works "out of the box" (and the firewall is *on* by default).
>> ____________________________________________
>> Jonathan Kay
>> Microsoft MVP - Windows Messenger/MSN Messenger
>> Associate Expert
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/
>> Messenger Resources - http://messenger.jonathankay.com
>> All posts unless otherwise specified are (c) 2004 Jonathan Kay.
>> You *must* contact me for redistribution rights.
>>
>> "Andy Weller" <getstuff@dsl.pipex.com> wrote in message
> news:2k82i2F18unv4U1@uni-berlin.de...
>> >I currently run Zonealarm, and can't connect an MSN audio conversation
>> > unless I shut down the firewall. A known issue because of the way that
> MSN
>> > messenger needs access to a wide range of ports & UPnP, which are
> correctly
>> > viewed by most respectable firewalls as security risks. This problem
> does
>> > not affect Yahoo messenger, which does not demand such wide access to
> the
>> > machine it's connecting to.
>> >
>> > XP Service pack 2 (SP2) will provide a much improved firewall within XP
>> > itself (great news!). I understand it's default setup will not allow
> UPnP
>> > and block incoming port probes much as Zonealarm already does. So far
> so
>> > good.
>> >
>> > However, will users suddenly find that they can't use audio
> conversations
>> > anymore on MSN messenger unless they disable some or all of the new
> firewall
>> > that MS is keen to implement for security?
>> >
>> > I think there is a big problem coming, which I guess is highlighting the
>> > rather "odd" approach MSN messenger has taken in relation to security.
>> >
>> > Any news or views?
>> >
>> > Andy
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>

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