ISP reqd. downloads

I don't know if this is the proper forum for this question, but is there any way to disable/circumvent the 'cheap' ISP's downloaded 'smart dialers', etc....?? I prefer to set up dialer, OE, IE myself and I'm leery of what their 'smart dialer' and 'welcome page', etc. are doing behind my back, e.g. passing on buying preferences, sites visited, etc.... Netscape and Peoplepc both appear to use this method of required downloads.... can I get around their code and just use their access nos. somehow??

 

can I get around their code and just use their access nos. somehow??

Hello abbey,

The way I would try is to disable/prompt ActiveX. I'm guessing, but I think that's the way the software is being installed on your system.

One more security setting which may be the avenue for the installs: in IE tool bar: Tools > Internet options > advanced tab > scroll down to "Enable Install on Demand Internet Explorer ". The "demander" is the web site. This will give you a popup dialogue which asks where to download or cancel.

Please post back on the results - really curious as to how they do this.

Regards - Charles

 

if your kungfu was strong, you could use Network Monitor to parse the PPP and radius or whatever authentication it uses, then just have windows ras do it the same way. Some isps might consider this a breech of thier terms of service, youll need to research that yourself

 

Thanks to both for the replies.. although I'm more of a neophyte than you think...

charlesvar: I hadn't considered not downloading the code, rather just somehow disabling it after it's installed. BTW, I'm running W98.. don't know what ActiveX is, but my "Enable Install on Demand Internet Explorer" is already disabled...

JoeH: I think you're suggesting that somehow I make Windows 'interact' with the ISP server thru authentication, which would be great, except I'd need step by step help in having Windows do that.. is there a tutorial somewhere that I could look at, and how difficult is it to read the runtime diagnostic so that I can see what handshakes, etc. are taking place between the ISP s/w and it's server?

 

my recommendation would not be a good approach for someone unfamiliar with RAS and network authentication. I was pointing out that windows ras can send just about anything that would be needed to get dialup working, but you need to bring some heavy skill to the table to crack it. I googled around, but not a lot out there on parsing that info anymore besides the RFCs themselves.

I think charles recommendation of locking the sucker down is your best bet. I'd also recommend you pick up regmon from Mark's site and run it to monitor what it does during an install and execution. That would give you your best idea if the thing is up to no good.

 

Joe - thanks again... I'll download Regmon and monitor the registry activity.. I had hopes of being able to edit the registry to circumvent the Peoplepc s/w anyway. The installation process is full of comforting phrases like "checking your settings, ", etc. but you just know they're invasively modifying all sorts of registry values to lock all your internet activity to their s/w...

It'll be interesting to see what goes on. I'm a 30-year techie vet of the bits/n/bytes industry, but only in mainframe OS' and compiler support, not these PCs.... they're all greek to me.

Thank you again.. in the UNLIKELY event that I find a way to thwart these "ISP download lock-ins " I'll post a reply here (is this the correct forum?)

 

Hi abbey,

ActivX is (are) Browser plugins that allow a site access to your system.

IE toolbar > Tools > security tab > and in the various Zones - internet/intranet/trusted/restricted > custome level. So each zone has the same security option set differing ways.

I would put the ISP into the restricted zone thru Sites. Then go thru the custom level ActiveX settings and either prompt for permissions or disable.

Regards - Charles