blocking streaming audio and/or video

[~~Alan~~]

We have some users at our company who are, IOHO (In our humble Opinion)
using excessive bandwidth by listening and/or watching a lot of streaming
audio and video. Blocking the actual websites on the actual PCs or even at
the firewall can be a daunting task. Is there anything in common with many
of these websites such as port numbers we can block?

Some of the sources are internet radio from iTunes, and a radio station's
actual web site.

Disabling their sound card is not an option.

thanks,
~alan

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

We have some users at our company who are, IOHO (In our humble Opinion)

using excessive bandwidth by listening and/or watching a lot of streaming
audio and video. Blocking the actual websites on the actual PCs or even at
the firewall can be a daunting task. Is there anything in common with many
of these websites such as port numbers we can block?

Some of the sources are internet radio from iTunes, and a radio station's
actual web site.

Disabling their sound card is not an option.

Block the offending app(s) via group policy.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[~~Alan~~]

Block the offending app(s) via group policy.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

iTunes, or Windows Media Player, maybe, but one of the applications is the
web browser, IE, Firefox, etc. I don't think I can block that.

~alan

 

[sgopus]

if this is against company policy, then have a talk with the staff about
proper use of company equipment/time, give them a written notice that what
they are doing is being monitored and they can lose their job for doing it.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

iTunes, or Windows Media Player, maybe, but one of the applications is the

web browser, IE, Firefox, etc. I don't think I can block that.

IE doesn't stream video or audio. It would require a plugin or toolbar
for this purpose, which can be blocked. It would be easiest of all to
block any app from being installed, so long as users are logging in
with guest or restricted credentials.

If these are company machines, they belong to the company, not the
employees so it's pretty standard policy to NOT let employees be able
to install applications that detract from their productivity.

- Thee Chicago Wolf