Windows/Firefox question:

I just fixed another user's computer from about 5 viruses. I installed Firefox and removed the Internet Explorer's shortcut from the desktop and told the user not to use Internet Explorer anymore, that he will probably get the virus back. (probably? certainly!)

So viruses got in the computer again. (I realize now that since I was missing on time, I didn't install the latest patches. doh! Next time...)

I was wondering if there was any existing software that intercept Internet Explorer from launching and opens Firefox instead. Does anyone know?

I was able to bring the user's attention to an Ubuntu box

Well, even if m$ tells it's impossible to remove explorer, i heard that's possible.
You can remove each icon (even windows update one).

You can also try:
rm /usr/bin/explorer
ln -s /usr/bin/firefox /usr/bin/explorer
Ooops! I forget that i'm not a m$ user . Sorry i can't help you more. Hope someone will.

That would be a file association issue. file such as .htm .html etc... open by default with "iexplore.exe"

You could navigate folder options and change each instance where files are open with IE and change them to FireFox. Usually even if you changed your default browser to FireFox it won't change all associations.

Or you could just rename "iexplore.exe" but that's a micky-mouse fix, and would probably give you more problems then it fixes.

good Luck

KC

Linux.tar.gz:
I realized that I couldn't do that when it said there was an error upon typing "ls"... sigh...

kencaz:
renaming iexplorer will just confuse the user :/

The owner has other users using the computer, and they seem to refuse to touch firefox, I'm sure there is plenty of source code on the internet that could help me code the app

In the Start menu, there should be a "default apps" entry (it may even be in the Control Panel). Open it and set Firefox to be the default internet app.

The alternative is to tell them not to use Internet Explorer. Later down the road when they get a virus after ignoring your advice, refuse to fix it. They'll either learn really fast or learn even faster how to live without a computer.

XavierP:
It was already done, but the user went and seeked Internet Explorer, and launched it. I told the owner not to use Internet Explorer. Since this is a multiuser machine, it's harder to make everyone follow the advice then as if it was only one.

cs-cam:
That wouldn't be very nice, but effective. The user can always choose another geek/tech to do the job. However, most of the windows knowing geeks/techs prefer to format and patch the system rather than remove the viruses and then patch the system as I do. Most don't know about knoppix either, and prefer not to burn a dozen disks to backup the data, therefore, data is seldom backed up and often lost.

There's an app called nlite which can remove internet explorer. Though you would have to reinstall windows because it alters the install disk. I'm sure there is a tutorial on how to do it somewhere if you google.

After you do that, follow THIS link.

You can simply change the permissions on the ie folder in C:\\Programs.

Then remove all shortcuts and noone can get to IE without your permission.

Furlinastis: niiiiiiiiice I can't reinstall windows, but I sure can make firefox look like IE. Users that are new to an application tend to blame it for everything if anything goes wrong. Now it won't look so new

pixellany: That involves making the equivalent of a chown and chmod to windows. This version of windows does have this permission scheme enabled, that that still has one problem, that forces the user to choose firefox, and it's not transparent.
I would simlink IE to firefox but theres no such thing in windows... :|


I found a little howto cripple IE to forbid it to go on the internet, and/or "chmod" it not to run. I think that's what I'll do until I can find a patch/program that really takes IE out of the computer or overrides it to launch firefox instead.
And I'll remember to patch the system afterwards, so if my plan fails, at least it won't be sooooo vulnerable...

Or you could install zone labs firewall and set it to block IE.

Sounds like, for this example, this is your best advice.

This person/these people you're trying to help aren't willing to help herself/themselves.

Tough love, sometimes. Tough love.

This works, but a determined idiot will get around it:

Rename iexplore.exe.
Make firefox the default browser.
In File Manager, associate html, php with firefox.
Remove the quicklaunch and desktop icons for IE.

However some apps will still use IE as MS in their vicious lockin strategy, have made it part of the OS ftom Windows 98 up.

mangku: I rather not install big apps, but I could always do something similar with WinXP's existing internal firewall.

BajaNick: sweeeet!

davcefai: yeah, it's because of those apps that launch absolutely IE "in their vicious lockin strategy" that I was looking for an app that overrides IE upon launching.


So I can disable IE using one of the mentioned apps and/or follow the suggestions in http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalli...ernet_Explorer ,
then change the association of all html, and php files to firefox, remove all the icons and shortcuts, make firefox look like IE and feel like IE, install the patches, and voila!


thanks everyone for your suggestions