Stopping programs grassing you up down the internet?

lugoteehalt · 11-09-2010, 05:17 AM

Just started the Netbeans IDE and it said it had updates. This was very convenient and it installed them.

But it must have told Oracle, the Netbeans owners, that I'd just switched the thing on, and something about its status. This is nervous making - I don't necessarily want a n-billion corporation knowing what I'm doing.

Is there some way to block programs from doing this sort of thing? For instance I believe Windows practically gives Bill your life history.

MS3FGX · 11-09-2010, 09:52 PM

I am not sure I understand the question. What exactly are you trying to stop from happening? You say checking for updates is convenient, but then say you don't want the software connecting to the Internet.

Nor do I understand how you have come to the conclusion that updating the software enables Oracle to know what you are doing outside of the fact that you are updating software.

lugoteehalt · 11-10-2010, 11:36 PM

In order to know that the thing needs to be updated Oracle must have been told that I had started the netbeans IDE program - the program must have communicated with Oracle when it was switched on.

So what I was trying to ask was: how do I stop it talking to Oracle or anybody else? Am ignorant of this sort of stuff, but perhaps a port could be closed for example. Thanks for the reply.

tiredofbilkyyaforallican · 11-11-2010, 12:02 AM

If I'm not mistaken you just installed Netbeans? if so it is normal for a program to search for updates on the first start. Without updates the programs are not up to date and may not work as required.

lugoteehalt · 11-11-2010, 12:09 AM

You are all clearly part of a conspiracy to drive me mad.

I simply want to be able to block a program from talking to people down the internet, should I choose to deem the people a bunch of murderers or whatever.

resetreset · 11-11-2010, 12:40 PM

I was going to suggest fiddling with netcat, but I'd clearly be wrong. So - I'd like an answer to this question too, ie. how do you switch the TCP/IP stack off, or, if I understand things correctly, prevent a program from opening a particular local source port?

GrapefruiTgirl · 11-11-2010, 01:07 PM

How about use your iptables firewall, and block access to the website/ipaddress that the offending software is trying to connect to? Use wireshark or something, to see where the software is connecting to, and block outgoing traffic to that destination.

Alternately, maybe the netbeans thing has a configuration option, whereby you can opt to check for updates at startup, or not. That'd be handy..

Matir · 11-11-2010, 02:06 PM

Don't use software you don't trust.

As GrapefruiTgirl said, you can block anything you want using IPTables.

By the way, (as of the last time I checked) the NetBeans EULA notifies you that it will phone home with "anonymous" data when checking for updates. IMO, it probably sends your current version and platform information.