Autodesk Software Phoning Home
#1
Hi

A friend of mine was asking if it is possible to block Autodesk software from phoning home with 100% confidence. Currently he has a PC which runs backup versions of Maya. He has another, registered (subscription) version of Maya running on a work laptop which he sometimes brings home. The PC is there for the times he doesn't have the laptop and as a kind of insurance that he'll always have access to his files. He's concerned that if the PC is connected to the internet, it will squeal and if the work laptop happens to be on the same network, it too might somehow detect a less than legit version of Maya.

Currently, his solution to this problem is to leave the default gateway blank in the network settings of the PC. This allows him to see his local network (and NAS)  but prevents connection to the outside world and any remote servers. Ideally though, what he's after is being able to connect to the internet on the PC but have absolute confidence there's nothing connecting somewhere he'd rather it wasn't. He also wants to know whether services like Bonjour are something to worry about. 

He knows about Firewalls, but doesn't trust the default Windows 10 firewall. He's found others like Comodo and ZoneAlarm either too baffling due to the granular nature of trying to interpret network traffic, or way too Lax in allowing "Trusted" applications from an arbitrary list to connect at will. Also, it seems programs like Maya install other applications and services in other places on the system which are hard to track and identify as potential leaks.

Does anybody have any tips or knowledge they could pass on?
Reply
#2
http://tinywall.pados.hu/

If you have Windows 7, Tinywall Firewall blocks programs from any online access by default.

I don't know about Windows 8.1 or 10, but I have Windows 7 and it works for me.
Reply
#3
Thanks for the tip, I'll pass it on :-)
Reply
#4
So how's it going with your friend?

Did he sort out the problem yet?
Reply
#5
He's downloaded the firewall you mentioned but hasn't installed it yet, just busy with other things. But thanks again for the suggestions.
Reply


Possibly Related Threads…
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  I hope to have the SMAP3D 2024 software download zoujiaddh 1 1,912 Sep 21, 2024, 08:34 am
Last Post: H4ppin4ss
  AUTODESK 2018 Useful Clean Links and Official Serials lidlnelly 7 22,545 Jul 30, 2024, 00:00 am
Last Post: soupdamoon
  Any Tips for Pirating CAD software? geesecanfly 1 1,596 May 17, 2024, 05:23 am
Last Post: RobertX
  Common Sense vs. Antivirus Software: Debunking the Need for Pricey Protection! lustrous 9 5,132 Feb 12, 2024, 22:00 pm
Last Post: RobertX
  FreeDOS vs. DOSBOX: Which is better for legacy software use? RobertX 35 31,473 Nov 03, 2023, 14:12 pm
Last Post: RobertX



Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)