Windows Live Messenger ports list

How to block Windows Live Messenger

Easily add extra things to the blocked lists - adapt it to your needs.

TerminatorX v2 can block Windows Live Messenger, block MSN Messenger, block AIM Messenger, block Web Messengers, block LimeWire, block proxy sites and anonymous surfing, block emule, block myspace, Block YouTube, block chat, block gambling sites - over 220 choices available.  

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TerminatorX runs invisibly - users can not see that it is operating. When one of the applications or web sites you select during setup (see screenshot) is detected, TerminatorX shuts it down and it disappears from the screen.

You can find out who is trying to access banned web sites or programs, by running TerminatorX Monitor - free with TerminatorX - on a System Administrator's remote workstation:

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TerminatorX v2 is selective - you can choose to allow MSN Messenger etc. to be used by some users (managers or teachers) but not others (employees or students).

Blocking Windows Live Messenger port numbers

Many of the port listings provided on the Internet are a description of the ports that need to be opened for Windows Live Messenger to operate correctly. These, of course, can be closed to block Windows Live Messenger and MSN Messenger.

Windows Live Messenger is an updated version of MSN Messenger and uses similar ports. As part of a forum to Microsoft's web site and other web sites (e.g. www.cyberphaze.net - not currently online) it seems that Windows Live Messenger uses:

Messenger server: port 1493, 1542, 1863, 1963, 80 TCP and 443 TCP
File Transfer/Sharing Folders: local: 1544 and 6891 - in fact 6720-65535 TCP from one source
Messenger Update: remote: 80 local: 1457
Remote Assistance If available): 3389 TCP
Audio: local: , 1556, 11771, 13803 and generally 5004-65535 UDP
Remote Desktop and whiteboard: local/remote: 389, 522, 1503, 1720, and 1731
Launching Games: 80
Video Conference: TCP 9000-9999, 5004-65535 UDP + 80
Sign-In: remote: 443 local: 1484, 2400

Note - blocking TCP port 80 will stop users accessing web sites using Internet Explorer and other browsers.

Other sources

A forum indicates that "It uses like most other programs Port 80". This means that stopping that port interferes with general web site access.

Another forum indicates that ports 4026 and 4028 are active when synchronising files using Windows Live Messenger. Also, a contributor writes that 6720 - 35000 TCP and 31000 to 31500 UDP are implicated in file sharing activities. Another correspondent gives TCP 6720 to 65535 TCP and 31000 to 31500 UDP for file transferring.

On their support site Microsoft say that you should "configure the firewall to allow for incoming traffic on UDP ports 5004 through 65535" to make sure that video calling works correctly with Windows Live Messenger and MSN Messenger. To block Windows Live Messenger video calling, of course, you should consider blocking these.