[heydrich]

This concerns the AOL Connectively Service, which is required to run AOL 9.0 SE software, and its (AOLacsd.exe in the Task Manager) habit of forcing itself into the XP start-up process list. One of the basics of system security is that every process on a Windows NT/2K/XP machine runs with the access of the account that launches it. So in this case, since it’s being booted with SYSTEM permissions, it gives the AOL software Administrator clearance over your entire computer.

Like a lot of AOL users, I was highly concerned about this. So here is how I disabled it:

1.) Make sure that no AOL software is running.

Advice Removed

After making these changes, AOL will be perpetually denied Administrator permissions, and none of its software will be running after a restart as well.

Has anyone else found a different solution to this problem? And can anyone see any serious unforeseen consequences to my tweak? Thanks for any help!

Edited by ScHwErV, 07 November 2005 - 12:53 PM.

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There could be a number of consequences to your tweak. First, the registry entries that you change have nothing to do with AOL, they are general settings and doing so would stop a number of other programs from running.

Second, it seems like an awful lot of work to go through to get rid of a process that really doesnt take up that much as far as system resources goes.

For these reasons, I removed the majority of your post.

ScHwErV

[ScHwErV]

There could be a number of consequences to your tweak. First, the registry entries that you change have nothing to do with AOL, they are general settings and doing so would stop a number of other programs from running.

Second, it seems like an awful lot of work to go through to get rid of a process that really doesnt take up that much as far as system resources goes.

For these reasons, I removed the majority of your post.

ScHwErV

[Fenor]

Like a lot of AOL users, I was highly concerned about this. So here is how I disabled it:

1.) Make sure that no AOL software is running.

Should read as follows:

Like a lot of AOL users, I was highly concerned about this. So here is how I disabled it:

1.) Make sure that you completey REMOVE AOL so that no AOL software is running.
2.) Go and get SBC YAHOO DSL, it's $8/mo cheaper then AOL and doesn't hose your system.
3.) Live happily ever after, the end.



Fenor

* EDIT -- Just so you all know, I'm just having a bit of fun here *

Edited by Fenor, 07 November 2005 - 06:43 PM.

[heydrich]

>>There could be a number of consequences to your tweak. First, the registry entries that you change have nothing to do with AOL, they are general settings…<<

Excuse me? One entry disabled the MSConfig folder; the other targeted another specific location. And these indirect methods have “nothing to do” with AOL because like I mentioned, AOLacsd.exe is required and can’t be directly disabled!

>>Second, it seems like an awful lot of work to go through to get rid of a process that really doesnt take up that much as far as system resources goes.<<

That process actually launches three (aoltpspd.exe, aoltsmon.exe, AOLacsd.exe) applications genius. And these take up disproportionate resources, especially for a browser, irregardless of whether it’s even used. Boot time is dramatically faster with them incapacitated as well.

>>For these reasons, I removed the majority of your post.<<

Real nice dude, welcome a new user by censoring them. And for reasons were you didn’t even get your facts straight. What’s the name of this forum again? Censorship To Go?

Edited by heydrich, 08 November 2005 - 12:10 AM.

[Thef0rce]

AOL 9.0 has a functionality that no other aol software has had before... namely the ability to not install it and to configure your aol connection using the internet connection wizard that is part of windows.

the best way of stopping aol from messing up your machine is by not installing it in the first place, and now you can. this is not widely documented and I'm sure aol hates it. but if you google 'aol without software', you'll get full tutorials on how to set up your machine to access the net through aol without the software.

[dsenette]

One entry disabled the MSConfig folder

right.....and AOLacsd.exe is the only service that resides in that folder.....good job genius

[ScHwErV]

You may call it censorship if you wish, but my job is to protect our users. Your method was untested and unnecessary.

Since this thread can go nowhere but down, its closed.

ScHwErV