File Details |
|
| File Size | 0.0 MB |
|---|---|
| License | Freeware |
| Operating System | Windows 2000/9x/Server 2003/XP |
| Date Added | June 8, 2004 |
| Total Downloads | 1,929 |
| Publisher | Gibson Research Corp. |
| Homepage | DCOMbobulator |
Publisher's Description
DCOMbobulator checks the effectiveness of Microsoft's security patches and allows the user to increase the security of their system by simply turning DCOM off. Ever since Windows 98, a powerful, but unnecessary and rarely used facility known as DCOM (Distributed Component Object Model) has been an integral part of Windows.
Latest Reviews
roj reviewed v2.01 on Jun 8, 2004
Run Diskeeper to defrag your drives? You need DCOM. Run nero? You need DCOM.
End of story.
blackpages reviewed v2.0 on Sep 23, 2003
On its homepage 'Closing TCP Port 135' info was interesting, but the 'Corporate users' info was in small print.
after selecting local test dcombobulator showed this error message RPC System Fault. Please Contact GRC to Resolve This Problem. This should never happen: This system's DCOM testing returned an unexpected result which the DCOMbobulator does not know how to explain. Please contact our offices by eMail at: support@grc.com and we'll work with you to figure out what's going on, and to improve the DCOMbobulator at the same time. Great! :)
Ryokurin reviewed v2.0 on Sep 15, 2003
actually dr_goodbytes, dcom has been in windows since 95b just not used, and even microsoft themselves admit that although the named exploits are only for NT based systems they could exist in 9x in a different forum but were not checked by them as everything except Me is not supported anymore.
Anyways, I say that this is good as there has been cases where the patches took, but still dont do jack, but a negative is that there will be thousands who will mess something up by turning it off and eventually needing it
Scipio reviewed v2.0 on Sep 15, 2003
I wish people wouldn't give a 1 rating because they don't understand how a program works or because it doesn't apply to their operating system.
Like the other programs at Gibson Research (ShootTheMessenger, UnPlugnPray, etc.) this little program is elegant and uses no memory. I recommend that everyone who doesn't already know the site visit Gibson Research, check out the freeware programs, and download them. What they do, basically, is offer a way to turn off some of the functions in Windows that are security risks and that most of us don't use. If you find you need to use them at some future time, it's easy to turn them back on with the same little apps.
Most of this can be done manually through the Control Panel, but only a windows fanatic would know where to find this stuff.
Affro reviewed v2.0 on Sep 15, 2003
This is a fantastic product, it’s about time someone closed down the amount on unnecessary MS ports on older O/S's
dr_goodbytes reviewed v2.0 on Sep 15, 2003
if you can't patch it then it would be much better to use a firewall, doing something like this is just a "bandaid fix"
it doesn't solve the underlying issue (bug in dcom which could be patched / remote access which could be blocked).
ok so it closes port 135, what about the other 32766 ports that can be used for incoming connections? From the Author:
"DCOM...permits your system to be remotly comprimised" that's wrong, worms use exploits to get themselves onto the computer and/or crash DCOM. DCOM doesn't willingly allow worms onto computers (that's why it's called an exploit)
"DCOM...Attracts Internet Worms": False, it doesn't attract worms, worms have to scan for computers that are vulnrable and they have to launch a specific style of attack depending how they wish to gain access, if DCOM attracted worms why would virus writers go to so much trouble to put that functionality into the virus? sure use the tool if you want but be aware that the author doesn't know squat about how worms work. and if you're on a network check with your Network Admin before running it.(i still think a firewall would be better)
eddie reviewed v2.0 on Sep 15, 2003
From the author: Under Windows 95/98/ME, disabling DCOM with the DCOMbobulator will close port 135 since the Windows 98/ME task scheduler does not use port 135 and those systems don't have the Distributed Transaction Coordinator.
roj reviewed v2.01 on Jun 8, 2004
Run Diskeeper to defrag your drives? You need DCOM. Run nero? You need DCOM.
End of story.
blackpages reviewed v2.0 on Sep 23, 2003
On its homepage 'Closing TCP Port 135' info was interesting, but the 'Corporate users' info was in small print.
after selecting local test dcombobulator showed this error message RPC System Fault. Please Contact GRC to Resolve This Problem. This should never happen: This system's DCOM testing returned an unexpected result which the DCOMbobulator does not know how to explain. Please contact our offices by eMail at: support@grc.com and we'll work with you to figure out what's going on, and to improve the DCOMbobulator at the same time. Great! :)
Ryokurin reviewed v2.0 on Sep 15, 2003
actually dr_goodbytes, dcom has been in windows since 95b just not used, and even microsoft themselves admit that although the named exploits are only for NT based systems they could exist in 9x in a different forum but were not checked by them as everything except Me is not supported anymore.
Anyways, I say that this is good as there has been cases where the patches took, but still dont do jack, but a negative is that there will be thousands who will mess something up by turning it off and eventually needing it
Scipio reviewed v2.0 on Sep 15, 2003
I wish people wouldn't give a 1 rating because they don't understand how a program works or because it doesn't apply to their operating system.
Like the other programs at Gibson Research (ShootTheMessenger, UnPlugnPray, etc.) this little program is elegant and uses no memory. I recommend that everyone who doesn't already know the site visit Gibson Research, check out the freeware programs, and download them. What they do, basically, is offer a way to turn off some of the functions in Windows that are security risks and that most of us don't use. If you find you need to use them at some future time, it's easy to turn them back on with the same little apps.
Most of this can be done manually through the Control Panel, but only a windows fanatic would know where to find this stuff.
Affro reviewed v2.0 on Sep 15, 2003
This is a fantastic product, it’s about time someone closed down the amount on unnecessary MS ports on older O/S's
dr_goodbytes reviewed v2.0 on Sep 15, 2003
if you can't patch it then it would be much better to use a firewall, doing something like this is just a "bandaid fix"
it doesn't solve the underlying issue (bug in dcom which could be patched / remote access which could be blocked).
ok so it closes port 135, what about the other 32766 ports that can be used for incoming connections? From the Author:
"DCOM...permits your system to be remotly comprimised" that's wrong, worms use exploits to get themselves onto the computer and/or crash DCOM. DCOM doesn't willingly allow worms onto computers (that's why it's called an exploit)
"DCOM...Attracts Internet Worms": False, it doesn't attract worms, worms have to scan for computers that are vulnrable and they have to launch a specific style of attack depending how they wish to gain access, if DCOM attracted worms why would virus writers go to so much trouble to put that functionality into the virus? sure use the tool if you want but be aware that the author doesn't know squat about how worms work. and if you're on a network check with your Network Admin before running it.(i still think a firewall would be better)
eddie reviewed v2.0 on Sep 15, 2003
From the author: Under Windows 95/98/ME, disabling DCOM with the DCOMbobulator will close port 135 since the Windows 98/ME task scheduler does not use port 135 and those systems don't have the Distributed Transaction Coordinator.