Many applications, especially instant messaging and peer-to-peer applications, use multiple protocols and techniques to transfer files. For example, many clients that use the BitTorrent protocol and other protocols to transfer files. To fully block applications that use multiple protocols, you must configure Application Control with a combination of actions.
Example — Block BitTorrent
When you select the BitTorrent Series application in an Application Control action, Application Control uses a set of rules that identify the BitTorrent protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing.
The BitTorrent Series application can use the BitTorrent peer-to-peer protocol to download files, or it can use File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Web File Transfer applications.
If you do not block applications, but only record activity in the log files, FTP applications that download the BitTorrent Series application appear in the log files as both FTP and BitTorrent Series application activity, at different times.
To block all possible file transfers by the BitTorrent Series application, you must configure Application Control to block BitTorrent Series, Web File Transfer, and FTP Applications. If you block BitTorrent Series, Application Control also blocks BitTorrent use by all other applications. There is no way to block BitTorrent use by Thunder.
If you block Web File Transfer or FTP applications, this functionality is blocked for all applications. There is no way to block HTTP file transfers or FTP file transfers for the BitTorrent Series application but allow them for other applications.
File Transfer Applications and Protocols
The table below shows some common applications and the different protocols they use for file transfer. The names of applications and protocols in the table correspond to application names in Application Control.
| Category | Application | Protocols and Applications Used |
|---|---|---|
| Peer-to-peer networks | Thunder Series |
Thunder Private Protocol |
| Peer-to-peer networks | BitTorrent Series |
BitTorrent |
| Media streaming services | iQIYI/PPS | PPStream ASFV1, MP4, MMS, FLV, RMVB, SWF, AVI, MP3, WMA, MOV, WMA, ASF |
| Instant messengers | QQ/TM | QQ/TM QQ Private Protocol |
| Online gaming | QQ Game/ QQFO | QQ Game QQ Private Protocol |
To fully block all file transfers through applications that use multiple protocols and applications, you must block the application, and you must block all protocols and applications the application uses. There are some common applications and protocols that you might not want to block because they are used by many applications.
For a description of the applications or protocols in this table, you can search for the application on the WatchGuard Security Portal at https://www.watchguard.com/SecurityPortal/AppDB.aspx.