Prevent app ability to open a link in my default browser?

GregJ7 · May 28, 2023

It seems to me that I should be able to isolate an app such that it cannot force my default browser from opening with a link. I have a small game that always opens a link to its web site whenever I shut down the game. Is there a way to prevent this? I can write a program to create a specific execution/process context, if necessary.

OAT · May 28, 2023

GregJ7 said:
It seems to me that I should be able to isolate an app such that it cannot force my default browser from opening with a link. I have a small game that always opens a link to its web site whenever I shut down the game. Is there a way to prevent this? I can write a program to create a specific execution/process context, if necessary.

We have to rule out the option to modify the game itself so, we are left with a possible batch script that would look like this:
I think it's worth a try. If you need to grab the shortcut from the app, you can create it from: explorer.exe shell:AppsFolder

Code:

:: content of .cmd file
start /wait gameshortcut.lnk
:: user exits game
tskill /A userbrowser
exit

GregJ7 · May 28, 2023

My browser is usually open with some pages loaded, which I don't want to be affected.

OAT · May 28, 2023

GregJ7 said:
My browser is usually open with some pages loaded, which I don't want to be affected.

Good luck finding a solution then.

GregJ7 · May 29, 2023

I realized I asked this in the wrong forum. Sorry. I got an informed answer elsewhere.

OAT · May 29, 2023

GregJ7 said:
I realized I asked this in the wrong forum. Sorry. I got an informed answer elsewhere.

Indeed but no solution.

You could always open the sites you use with one browser which is not your default browser,
leave them open in the background, play the game, exit it,
and subsequently, kill the default browser process triggered by exiting the game.

You could also do what another informed forum member suggested to you on that site:

"I know the way I stopped it from happening with the game that I had.
I paid for the game, rather than just continuing to use the free demo."

GregJ7 · May 29, 2023

OAT said:
"I know the way I stopped it from happening with the game that I had.
I paid for the game, rather than just continuing to use the free demo."

This is happening in the full version of the (very old) game. Not sure why both of you assumed this was possible.

OAT · May 29, 2023

GregJ7 said:
I realized I asked this in the wrong forum. Sorry. I got an informed answer elsewhere.

Indeed but no solution.

GregJ7 said:
This is happening in the full version of the (very old) game. Not sure why both of you assumed this was possible.

I don't assume anything; I was just quoting his informed answer.

If it is such an old game, you might look into using the old debug.exe and HEX out the embedded URL.
Just make sure to back up the executable before editing.