Lunk July 2, 2007 Share Lunk Member July 2, 2007 Need some parental control software to use on my daughters pc. Basically I want to lock it down and only give her access to a couple of sites. She will not have IM or anything like that. Can this be done somehow thru XP Home or do I need some additional software? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroDamage July 2, 2007 Share ZeroDamage Member July 2, 2007 You need additional software. In the past I've used Mcafee's Internet Security suite which has it built in. The catch to all of these programs is that you want your daughter to use a limited XP user account rather than an admin account. This program seems to be the most popular program and probably the best reviewed: http://www.cyberpatrol.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preacher July 2, 2007 Share Preacher Member July 2, 2007 free open source but not sure of functionality http://www.untangle.com/index.php?option=c...CFQzDYgodcCq3og another one says free http://www.safefamilies.org/downloadstep.php there was one called we-blocker that I had used for some folks at our old church that helped them stop some bad habbits but I couldn't find it in the 2 min I used to help ya lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunk July 3, 2007 Author Share Lunk Member July 3, 2007 Thanks guys. ZD, I was planning on the limited user account. She certainly doesn't need admin. I thought you could use the Windows XP Firewall to restrict access to only certain websites. IE: ones you put in the allowed section. Is this not the case? Haven't been able to test this theory as my internet and phone has been down for 2 days now. (posting at work). AT&T field techs are currently on my bad side atm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
appalachian_fox July 3, 2007 Share appalachian_fox Member July 3, 2007 (edited) You could always make a HOSTS file with the sites you want her to be able to visit and shut off the DNS service (*edit* Actually, I'm not sure you can do this, but you should be able to map all domains to localhost at the end of the HOSTS file, which should work -- If interested, I can test when I get home). That way, it should work with both Firefox and IE. You may be able to do something like put *.*.*.* in the Restricted sites list, and put the sites you want her to be able to do in the Trusted Sites list, but (1) I don't think that will actually stop her from visiting the greater Internet, just shut off active content, (2) It may have unintended consequences (especially letting all okay sites run as "Trusted") and (3) That won't work with Firefox. You could also set up a proxy, but that requires a greater input of time and effort, plus the proxy has to be on anytime she wants to be on the Innerwebz. The plus side, though, is that it scales well (should you have other children / computers you want to similarly restrict) and when the proxy is down, the Web is down. All this, of course, assumes your daughter doesn't aspire to be the next Kevin Mitnick. Edited July 3, 2007 by appalachian_fox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroDamage July 3, 2007 Share ZeroDamage Member July 3, 2007 App, that will not work. The HOSTS file would only block those that you want to block so Lunk would need to know every single adult oriented website out there and put them in the HOSTS file. Thanks guys. ZD, I was planning on the limited user account. She certainly doesn't need admin. bigsmile.gif I thought you could use the Windows XP Firewall to restrict access to only certain websites. IE: ones you put in the allowed section. Is this not the case? Haven't been able to test this theory as my internet and phone has been down for 2 days now. (posting at work). AT&T field techs are currently on my bad side atm. Most people do not think to make the accounts a limited account. They just create it and that is it. The XP Firewall is as junk as you can get. It can block incoming unsolicited attempts but that is all. It is as basic as notepad. MSN Internet service has parental controls in their MSN software. There is a premium service for the software if you want to use it at like 7 bucks a month or something. It's been a while since I supported it but you could limit messenger usage and all of that; if the kid wanted to visit a new site, they could email you a request. Not sure how good it works with firefox but I think it would work just fine. May be worth a shot as well. This one looks promising: http://www.afo.net/ This looks really interesting too since it is free: http://www.radiance.m6.net/ Here is a top ten review of all the commercial stuff: http://internet-filter-review.toptenreviews.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Slaughterâ„¢-TopBrass July 3, 2007 Share Sgt. Slaughterâ„¢-TopBrass Member July 3, 2007 Since the 'internets' are a series of 'tubes', plug the ones you don't wan't with newspaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunk July 3, 2007 Author Share Lunk Member July 3, 2007 This looks really interesting too since it is free: http://www.radiance.m6.net/ Thanks ZD. I found this one thru the link you posted above. It looks quite promising. Think I'll download it and try it when I get my internet working again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preacher July 3, 2007 Share Preacher Member July 3, 2007 well I just tried all the free ones except untange and beat them using google searches inside of 2 min each. Untangle is a core set-up that you install to a blank hard drive prior to installing the OS and it looks to be the most promising but not worth the effort for me. I wasn't trying very hard, just searched for "porn" "p**sy" "whores" "sluts" and "sex" and got at least one porn site to come up out of those searches using Internet explorer (newest version) wasn't much effort required so it could all be found by accident in my opinion. If you do find one that works make sure to let us know as well. I'm trying to find one for my kids and my brothers also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroDamage July 3, 2007 Share ZeroDamage Member July 3, 2007 well I just tried all the free ones except untange and beat them using google searches inside of 2 min each. Untangle is a core set-up that you install to a blank hard drive prior to installing the OS and it looks to be the most promising but not worth the effort for me. I wasn't trying very hard, just searched for "porn" "p**sy" "whores" "sluts" and "sex" and got at least one porn site to come up out of those searches using Internet explorer (newest version) wasn't much effort required so it could all be found by accident in my opinion. If you do find one that works make sure to let us know as well. I'm trying to find one for my kids and my brothers also. I guess they are free so you get what you pay for. I would recommend one of the paid ones since it updates from the company regularly to add new porn sites and the like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lunk July 3, 2007 Author Share Lunk Member July 3, 2007 preacher have you tried the K9 one I posted a link to above? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preacher July 9, 2007 Share Preacher Member July 9, 2007 just signed up and DLed it, I'll give it a try when I wake up tomorrow. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroDamage July 12, 2007 Share ZeroDamage Member July 12, 2007 I also wanted to toss out there that if the system is strong enough, Vista Home basic, Premier, and ultimate have nice parental controls built in. It does a lot and is easy to set up and is nothing like that content adviser crap that is built into IE. It is actually built into Windows Vista and looks to be a winner for MS. I got to play with it yesterday during a Vista Security training class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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