Dilemma on children's Internet access

[MechEngType]

Hi all,

I posted a thread in the Local Area Networking forum entitled “Monitoring Activity”. As it has been viewed but not answered, I can only assume that it is a very dumb question or it is raising eyebrows as to why I would want to do this. I’m posting here as I am seeking advice this time rather than asking anything technical.

Here’s my dilemma. I have two grand daughters, one pre teen and one early teens for whom my wife and I look after when their parents are out of town working which is fairly frequent. The PC I have hooked up to the internet is the one they tinker with and do some surfing. However, more times than I care to remember, I have gone to investigate the giggling and suspect web sites have been closed down rapidly on my approach. I should get the squeaky floor fixed. I know certain sites can be restricted but I’m afraid these two girls are more computer savvy than me and suspect that it is not an effective deterrent. What raised a red flag with me is that I noticed that there is a menu bar added to Internet Explorer with a “History Zapper” button that closes down the browser and wipes out the history of net usage. Why do this if you don’t have to cover your tracks?

Not wanting to be a continual snoop, I have advised them that there are some sites where to which they shouldn’t be going but from two young ones the answer is they would never do that. Yeah right! It’s not that there is no trust but they are young and inquisitive.

I’d like to rest assured by other means, but if catching them red handed is the only way, then so be it. It would be worth it if it saved them from getting drawn into the seedy and maybe even dangerous side of the net. I’ve read too many horror stories about chat rooms and other unsavoury sites. It’s a shame that one of the greatest tools of all time is vulnerable to this kind of thing.

When my kids were growing up, this threat was non existent so maybe some members with families using the Internet could give me a few pointers on monitoring activity if I felt it needed, or offer an opinion as to whether I’m going about this the wrong way. Their parents assure me that their own Internet access is effectively restricted but I’m not convinced as they are about one step ahead of me in the IT dept.

MechEngType.
:confused:

[classicsoftware]

I think it is some time for a serious that with your children and grand children.

First, remove history zapper.

Next tell them if they install any software on your computer, they will be denied access. Period. It's your PC, they can use it, they can't change it. You don't go to their house and paint their room a different color.

Inform them they may not close down windows when you walk in the room. If they want to look at crap on the PC, do it at home or a friend's not with you.

If that fails, you should get net nanny or a similar program and you can restrict where they go.

[Fruss Tray Ted]

If this is with XP you could limit them to a user account without permissions to alter anything such as installing that History Zapper.

You could snoop by getting an index.dat reader because History Zapper does not appear to erase the dat files on your pc but that would have the potential to an argument or worse between you and your grandchildren.

I would just revert it back to the way it was, set up an account for them and password protect the user account with admin priviledges. That and with Net Nanny mentioned above should put them on the straight and narrow...

[MechEngType]

Classicsoftware and Fruss Tray Ted,

Thanks for the replies and advice guys, it is time for a chat (again) and with a bit of reading on the safeguards I should be able to make it reasonably secure. I certainly don't want to cause a rift, but I think they will understand that it involves caring about thier protection and not just me being a mean old guy.

Hey, we were all young once but the temptations out there today....Hmmm

Thanks again,

MechEngType

[PrntRhd]

Some web-filtering programs like NetNanny/ContentProtect/Cybersitter limit the scope of the Internet for the young ones. They may also affect other applications like your e-mail.

[Variable]

It really comes down to do you want to monitor them or do you want to stop them. There is software that can allow you to remotely view everything they do. If you want to stop them you can turn on parental controls in Internet Explorer Tools/Internet Options/Content/Enable. I would also suggest turning Internet on the Security tab to High and then add any sites you trust to to the trusted zone. The parental controls are nice and work pretty good. I would also take them off the administrators group and add them to the users group.(are you familiar with this?)

If you have XP Pro you can go to start/Run/Gpedit.msc and lock them down very tightly. But this is probably much to complicated for the average user. I mention it because it is an option that is built into the OS and is available. Configuring it will require educating yourself - most people will not do this..
You can lock them down so tight that they will only be able to view sites you allow and no programs could write outside the folder you want. But again, this may be beyond what you are prepared to do. There is also software available that will manage their browsing. One is called Net Nanny
http://www.netnanny.com/

[Whyzman]

Their parents assure me that their own Internet access is effectively restrictedPerhaps it would be wise to ask them, "How they effectively do this?"

Your granddaughter's parents should be the first line of defense for you. It would be easier if you were enforcing the parent's already established rules. Do the parents know if they have this "History Zapper" installed on their computer at home?

My suggestion would be to discuss your concerns with their parents and solicit their help first. Enforcing established parental protocols I suspect would be easier on you than putting you in a position where you are assuming the role of their parents. It would definitely be better if they were your first line of defense!

Although the up and coming "digital generation" appear to be Internet saavy, we get both young and old posting here and specific security related forums with malware infested computers. Granted, not all malware infestation is the result of visiting "shady" Internet sites, but with the havoc this stuff can wreak, I certainly would want to know anyone's travel itinerary on my computer.

The suggestion to set up an account for them with permissions certainly seems advisable, not just to protect them, but also your data.

If there is a potential problem with Net Nanny and e-mail...I wonder if you can have that only "kick in" with the user account you establish for your grandchildren?

[Paleo Pete]

There's also the Hosts File (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A//www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm&ei=QLIGQ-DpHaPg-AGnvbDsDg), which can blocka lot of malicious sites, and some of the more easily accessible adult sites. By studing for a few minutes about the hosts file, you can add specific sites to it as well. any site listed in the hosts file is effectively blocked by basically telling the computer it IS that site. If it's listed as 127.0.0.1 in the hosts file, the computer will never even look for it.

[Suchy]

There is no way aroud this.Although some sites can be blocked, but not all of them.

But why even bither, the kids will learn about sex and other stuff eventualy.

[bassman]

Suchy, I think "Eventualy" is the key thing for MechEngType.

MechEngType, Net Nanny worked for me but I removed it as it was TOO controling. I do not care for a program that will not allow me to make the changes I want, when I want to. I also don't care for a program that you can not remove simply. I think Net Nanny will be exposed as bad spyware if any of the security pros look into it :(
Sorry, I don't have any recommendations as to a better program for this as my boys have not given me any reason to restrict them on this. I think setting user names with passwords, setting restrictions to not allow them to make changes, and talking with them, letting them know what you have done and why is your best bet.
Good luck with this ;)