chat programs

[mohamed adeni]

How to stop guest at home from using chat programs in my computer? Some use Yahoo, some use AOL and some MSN messanger. I don't like chat personally and I did mentioned others to stop, but when I am not at home, they (guest)are chating online. Is there any way I could change settings in the sys? Are do you have any suggessions?

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mohamed adeni

[pentachris]

I assume you want to allow them access to your computer and allow online access, just no chat?

What OS are you running? That's going to be difficult to enforce on Windows - especially 9x - without some additional software. I've got a link somewhere to a site that explains step-by-step how to configure the policy editor for a stand-alone computer that may help. I'll see if I can find it - post back with answers to those questions. It'll help us help you. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

[ski]

Put a system password in BIOS if you do not want anyone messing around with your system. Just make sure you document the PW and put it in a safe place, because you will not be able to access the O/S if you lose or forget it.

[MichaelMHP]

a firewall would allow you to disable internet access by application right? At least, my ZA Pro does...

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I'll try to learn anything you'll teach me...

[Balrog]

ski, im pretty sure u can reset it to no password on the mobo by simply taking the battery out. might be wrong though...

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Benjamin Kelly
kellydesign@hotmail.com

[Paul Komski]

You could of course just remove all the chat applications from your pc (that is unless your guests are going to go so far as to reinstall them).


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Take nice care of yourselves - Paul
"People in glasshouses ..... shouldn't undress during daylight!"

[mohamed adeni]

Originally posted by mohamed adeni:
How to stop guest at home from using chat programs in my computer? Some use Yahoo, some use AOL and some MSN messanger. I don't like chat personally and I did mentioned others to stop, but when I am not at home, they (guest)are chating online. Is there any way I could change settings in the sys? Are do you have any suggessions?



Sorry I should have mentioned this earlier about OS, OS is 98ME, guest can use MSN internet but no chat. I don't mind if I have to buy some additional software like Zone Alarm Pro. When ever I delete this chat programs, they are reinstalling it again. They are chating with 4 people alternatively, plus on the email plus on different web pages. Then they say sys freeze and booted again this is normal at home. When I want to use it sys acts funny. I just want to get rid of chat programs. Thanks for your response

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khalu

[kayofcircles]

I thought of Zone Alarm too, but anyone that would reinstall Chat programs is probably gonna find the "access denied" part of ZA and defeat that. Maybe pentachris can find his link.

I have to say, though, that you must be a very NICE person, mohamed because any guest of mine that screwed with my puter after being told not to do so would find themselves booted out of the house...relative or not.

[pentachris]

The link's at home - I'll try to remember to get it at lunch. But thinking about it more, I don't think you can stop folks from installing software even with poledit. I think Zone Alarm Pro with a password is going to be your best bet.

Surely they wouldn't uninstall ZoneAlarm so that the chat programs would be granted access to the internet...

If they did, I would follow ski's advice and set a user password in the BIOS. Or follow Kay's advice and give them the boot.

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Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

[pentachris]

The boss took me to lunch today, so I didn't get home to look for it. Browse here (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&q=poledit+home+secure) and I'll post back with the link I referred to when I get home.

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Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

[mjc]

Probably the most surefire way of defeating the chat programs will be with a hardware firewall...

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mjc
Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[rond36]

If you are using IE you can use IE's tools to make the ofending sites restricted sites and set a password so the status can't be easly changed. Open IE, in the toolbar goto tools-->Internet options...-->Security tab-->click on the restricted sites icon-->click on the sites button and enter the addresses of the ofending sites. You can also restrict sites using the content tab the same as above only click on the content tab click enable in the content advisor dialogue box content advisor will open click on the aproved sites tab enter the sites that you want to block hilite each one and click the never button. goto the general tab and set up a password.

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How to Use Fdisk and Format to Partition or Repartition a Hard Disk (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q255867)
How to multi-boot Windows XP (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/gettingstarted/multiboot.asp)
Microsoft Expert Zone Multi-booting made easy (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/russel/september10.asp)
MSKB How to multi-boot Windows XP (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q306559)

[This message has been edited by rond36 (edited 05-31-2002).]

[pentachris]

Better late than never:

Protecting Users From Themselves (http://www.microsoft.com/TechNet/win98/tips/protuser.asp).

Browse here for information on Minimizing Mischief (http://www.rlwconsulting.com/workshops/minimize/resources.html).

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Some mistakes are too much fun to make only once.

[mohamed adeni]

Originally posted by mohamed adeni:
How to stop guest at home from using chat programs in my computer? Some use Yahoo, some use AOL and some MSN messanger. I don't like chat personally and I did mentioned others to stop, but when I am not at home, they (guest)are chating online. Is there any way I could change settings in the sys? Are do you have any suggessions?


Thanks for the responses. I will try links suggested by our friend Pentachris and last resort -booting. Thank you guys once again.