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Author Topic: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool  (Read 822 times)

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mkaminski100

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Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« on: 18 May 2009, 15:15:04 »

My friend has a problem with her daughter. She’s suppose to do her homework, but instead she’s chatting on MSN and using Facebook. She’s bit frustrated about it because she doesn’t want to start a war with daughter, her daughter needs a computer and she cant be checking her all the time.
My idea was to temporarily block unwanted sites and services when she’s doing her homework, but I have no knowledge on software she can use to do it.
I would really appreciate it if you could advice any software to monitor network usage and set when she’s allowed to use what (for example to block few websites in some time frame).
Thanks
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Proz

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #1 on: 18 May 2009, 15:32:20 »

If she has windows vista it has some good parental controls , you can block individual sites and i think programs too and it also creates logs and you can set times etc ..... i was suprised by how good it was . :y
Im not sure if windows xp is the same though , sorry

I took this from the help page
Hope it helps


Set up Parental Controls

You can use Parental Controls to help manage how your children use the computer. For example, you can set limits on your children's access to the web, the hours that they can log on to the computer, and which games they can play and programs they can run.

When Parental Controls blocks access to a webpage or game, a notification is displayed that the webpage or program has been blocked. Your child can click a link in the notification to request permission for access to that webpage or program. You can allow access by entering your account information.

Before you get started, make sure that each child that you want to set up Parental Controls for has a standard user account because Parental Controls can only be applied to standard user accounts. To set up Parental Controls for your child, you'll need an Administrator user account. Parental Controls cannot be applied to an Administrator user account. For more information about user accounts and setting them up, see What is a user account?

To turn on Parental Controls for a standard user account
Click to open Parental Controls.[ch8204] [ch8204]  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Click the standard user account for which you want to set Parental Controls.

Under Parental Controls, click On.

Once you've turned on Parental Controls for your child's standard user account, you can adjust the individual settings that you want to control. You can control the following areas:

Web restrictions. You can restrict the websites that children can visit, make sure children only visit age-appropriate websites, indicate whether you want to allow file downloads, and set up which content you want the content filters to block and allow. You can also block or allow specific websites. For more information, see Limit the content that children can view on the web.

Time limits. You can set time limits to control when children are allowed to log on to the computer. Time limits prevent children from logging on during the specified hours and, if they are already logged on, they will be automatically logged off. You can set different logon hours for every day of the week. For more information, see Control when children can use the computer.

Games. You can control access to games, choose an age rating level, choose the types of content you want to block, and decide whether you want to allow or block unrated or specific games. For more information, see Specify which games children can play.

Allow or block specific programs. You can prevent children from running programs that you don't want them to run. For more information, see Prevent children from using specific programs.

See also
Set up Parental Controls activity reports

Above is for Vista .... im not sure if XP is the same  :y
« Last Edit: 18 May 2009, 15:36:46 by Mark38 »
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tmx

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #2 on: 18 May 2009, 15:44:42 »

depends how far you want to go but ultimately they are all bypassable!

a simple google search willt hrow the answers up on how bypass most of these

you could force the ADSL router to use OpenDNS and use the opendns parental controls

the vista ones are very very easy to bypass though  ;D ;D ;) ::)

XP has nothing POLEDIT is a useful tool but i dont know if that works on the Newer NT based operating systems
« Last Edit: 18 May 2009, 15:47:23 by tmx »
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Proz

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #3 on: 18 May 2009, 15:47:07 »

Quote
depends how far you want to go but ultimately they are all bypassable!

a simple google search willt hrow the answers up on how bypass most of these

you could force the ADSL router to use OpenDNS and use the opendns parental controls

the vista ones are very very easy to bypass though  ;D ;D ;) ::)

Mmm well my two didnt get round them then  :-[..... best to use a good password .
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tmx

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #4 on: 18 May 2009, 15:48:02 »

have you changed the Safemode Admin pwd?
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Proz

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #5 on: 18 May 2009, 15:52:01 »

You are right as i have just searched and found ways round it so i should have really said nothing  :-/....... how ever as i said above my two DIDNT find a way round it so it worked for me ....  :y
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Martin_1962

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #6 on: 18 May 2009, 16:51:16 »

put in HOSTS

127.0.0.1 www. web site name .com
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Gareth Lewis

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #7 on: 18 May 2009, 16:57:46 »

Had exactly the same problem with my lad - MSN & Facebook.

Installer Cybersitter to log and monitor usage and to block out specific sites. Problem is that they can use proxy servers to access anything so I did have to spend an hour finding every proxy server address I could find and adding it to the blocked list :y :y

HOWEVER (yep shouting but important)

Do not make the same mistake as me .... ;) ;)

If they have a mobile telephone with internet access take that off them as well - especially if they can get access through your WiFi router. :y :y

We have 2 routers here at home (Be Box & BT) - dipstick that I am I forgot to block his phone access to BT! :D :D :D ;D ;D
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cem_devecioglu

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #8 on: 18 May 2009, 17:07:22 »

You can use group policy settings to limit many things :y

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766208.aspx


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KillerWatt

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #9 on: 18 May 2009, 20:13:08 »

Net Nanny!

You can set acess times, dates, months, users, in fact.....the whole fooking shooting gallery....and that applies to EVERY application that is installed or accessed.

If you would like to "try before you buy"....then PM me.
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Bumbazor

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #10 on: 18 May 2009, 20:29:53 »

I prefer modifying the hosts file solution, although it can't do keyword matching like other apps can.

For logging, I'm sure some (good) routers do that.
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KillerWatt

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #11 on: 18 May 2009, 20:34:04 »

Quote
depends how far you want to go but ultimately they are all bypassable!
If you truly know what you are doing, then nobody is bypassing anything (even with that crappy offline registry editor)

Quote
XP has nothing POLEDIT is a useful tool but i dont know if that works on the Newer NT based operating systems
Stop messing about with the numpty versions of XP/Vista, and you'll find that both POLEDIT and GPEDIT exist in both.
« Last Edit: 18 May 2009, 20:35:56 by KillerWatt »
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mkaminski100

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Re: Network usage monitor / Facebook/MSB blocking tool
« Reply #12 on: 22 May 2009, 21:27:11 »

Thanks for your info. It was all forwarded to her and she has to do something with it.
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