bar on internet access PART2

[James McDonald]

Keith Antoine wrote:

> Susan Macchia wrote:
>
>> Hi Skippy :)
>>
>> I have had this same issue with my own kids under Windoze.  I have used
>> CyberPatrol (there is also NetNanny), to control not only content, 
>> but access
>> times and what apps they can run.  This does cost some $$, though, 
>> but may be
>> worth it (I thought that it was). 
>> In order to have these tools work effectively, the Dad should have 
>> his own
>> password protected login.  Then another for his son.  He can configure
>> CyberPatrol so that the Dad is allowed access all the time and his 
>> son is
>> limited (in many ways).
>>
>> He can keep his machine on all the time and keep himself logged in 
>> under XP. He must set up a password protected screensaver for 
>> himself, and/or can "Switch
>> User" when he is done using the machine.  The son will have to log-in as
>> himself to use the machine and Cyberpatrol will control whether he 
>> can surf and
>> what apps he can run.
>
>
> Hi Sue and others who answered.
>
> I put that part 2 in as I obviously did not give enough info. First up 
> Dad does not wear the pants Mum and the family do, he is at the bottom 
> of the heap and can be a fool. The son is the last of the offspring at 
> home and 17. He has enough knowledge to circumnavigate normal 
> passwords but Dad does not logout when he leaves the machine.
>
> I have been looking after his machines one upstairs for family, one 
> downstairs for Dad (pro photographer), which is a grunt machine. Hence 
> son would rather use dad's machine, and does: it then gets clogged 
> with S**t after he has been where he should not be. Then comes the 
> inevitable call to get machine working again in PhotoshopCS2 
> (slllloooowwww).
>
> I am tired of doing this and also angry at him not being able to 
> safeguard the machine. Its alright to have high level passwords on the 
> login, and he has, but if you walk away and leave it logged in !!! and 
> he does.
>
> So I was looking at something that might shutoff access to the net 
> (cable 512) via browser security. I am clutching at straws. However I 
> realise that if he does logout then the sone might have enough savvy 
> to get around that.
>
> Many thanks for the replies evenso.

1.     Change the administrator and the fathers passwords and tell only 
the father.
2.     Setup an account for the boy and only give him user access and a 
password
3.     I presume this is windows xp home ... So I don't think you will 
be able to set a policy to get the screensaver to lock after 5minutes.
4.     The boy wants to use the Dad's PC because it's in a private 
area(downstairs). You could dramatically reduce the number of call outs 
if you moved it up stairs near the living areas.
5.     The day sounds like he isn't master of his own domain... tell him 
to grow a spine and use it. No IT usage policy is any good if no one has 
the guts to use it.
6.     Susans Net-nanny idea is a good one... I can just see the boy get 
all shirty about it :)