Network security issues

[bonz_dragon]

Hopefully someone can give me some ideas or solutions to this!

Am having a terrible time with teens going to adult sites and chat rooms. My wife and I bought and installed ContentWatch which worked for a few weeks and now it seems that they have hacked it already and it is now disabled.
I went through it and all looks like it's working when I'm in the program yet when I close out I get nothing. As soon as IE is opened it's supposed to ask for a loggon and isn't. It's like it's not seeing the internet being started.

I have thought about installing Tiny Keystroke Logger and then trying to block the URLs through the router.
Would that work?

Please NO comments about beating, castrating or locking them in closets cause that's not solving the problem!

[Direct1]

If it were me, I would make sure I have a pretty hard to crack pasword for the router and I would turn-off Internet access until I could be there. O bviously, that would only work if their PC's are in a different room (from the router). I'm sorry, but if they are going as far as to hack programs you put on the PC, they shouldn't have unlimited Internet privileges (IMHO of course).

If their PC's are in the room with the router, I would password-protect their PC's until I could be there. It stinks but what are you going to do? :(

Good luck! :D

[bonz_dragon]

Thanks Direct1,

I guess that's why I'm asking about blocking through the router. I can change the admin password to very difficult and also I do not believe they know how to access the router settings either. Then use the router firewall to block the most offensive URLs.

I understand this would be a lot of work on my part but I seems the only real way to succeed. Besides it looks like they have multiple user ids and accounts set up on Yahoo and MSN, all with different passwords.

Anyways it looks like any software installed will be a futile attempt at best!

[RamonGTP]

Is this a client/server setup so where the users of the workstation need to log on to a domain controller in order to get into windows?

If so, i'm sure there's a way to enable content advisor in IE and make sure no one has permessions to change that except for administrators.

[Direct1]

What brand and model router do you have? I'm sure this is just a simple home network, correct?

[bonz_dragon]

Correct Direct1.
D-Link 614+ with 2 wired, 1 wireless. Win98SE on all three using IE6 and all updates.
Router is next to my machine, other 2 are in childerns rooms.

Would it be better set up as a client/server? If so is there a link/site to discribe this?

[stix_kua]

Why not go to IE,

Tools> Internet Options>Content tab>Enable Content Advisor

And then set up the settings to your liking..assign a good password to it too...

It works pretty well...

Also try talking to the kids.

[bonz_dragon]

Originally posted by stix_kua
Why not go to IE,

Tools> Internet Options>Content tab>Enable Content Advisor

And then set up the settings to your liking..assign a good password to it too...

It works pretty well...

Also try talking to the kids.

Have tried both those approaches. Talking does no good they just deny and point fingers.

Set content advisor and they can't even access yahoo games.

[stix_kua]

Originally posted by bonz_dragon
Have tried both those approaches. Talking does no good they just deny and point fingers.

Set content advisor and they can't even access yahoo games.

If they will not be honset about who did it, maybe they shouldn't even be allowed to play those games...

Seriously if the kids are lying to you, move the computer out of their rooms.

Crack down on them...

[RamonGTP]

a client/server would give you the power you need to do what you want, but it doesnt' come without its own issues.

1) You've got to learn how to set it up
2) You may need another PC to act as the server
3) You need to have a server operating system, like Windows 2000 Server, or 2003 server... Neither of which are cheap.

I got tired of my mom killing the computer I built for her with spyware and viruses, so i reciently setup a client/server network in my home to keep a tight tab on what everyone is doing and to limit my parents, and my sister's priviledges. I've installed all the software I feel they actually need, and if they try to install anything else, they now get a message saying they don't have sufficient privilidges and to contact the system admin (ME) :D Its also a nice learning expierence for myself.

Speaking of content advisor, have you tried enabling that, but set it up to allow sites such as yahoo so they can still play their games?

[Direct1]

I would do the Content Advisor thing too but that is also not fool-proof. They could install another browser.

Again, if it were me and my kids were lying or just not listening to my rules, I would take away their Internet priviledges. Even if that means removing the NIC's and modems from their computers. Remember, you're the parent. I know it's not easy but being a parent never is. :D

Good luck! :t

[bonz_dragon]

Thanks everyone for all the advice! Sorry for the delay in getting back to this.

I talked with our network admin. at work who also uses a D-Link router and ageerd the the logger would work as a step to blocking URLs through the router but it will be tedious work but should be quite effective.
He also made suggestions as to what to look for and a few other blocks to install.

Will post back later results as to the effectiveness of this.
Maybe akso when they learn that we are wacthing every move and their sites are being blocked they'll get the mesg! If not then the full ban will be ON.

[Direct1]

Well Bonz, while I do not agree with your strategy, their your kids. Keep us informed. :)

Good luck! :t

[bonz_dragon]

Hey, It's OK D1.
I mostly agree with you but actually these are STEP-CHILDERN and although at times I would like to try the shaken baby syndrome on them I think my wife would do a Willie Nelson on me!