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SoonerAl
Old Enough To Know Better
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-23
Norman, OK
edit:
June 4th, @10:32AM
|  reply to Glen T
Re: Hiding unsecured wireless networks
Child web controls | 
Child allowable surfing hours |
This thread got me thinking about my grandkids visiting this summer for two weeks, so I installed a free parental control package from my ISP, Cox HSI, and started experimenting with it. My scheme so far is to...
1. Setup an individual limited account for each grandchild on both of my XP Pro boxes.
2. Use the parental control software to limit the hours each child can access the internet. In each of their cases I limit them to internet surfing 2 hours (120 minutes) per day during their six hours total of allowable time on the PC. During the remaining four hours they can play computer games, etc, but not surf the internet.
3. I use the Windows net user command to limit the actual times during the day they can log onto the computer. For example:
net user dallas /time:M-Su,9am-12pm,5pm-8pm
...allows my grandson Dallas to be able to log into his account only between the hours of 9 AM to 12 PM (noon) and between 5 PM and 8 PM daily.
4. I also setup each childs account so the windows screen saver activates after 15 minutes of idle time and kicks the display back to the Windows Login screen. That way idle sessions are forced to log back on, if they can...See item 3 above. Along with this I setup group policies that disable the screen saver tab for users. Go to User Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Control Panel -> Display and look at the Hide Screen Saver tab, Screen Saver, Screen Saver Executable Name, etc. policies. That makes it impossible for anyone, except an Administrator, to disable this feature. Now with XP Home you can't use group policies, but you can use a small Windows XP Security Console utility created by Doug Knox, MS-MVP to also disable the screen saver tab.
»www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_sec···sole.htm
I have attached a few example screen shots from the parental control software I am using. It may be of interest...
The nice thing about all of this is that everything is setup on a per user basis, so I can control the kids and still let the adults have access to the PC and public internet at anytime. Of course the adult Visitors account is a limited account and all accounts are password protected...
This is also configured so only the administrator can configure all of this...
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"When all else fails, read the instructions..." | |
Glen T
join:2003-11-03
BC
edit:
June 4th, @12:31PM
| I really wanted to avoid setting up limited accounts. On my computers at home, there is only a single user account with no login or password and max. admin. privleges.
The reasons for this are many. Each user profile has its own desktop etc. And this just adds to administrative headaches.
For example, a client asked me to look at his kid's computer because one of his three kids could not print to the their networked printer. When I arrived, the child was not home, and no one knew her password, so we could not test the printing problem.
Files end up on different desktops in different profiles. Games and applications work in one profile -- not installed in another. Backup is a nighmare. Etc. etc.
I'm just looking for a *simple* solution here. My system is built largely on trust. The single kid computer is in the corner of the family room where everyone can see and use it.
I just need to make sure that the kids are getting enough sleep on a school night -- usually, I'm the first one in bed -- I'm not waiting around to police this.
I can't outright terminate Internet access as a punishment. The kids work on computers at school and then e-mail work home to themselves to finish, then e-mail back in the morning. One daughter is studying journalism. She is working on articles all the time for school publications.
I should also mention that there are plenty of parental controls in place. We have one TV in the house. There is a long-standing ban on TV viewing during the week -- for all family members. MSN messaging and instant messaging have always been banned (and removed -- I shot the messenger) on my computers. | |
TheWiseGuy
Dog And Butterfly
Premium,MVM
join:2002-07-04
Yonkers, NY
| If they know what they are doing they can get around this, but you could set a static IP address, with your router and computers on a different subnet then the other Wireless networks, this will keep them from connecting without changing the IP address. This is easy to get around if you know what you are doing.
Also you could add a software firewall that has the ability to allow things based on time of day.
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Dog and Butterfly | |
jaa
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-13
New Canaan, CT
 ·Vonage
 ·Optimum Online
edit:
June 5th, @10:40AM
| reply to Glen T
said by Glen T  :For example, a client asked me to look at his kid's computer because one of his three kids could not print to the their networked printer. When I arrived, the child was not home, and no one knew her password, so we could not test the printing problem. Solution to that is remove the password so you can do the testing, then let them add it back in later.
In my house we have implemented a non-technical solution that works well with the kids - technically they have full internet access 24/7. Client software is the best way to control it technically. There are plenty out there reasonably priced, and some ISPs offer it for free.
As long as they have admin privliges, there is nothing you can do in XP that they can't undo. Even installing the internet limiting software can often be uninstalled (though you would know they did that). I think some cannot be uninstalled without the password - if you lose the password you have to reformat the drive to get rid of it.
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NOTHING justifies terrorism. We don't negotiate with terrorists. Those that support terrorists are terrorists. | |
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