Teenagers! Bah! Humbug!

Hide the keyboard.

John

Sure. How well would that work with "the brat" ?:-)

...Jim Thompson

Jim, you guys are using IE? How can you...

AFAIK Firefox has that feature where you can block certain domains. Just installed it on a new laptop, not too happy with this browser yet, might go back to Mozilla. But I can't continue right now, too much work and too much flying.

BTW, a pleasant surprise for a change. This new laptop came with a serial port although it wasn't even on the feature list. Yeehaw!

Get an old clunker, set it up and declare it the "kid's PC". If they make a dent in it they'll have to get the bondo and fix it themselves or stop cruising the web for a while until grampa gets around to that :-)

Jim, when they are coming over, reset the gateway on the router to 127.0.0.0 This will prevent any web access.

Nope. We use Firefox, but IE is there whether you like it or not.

I love Firefox.

...Jim Thompson

Well, then it boils down to an educational session. "If you's folks want to use this here machine then don't...". Else you could at least dump the desktop icon and hide it well enough in the program lists.

I tried it and was a bit miffed by the fact that it second-guesses me. When typing "ti" into the URL line it doesn't go to "

For some reason when I type in "cypress" it does go straight to "

Why bother with that? I can just unplug at the hub ;-)

Seriously, I don't want to cut them off completely, just neuter IE and then block certain sites accessible using Firefox.

...Jim Thompson

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Put an entry in the lmhost file to block a website. Note, this is quick and easy, and can be fixed if the user knows what he/she is doing.

Its in C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\drivers\\etc

filename : hosts

looks like this: # Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp. # # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows. # # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name. # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one # space. # # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual # lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol. # # For example: # # 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server # 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

Add:

Save it. Besure the editor does not tac on a file extension.

Cheers

You think *I* would allow an IE icon, but these are granddaughters as old as 18... they can find things :-(

Look in the setups.

...Jim Thompson

Depending on how computer savvy they are just deleting the desktop icon for IE and making sure it is not the defualt browser should do.

I'll tell you, if you promise to be nice to me. ;-)

Set up individual user accounts - don't let _anybody_ log in with administrator priveleges, not even yourself.

Go to the properties pane, for each, and make them a "restricted user".

There might even be a way to prevent individual users from running specific apps; I've never needed to look for anything like that, but at least restricting access will help limit the crapware that accidentally gets installed.

Good Luck! Rich

I have a Barricade Router... I'll look into that.

Sno-o-o-o-o-ort ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Deleting the icon is a good first step.

Simply block myspace.com at the firewall, if your hardware firewall allows it (my cheap one does). By the time they know how to bypass it they should know enough not to get spyware etc.

J. managed to install a malicious dialer program on a spare computer just by using the mouse. Fortunately there was no phone line connected, so no calls to "900" numbers in Kahzahkstan turned up on the phone bill.

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

How about you tell them that they may not use that computer? Would simple English suffice or do you have to be holding a bloody meat cleaver while making such request? I am really surprises how everyone jumped in with a techno solution to a discipline problem.

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Like what Jeorg Said...... but you seem to have ignored it.

It's not as if you are not a rich bloke and can't afford pretty stuff.

Give them $2000 and tell them to f*ck off and buy their own. Let them set it up and s*it on it.

Seriously, I don't think you are Gods gift when it comes to concepts about the sort of s*it you think you are talking about and us young folks don't need bullshit from a crusty old thing.

Since you have a plurality of GrandDaughters they might discover team stuff or become seriously bitchy.

If and when it all goes wrong........ IT'S NOT YOUR PROBLEM.

DNA

So easy to say, but teenagers will be teenagers.

...Jim Thompson

I can't stand Firefox, but I loved Mozilla. The answer is SeaMonkey, which is Mozilla that is being supported by several of the more savvy former members of the Mozilla foundation (MOFO).

-Chuck

My grandpa had a shop with all kinds of tools. Some I could use while not supervised by him, others not because he deemed that too dangerous. I never dared to touch the off-limits tools and most certainly he would not have allowed me back into his shop otherwise. At least not unattended. I guess those were different days back than when it comes to discipline.

Then all she has to do is type a URL in the Run box.

Jim, first of all, can she log in as admin? That must be changed if you rely on any software solution.

What Lord Garth said is the best route, but for selected blocking you need child protection software, or a hardware firewall appliance. I seem to remember that you have a firewall and not just a router.

IMO, giving kids limited use of a computer will not stop them from screwing it up. You can limit them for the kid's protection, but to protect the computer you have to keep them off of it completely.