Post #102,771
5/20/03 11:38:00 AM
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Parental Control software
My son is only 4, but sometimes my wife has other kids over that we babysit. As in a couple of them. We cannot watch all of them all of the time, and there is a 12 year old that likes to visit web site he shouldn't on my computer. I told hm he couldn't use it because he did it before, but when I had to help my wife watch our 2 year old niece and this boy's 9 year old sister and my 4 year old son, this 12 year old got on my computer and started typing in cuss words and finding all kinds of web stes he shouldn't be on.
I was thinking of either Cybersitter or Netnanny, but I don't have the money to buy those yet. He doesn't come over very often, but still I want to block access to those web sites.
Is there a freeware or open source parental control software out there? I could not find any, just demoware that expires in 30 days unless you register it.
"If you're going to cheat, cheat fair. If there's anything I hate it's a crooked crook!" -Moe Howard
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Post #102,777
5/20/03 12:07:09 PM
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Simple and cheap
Turn off the computer and/or password protected screen saver. Works on my computer!
[link|mailto:jbrabeck@attbi.com|Joe]
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Post #102,805
5/20/03 2:28:41 PM
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Not so easy
I run Windows 98, if he cannot get in the password is the "Cancel" button.
I usually leave my computer on to check email in the background, with Seti@Home as the screen saver. Next time it will have a password on it. But he can still hardware reset the machine and use the cancel button to get in.
"If you're going to cheat, cheat fair. If there's anything I hate it's a crooked crook!" -Moe Howard
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Post #102,807
5/20/03 2:41:01 PM
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Those are other issues...
But he can still hardware reset the machine and use the cancel button to get in.
Any child rebooting a computer without permission definitely needs to be disciplined. Using an open computer is opportunistic (still not condoned), but rebooting should be an absolute forbidden. A little talk behind the woodshed...
[link|mailto:jbrabeck@attbi.com|Joe]
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Post #102,812
5/20/03 2:55:09 PM
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Also BIOS password is useful.
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Post #102,870
5/20/03 9:53:45 PM
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I agree
rebooting a computer to get around security should not be allowed and should be disciplined (as in talked to, whatever).
I have this sort of thing to look forward to when my own son grows up a bit. Right now at age 4, he is giving me a hard time already. Apparently it gets worse or more complex as they get older.
"If you're going to cheat, cheat fair. If there's anything I hate it's a crooked crook!" -Moe Howard
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Post #102,937
5/21/03 10:07:16 AM
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2nded
Turn it off and add a bios password.
No reboot will get past that.
Even if you leave it running...and they try to reboot to get past the screensaver password...the bios password will keep them out.
If you push something hard enough, it will fall over. Fudd's First Law of Opposition
[link|mailto:bepatient@aol.com|BePatient]
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Post #102,801
5/20/03 2:04:18 PM
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my computer is next to the kitchen
visible from the hallway and livingroom. I dont have a problem.
thanx,
bill
will work for cash and other incentives [link|http://home.tampabay.rr.com/boxley/resume/Resume.html|skill set]
questions, help? [link|mailto:pappas@catholic.org|email pappas at catholic.org]
"I hit him so hard in the head his dog shat a turd in the shape of Jesus" Leonard Pine
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Post #102,813
5/20/03 2:59:53 PM
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Put the computer in the living room.
Peter
[link|http://www.debian.org|Shill For Hire]
[link|http://www.kuro5hin.org|There is no K5 Cabal]
[link|http://guildenstern.dyndns.org|Blog]
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Post #102,869
5/20/03 9:51:45 PM
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No phone jack there for DSL or dial-up
plus it would break my network to move the computers apart.
Sooooooo, password protected screen saver, BIOS password, and big trouble if he gets around that. I am still searching for software that can help and is free. If I can talk my wife into it, I'll buy one of the under $40 parental control software if no free alternative can be found.
"If you're going to cheat, cheat fair. If there's anything I hate it's a crooked crook!" -Moe Howard
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Post #102,896
5/21/03 3:56:06 AM
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Why not turn the damn thing off?
Peter
[link|http://www.debian.org|Shill For Hire]
[link|http://www.kuro5hin.org|There is no K5 Cabal]
[link|http://guildenstern.dyndns.org|Blog]
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Post #102,927
5/21/03 9:40:02 AM
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I agree with Peter
Turn it off, or password protect the screen saver, and password the BIOS.
Buy any "Surfer Protection" software is a very short term solution. Needs to be constantly updated, and/or it'll become intrusive, and/or he'll figure a way to beat it.
Since you have a DSL connection, you can turn that off. If you have a router (I have a Linksys) then used it's firewall and disable all traffic during the time he's there, or only outgoing traffic if you need to constantly download your email. Disabling the traffic works wonders for me. My daughters were spending all night on the internet, so I programmed it to shut down at 22:00. If there's a need, I can open it, and in severe cases, shut it down earlier.
No need to spend any money.
[link|mailto:jbrabeck@attbi.com|Joe]
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