Is there a plugin or add-on that restricts which web sites can be visited? I can't watch the kids all the time, but would like to allow them to go online safely without close supervision. I'm using fedora 10 which allows multiple users. I've disabled Firefox for the kids but would like to enable it, if possible. Thanks, -- Wayne.
plugin or add-on: no, not really. There are a few options, such as the Porn HOSTS files which you can obtain from here: http://hostsfile.mine.nu/ You can also look into something like net-nanny: http://www.netnanny.com/ or cyber patrol: http://www.cyberpatrol.com/ or other sites like: http://www.cyberpatrol.com/ or best of all, have trust in your kids. -- *IMPORTANT*: Sorry folks, but I cannot provide email help!!!! Warning: Private emails sent to me may become public Peter Potamus & His Magic Flying Balloon: http://melaman2.com/cartoons/singles/mp3/p-potamus.mp3 http://www.toonopedia.com/potamus.htm
It's not really a matter of trust. Click on the wrong link and bam, hard core abounds. I need something that prevents xxx sites from loading. Thanks.
See the comment by "cliffboro" on February 17, 2009 here: <https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/reviews/display/9689> and from <http://www.kidzui.com/help>: <http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc...&sg=1&st=593299&documentid=348679&action=view> <http://server.iad.liveperson.net/hc...01113&st=593299&documentid=356893&action=view>
kb-7400324049766694169/view_question!PAGETYPE? sq=linux&sf=101113&st=593299&documentid=356893&action=view> Thanks. I'll give a try.
Funny this topic should come up today, as I have just been amending a young friend's computer to minimize the various threats to his moral well being. I certainly agree with Porter that the computer should be in a public area. I have been using K9 Web Protection for this purpose. I had previously installed it on his computer, but he is a cunning devil. He disabled the HighSpeed somehow, then told his mother that he needed the password to get it going again. On the usually valid assumption that people use one password for everything, he then successfully uninstalled the program, using the password his mother had given him. The young are smart, but we older folk (especially those at K9) know a thing or two as well. As soon as he uninstalled the program, K9 sent an email to my registration address informing that the program had been uninstalled. It is now back on, with a password that I am not revealing to his mother. The program runs unobtrusively, and seems to work. I tried visiting warez sites and googling some words referring to various body parts and activities thereof, and was stymied every time. You can set various levels of filtering, including custom. You can allow exceptions, temporarily or permanently. For example, I am using the Default which blocks social networking sites. His mother has approved Facebook, so I programmed in an exception. Should he not behave properly, it's very easy to cut off Facebook (at least on his computer). http://www1.k9webprotection.com/ kk
Responding to wayne: I notice on another reply, you're using Linux. Assuming you have more than one computer in the house, could you use your main one (that you control) as a forwarding router, and filter any machines behind it through that? I'm thinking about /etc/hosts style filtering where you could keep an up2date list of URLs to redirect into the void. Either that, or dump your ISP and get an AOL style portal service? On the downside, kids will see stuff you wouldn't want them to anyway, if they want to, as their friends will surely have mobile phones etc. and a viral peer group network. Maybe monitoring, followed by subtle persuasion in the form of a "risk of severe embarrassment if dad finds out about this" regime? Hints that you have plenty of disk space for logs, and can get copies from your ISP at any time, and so on. Let 'em know they are not in any way going to sneak anything past you. If done with minimum fuss, it could help form a bond of trust that will probably be far more productive in the long run than attempting a techno- battle with creatures way faster than you with today's technology.
Open DNS does this. You access Open DNS by customizing your router settings. I understand that Open DNS is well regarded and you can customize the filtering. As a bonus, it is supposed to speed up your connections. http://www.opendns.com/ kk
Let me know when it is available on my 64-bit linux box. What I need is a way to block inappropriate sites for individual users.
The kids and I all share the same computer. Fedora 10 allows us to all be logged on at the same time and switch between sessions. We can't actively use the computer simultaneously, but that is usually not a problem.
Responding to wayne: Then you're most produtive route here is likely the one where you engage with your kids on the matters you ahve a concern about, rather than looking to create a problem where there probably isn't one by treating them as if you don't trust them. Sure, do the obvious, like a decent /etc/hosts file, but explain what you're doing, and how, and why. If you intend to build a hosts file collection, do "man sort". It helps.
OK, this has become a linux issue instead of a firefox issue. I was hoping for a browser solution, but I guess one doesn't exist yet. Here are my ideal requirements: 1) Will not allow visiting unapproved web sites. Perhaps it could reference a wiki of approved sites? 2) Cannot be disabled or uninstalled without a password (darn clever kids). Won't stop the most determined ones, but those would be smart enough to find other solutions anyway (e.g. install there own browser). 3) Have different levels of protection. Young kids (3-7) can go to kids sites, older kids (8-12) more mature sites, teens (13-17) can have more freedom to do research, etc. 4) Only applies to certain login accounts. I still want my pron ;-) I think this would be immensely useful for parents. Thanks, -- Wayne.
Responding to wayne: Ah. You want a "Do it for me" product. If you want something to give you this much control, you're going to end up either trusting something somebody else has hacked together, or you're going to need to review exactly what it is you want to do, and figure out how to set things up to do those things for yourself. Setting up a LAN server that only allows certain approved URLs, while doable, is going to be so lame your kids will just walk away from it and go use their freind's machines instead. Go watch a few episodes of South Park and get back to us. ;\
Wayne, this is a losing battle. With any controls you put up, if you leave your kids unattended at the computer, they will be able to defeat it. If you want to keep them from visiting certain sites, supervise them on the internet. Its the opnly way. Lee
Thank you for this ) My dau (14) wants to have internet access on her on PC which we've "not got around to doing" ) so far. This seems to be an admirable solution. Until we get a Roundtuit, she'll have to use either my or my husband's computer under supervision.
It looks promising. I think I'll try version 6 because they made it to where you have to pay for version 7. Thanks. -- Wayne.
