Content Filtering for Small Biz

[Bryan]

My father owns a small business with about 10 workstations. He currently has no file server, although that may change as his business grows. He has been having major problems with employees spending al their time on Myspace, pr0n sites, downloading MP3's, and downloading movies via torrent sites.

He would like an inexpensive software package to do content filtering on XP machines. I don't think he is very interested in spying on the employees, but would like to see them working rather than surfing all day. Where I work, we use Websense, but that would be ridiculous to use for a small office. Any suggestions for a better fit?

 

[mechBgon]

Windows Vista has the Parental Controls option on some versions. He could whitelist the allowed sites that are required for business operation, and then the employees can use those sites. ONLY. Don't install alternate browsers, just use IE7, and of course the users must be Standard Users, not Admins.

Just a thought. Significant up-front cost, but maybe the payoff would be worth it. I think the version you'd want is Ultimate, which has the business features of Business plus the home features of Home Premium. Ultimate also paves the way for using Software Restriction Policy.

 

[John]

1) Send out a memo regarding computer usage policies

2) Pick up another pc, or use your father's pc as a proxy server. CCProxy

3) Set all of the workstations up on limited accounts and password protect the admin accounts (including the hidden admin).

 

[nweaver]

proxy server would be good....there are many that work. Smoothwall is a linux based router with smoothwall (and you can enforce proxy usage then)

John's #1 above is important, as well as being willing to axe a few folks for violating those policies.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

I would recommend using Squid if you have an older box laying around. HDD space isnt much of an issue, even a 10GB will do just fine, cpu doesnt matter much either. Just make sure you put at least 1GB ram in it.
http://www.squidguard.org/

and if you dont want to waste the time blocking everything by yourself, keep up to date with their blacklists

http://www.squidguard.org/blacklists.html

Or if you want to throw a little green at it, try websense

http://www.websense.com/global...ductsServices/Express/