looking for a reverse web content filter

[QueBert]

Basically I helped a friend restrict her sons computer usage using a net cafe program. He earns times by going chores etc and can use his computer until the time runs out. But, she wants him to be able to use the computer for homework even if he doesn't have any time left in his account. So I made a "homework" account that just lets him access Word, the printer and a web browser. The problem is, she doesn't want him to have full blown web access. I'm finding plenty of programs that filter out adult content, but I'd like to find the best way to have it only allow him to access sites she specifies. That way he can use the PC and go online, but not waste him time on Youtube or Myspace. We have a blocker on IE to filter out adult sites and key words, but beyond that it's open. on this homework account he only has access to Firefox. That's where we want to have the only allow access to sites on list.

What would be the best way to go about this?

 

[narzy]

It is called a whitelist. Most content filters will let you run them in such a mode that they will only allow access to a specific list of sites that you configure.

It looks like K9 http://www1.k9webprotection.com/index.php will do it. You can set times that only certain sites are accessable and times when restrictions are more relaxed.

That being said, It worries me that this is the approach the parents are taking in regards to teaching their kids about computing and computer safety. Kids are smart, they will get around anything you put in their way eventually. Software is not a replacement to parenting...

 

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: narzy
It is called a whitelist. Most content filters will let you run them in such a mode that they will only allow access to a specific list of sites that you configure.

It looks like K9 http://www1.k9webprotection.com/index.php will do it. You can set times that only certain sites are accessable and times when restrictions are more relaxed.

That being said, It worries me that this is the approach the parents are taking in regards to teaching their kids about computing and computer safety. Kids are smart, they will get around anything you put in their way eventually. Software is not a replacement to parenting...

it's not about computer safty here, her Son has his moments where he does just what he's told and others where he acts his age (15) and does whatever. She doesn't want to lock him out of his computer totally, but she also doesn't want him to be watching videos on youtube when he should be doing his homework. The internet cafe program is a good medium, as he can earn computer time to play UT 2k4 or go on Youtube. And when his time runs out he can still use Word + surf, but only sites that will help him with his homework. everything else is locked down tight and cannot be gotten around.

As it stands he cannot get around the main software, it replaces the shell.exe with the front end for the internet cafe software, he cannot boot to a CD and the internet cafe program will not let him get to his desk top. I've been on computers my whole life, and I could not figure a way to get around this software. It sucks, but all this seems to be the only logical way to accomplish him having computer access and not abusing it.