Internet filtering (control) software

TruthSetsYouFree · Jan 11, 2005

Does anybody know of any good (and cheap) programs that will allow me to block all Internet access for a computer, except for a selected "approved list" of websites? I tried messing around with the security settings and Content Advisor built into MSIE, with no success.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Bobby

BradC314 · Jan 11, 2005

Does the router on your network (if you have one) have whitelisting capabilities? Mine does, and your's might too.

Also, check out besafe.com or Safeeyes.com.

TruthSetsYouFree · Jan 11, 2005

BradC314 said:
Does the router on your network (if you have one) have whitelisting capabilities? Mine does, and your's might too.

Also, check out besafe.com or Safeeyes.com.

Hi Brad,

Thanks for the advice! I checked into the router idea, and all I could find was one that would whitelist the whole network (not just certain computers). I guess they said I needed a highly sophisticated one or something. I so much as found one that would even block access for certain computers, but I wasn't sure if they would let me open up those computers to visit a handful of "good" sites. The owner needs them to visit some sites, but doesn't want them visiting anything else. According to D-Link, I need to do this via software or I think they said Cisco might have something.

I am looking into those other sites you mentioned!

Thanks!
Bobby

BradC314 · Jan 11, 2005

Just so I understand: you want to apply a whitelist to the whole network? Or, do you just want the whitelist to affect certain computers on the network?

BradC314 · Jan 11, 2005

I have a Microsoft MN-700 that will allow me to set up a whitelist and apply it to either the computers I designate, or to the entire network.

Depending on the size of the network (i.e. a larger network), there are other devices that may do what you need also.

TruthSetsYouFree · Jan 11, 2005

BradC314 said:
Just so I understand: you want to apply a whitelist to the whole network? Or, do you just want the whitelist to affect certain computers on the network?

There's 3 computers that the employees need to use, and those systems need to be protected from visiting websites, except for a small handful of ones (if a guest walks up to the desk and asks for the weather, they have to visit weather.com, etc.). On the same network, there's a manger's office, the owner's office, the accountant, and some others that need full-unrestricted Internet access. I know there's ones out there that can whitelist just certain computers, but I know they didn't want to spend a mint, because it's only 3 computers. Do you know of any routers (or devices) off hand that wouldn't cost more then say, $200 or so?

Thanks Brad!

Bobby

TruthSetsYouFree · Jan 11, 2005

BradC314 said:
I have a Microsoft MN-700 that will allow me to set up a whitelist and apply it to either the computers I designate, or to the entire network.

Depending on the size of the network (i.e. a larger network), there are other devices that may do what you need also.

Really?? I just looked up the Microsoft MN-700 and I found those aren't out of the price range! Will it let me disable the wireless part, and use it as a wired router, and restrict only certain computers from accessing websites (except of course, a handful of 'whitelist' ones)?

I realllllly appreciate your help!! The first time I saw your screen name, I thought it could have been my brother in law. Several years ago, he used to work in IL, and he likes to use the handle "BradC" too!

Thanks!
Bobby

Veiled Viper · Jan 11, 2005

BradC314 said:
Also, check out besafe.com

I had Bsafe.Don't bother with them!(Bad tech support,unclear and difficult to understand interface.)I ditched them for Netmop.

TruthSetsYouFree · Jan 11, 2005

Knight4God said:
I had Bsafe.Don't bother with them!(Bad tech support,unclear and difficult to understand interface.)I ditched them for Netmop.

Thanks for the input!

BradC314 · Jan 12, 2005

TruthSetsYouFree said:
Really?? I just looked up the Microsoft MN-700 and I found those aren't out of the price range! Will it let me disable the wireless part, and use it as a wired router, and restrict only certain computers from accessing websites (except of course, a handful of 'whitelist' ones)?

I realllllly appreciate your help!! The first time I saw your screen name, I thought it could have been my brother in law. Several years ago, he used to work in IL, and he likes to use the handle "BradC" too!

Thanks!
Bobby

I just did some quick testing to see if I could do what you described. I was able to restrict one computer on my network to only access the whitelist that I set up, but other computers on the network still had unrestricted access.

Look at this screenshot: http://www.cleghorn.org/images/mn700filter.jpg

Also, you can easily disable the wireless function of the mn700.

Another BradC, huh? I wonder if I can claim dibs on it?

TruthSetsYouFree · Jan 12, 2005

BradC314 said:
I just did some quick testing to see if I could do what you described. I was able to restrict one computer on my network to only access the whitelist that I set up, but other computers on the network still had unrestricted access.

Look at this screenshot: http://www.cleghorn.org/images/mn700filter.jpg

Also, you can easily disable the wireless function of the mn700.

Another BradC, huh? I wonder if I can claim dibs on it?

Brad, your a lifesaver!!! This is exactly what I was looking for!!! Thanks for the screen shot too!

Thanks a million!!

Bobby

BradC314 · Jan 12, 2005

Glad I could help! Let me know if you have any more questions.

Swart · Jan 14, 2005

TruthSetsYouFree said:
Does anybody know of any good (and cheap) programs that will allow me to block all Internet access for a computer, except for a selected "approved list" of websites? I tried messing around with the security settings and Content Advisor built into MSIE, with no success.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Bobby

Dansguardian is great and free! Of course, you'll need a REAL OS, not a pretend one.

TruthSetsYouFree · Jan 14, 2005

Swart said:
Dansguardian is great and free! Of course, you'll need a REAL OS, not a pretend one.

Swart! I know where your going with this... to Alaska to pick me up a Penguin... I have two main computers in my office, and one of them is running Fedora Core 3 Unfortunately, I'm still working on my clients to make the big switch..

Thanks for the suggestion! I book-marked the site for future reference.

Bobby

P.S. Last (this) Christmas I emailed my sister my Christmas wish as a joke, if anybody is interested in a good chuckle (or is realllllly rich and wants to have a Linux-based pet..) check out http://www.penguinwarehouse.com/products.php

Swart · Jan 14, 2005

TruthSetsYouFree said:
Swart! I know where your going with this... to Alaska to pick me up a Penguin../QUOTE]

I thought Penguins came from Antarctica?

TruthSetsYouFree · Jan 14, 2005

Swart said:
I thought Penguins came from Antarctica?

Ah rats!!! I already bought plane tickets for Alaska!! Are you SURE there isn't one lonely little fellow roaming the beach somewhere up there with my name on it??

Swart · Jan 14, 2005

TruthSetsYouFree said:
Ah rats!!! I already bought plane tickets for Alaska!! Are you SURE there isn't one lonely little fellow roaming the beach somewhere up there with my name on it??

An ex-pat, maybe.

Internet filtering (control) software

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