IT Guys - How to block chat programs.

[Volt]

Originally Posted by RGD.

Just like the title says - what protocol's (if any) can I block to stop programs like Windows Messenger, AIM, etc from being used.

Have a daughter whom I need to curtail without keeping her off the net totally.

Thanks,


Ron

Ok, I'm not goning to debate the right/wrong of what a parent chooses to do in protecting their child. IMO, a child gets only those rights/priviledges the parent chooses to hand out. I work in schools, work in IT, and have set a ton of individualized home PCs for friends who have children.

1. Consider a full on protection program such as Net Nanny, Cyber Sitter, etc. Read reviews and assess their differences, each person has different needs. Be aware no software is perfect. It's easier to manage a tool than to piece meal a "protection" system. Once you make a decsion, them Google "how to disable XXXXX software.... Amazing what they try to do.

2. Limit children logon to a limited or power user account - NO admin rights. If a new game needs to be loaded, you do it. This prohibits them from installing intentionally/or a bad piece of drive by malware software from being installed. Also as the admin, they have the power to "undo" many of the protections your trying to set up.

3. With a child that is really heading for trouble (or not), a key logger program which will trap all their key strokes. A friend of mine convienitly has "family pizza night out" when he know his 16 yr old daughter has plans to a party that no adults will be at.

4. Place the PC in an open area of the house.

5. There is software and hardware that will only allow power on or the ability to logon to the PC at given times.

I love the trusting and nieve parents, I get $30 an hour to fix/repair/install/etc (MY PART TIME WORK) the mistakes the kids wreck on the PC or after a bad event/situation and they have to try to lock down the PC. As I teach in the schools, I get to hear all their plans, read printed emails/tests (phone, AOL, etc), Facebook/myspace pages, etc. For all the parents who say "my straight "A" littel Suzi insn't doing any of that" - you so do not have a clue about your kids.

Children do not have the wisdom to make the best decsion at times. No matter what their best intent is, peer pressure is crushing at their age, they will buckle, everyone here has at some time. If we were lucky we survived..... Kids have grown up in this world, we had to learn the PC age as it happened. They are better educated in it's ways....