Restrict downloads

[shelliewnj]

I hope you all can help me with a problem. My friend's kids are too smart for their own good lol. Anyway, they keep downloading games and inevitably I end up having to fix his computer because of viruses. Is there a way to keep them from being able to download? He's on windows 7. Ats non-negotiable guys... No switch him to Linux posts, okay? Thanks

 

[saptech]

Create user accounts or profiles and setup parental controls.

How to Create a New Profile in Windows 7 - Yahoo! Voices - voices.yahoo.com

 

[9to5cynic]

Off the top of my head, I can think of a couple solutions.

The first, is end user training. In this situation, tell your friend to create an account for the kids that do *not* have local admin rights. Now, they still could mess things up, but likely not as badly.

Another 'training' option would be for this friend to find some kind of appropriate disciplinary action. I'm not a parent, so I don't know what that would be...?

Now, for the technical answers I can think of...

> But first, does this friend have a second computer the could install a linux distro on? I'm not saying use that as main os, but to run snort on it. Snort is a damn good IDS/IPS that can stop traffic based on pre-defined rules. 10/10, five stars, two thumbs up kinda software. Also can block based on keywords... if ya catch my drift.

I'm not aware of any parental control programs... but I think Windows included one with their latest bundle of goodies (live or whatever).


Good luck.

 

[shelliewnj]

Saptech, that's outdated. I did see that, but it doesn't work anymore. Windows took away that option

9to5, I will try that windows program. Also, he does have a linux box for work, we'll check it out. thanks!

 

[saptech]

Sorry, you still should be able to create user accounts for the kids and make adjustments to it.

I do not use Windows at home and at work we're still using XP!

 

[shelliewnj]

You can make user accounts but there's no restrictions. Frustrating! XP was soooooo much easier. My kids have very strict rules and are still young, so I have yet to come across this problem myself, but I guess is is good future research for me as well as helping a friend.

 

[lunatic59]

You can make user accounts but there's no restrictions. Frustrating! XP was soooooo much easier. My kids have very strict rules and are still young, so I have yet to come across this problem myself, but I guess is is good future research for me as well as helping a friend.

There are additional controls in Windows 7, just handles differently. First you create the user account as a standard user, then once created you got to "Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\User Accounts\Manage Accounts" click on the account and select "Set up Parental Controls". From there you have other access controls.

 

[shelliewnj]

I'll try that, thanks

 

[argedion]

He could also use the host file to block the sites that the kids use to download games may need a resolver but those are all over the net

 

[JohnLaird]

You may be able to put a cap on the total bandwidth at the router. My father had the same problem with me when I was 15 years old..so once I exceeded the data/bandwidth cap (usually by playing games online or downloading movies/games) I could not use the internet for whatever interval he had set...the rest of the week or the rest of the month. It may be worth checking your router for that setting.

 

[9to5cynic]

He could also use the host file to block the sites that the kids use to download games may need a resolver but those are all over the net

I like this.

In fact, instead of setting up the hosts file to redirect the sites to localhost...

Spoiler

do something fun like kittenwar.com

Spoiler

69.163.249.38 - the current kittenwars.com IP address.

so normally the host file would look something like this:
{where gamesite.com is the offending site supplying .exe files}

127.0.0.1 localhost
::1 localhost
127.0.0.1 gamesite.com

but you could do something like this

127.0.0.1 localhost
::1 localhost
69.163.249.38 gamesite.com

:rofl:

 

[MoodyBlues]

My friend's kids are too smart for their own good lol. Anyway, they keep downloading games and inevitably I end up having to fix his computer because of viruses. Is there a way to keep them from being able to download?

Of course! Everything's easily possible with just the built-in tools available... Oh...wait...viruses?

He's on windows 7.

Oh, now I understand about the viruses.

Ats non-negotiable guys... No switch him to Linux posts, okay?

Sorry, can't help then! :laugh:

 

[Davdi]

'Upgrade' him to Win 8, give it a couple of months and he'll welcome something, Anything, else (Even Ubuntu)

Seriously, build a Linux Firewall box and (Very carefully) set iptables rules to block the sites/ports to prevent the little dears from downloading pretty much anything.