Family Computer Accountability

[Marco]

We have teenagers at home and until recently, they have demonstrated to be
trustworthy in not logging onto inappropriate websites. A couple of days
ago, our daughter informed us that her brother was using our computer to
visit x-rated sites. We don't want to challenge him about this until we have
proof. Is there a software our there that we can install that will allow us
to monitor sites that our computer has accessed? Thanks.
--
Marco

 

[Straight Talk]

On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 04:22:01 -0700, Marco <Marco17@yahoo.com.au>
wrote:

>We have teenagers at home and until recently, they have demonstrated to be
>trustworthy in not logging onto inappropriate websites. A couple of days
>ago, our daughter informed us that her brother was using our computer to
>visit x-rated sites.

Well, you allowed them to use the Internet, didn't you? What did you
expect?

And what makes you believe you can keep a young man from exploring
such stuff?

>We don't want to challenge him about this until we have
>proof. Is there a software our there that we can install that will allow us
>to monitor sites that our computer has accessed? Thanks.

There probably is. But I would be very careful about monitoring
without his knowledge. You may cause more bad than good.

May I suggest a different approach? Start talking to your son, show
interest and care about what he's doing and coach him about all
aspects of life instead of foolishly believing that you can keep him
away from all the horrors of this world.

BTW, this has nothing to do with security (except that some x-rated
sites may contain malware). It's a social challenge.

 

[PA Bear]

> ...Is there a software our there that we can install that will
> allow us to monitor sites that our computer has accessed?

Marco, chances are that your son is more computer savvy than you and has
already deleted the information you're looking for. Here's what I
recommend:

1. Have a serious talk with your son about his internet use (remembering
that he's innocent until proven guilty) and consider taking punitive
measures (e.g., no internet access for X days) just because you're the
parent and you say so.

2. Locate the family computer in a public area (e.g., dining room; living
room) where a parent can supervise its use. For their protection as well as
yours, do NOT allow a computer to be located in your children's bedrooms.

3. Each family member should have and use his/her own, password-protected
User Profile but only one Profile (yours) should have Administrative
privileges. Of course, you will know everyone's password and serious
consequences will ensue [see #1 above] if a password is changed without your
knowledge.

4. From time to time, log-in to each of your children's User Profiles and
review their browing History. Set the number of days to keep such History
as desired. More at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/basics/history/button.mspx.
(If you're running IE7 now, see Help > "To find websites you have visited"
and "To change the number of days that webpages are kept in the browsing
history".)

Here's a great tool for you to use to accomplish #3 and #4 above:

Windows SteadyState
(formerly known as the Shared Computer Toolkit for WinXP)

["Whether you manage computers in a school computer lab or an Internet cafe,
a library, or even in your home, Windows SteadyState helps make it easy for
you to keep your computers running the way you want them to, no matter who
uses them."]

Download:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=d077a52d-93e9-4b02-bd95-9d770ccdb431
(Validation Required)

Handbook Download:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=d64af114-336c-4418-beb7-e074e813b498

Good luck!
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org

Marco wrote:
> We have teenagers at home and until recently, they have demonstrated to
> be
> trustworthy in not logging onto inappropriate websites. A couple of days
> ago, our daughter informed us that her brother was using our computer to
> visit x-rated sites. We don't want to challenge him about this until we
> have proof. Is there a software our there that we can install that will
> allow us to monitor sites that our computer has accessed? Thanks.

 

[Straight Talk]

On Sat, 21 Jul 2007 12:23:40 -0400, "PA Bear" <PABearMVP@gmail.com>
wrote:

>Marco, chances are that your son is more computer savvy than you and has
>already deleted the information you're looking for. Here's what I
>recommend:
>
>1. Have a serious talk with your son about his internet use (remembering
>that he's innocent until proven guilty)

Ack.

>and consider taking punitive measures (e.g., no internet access for X days)
>just because you're the parent and you say so.
Why make him even more curious? Heck, go introduce the poor guy to the
birds and the bees before he starts learning from x-rated sites (he
will find ways to satisfy his curiosity anyway).
And why use non-arguments like "because I say so"?. Kids aren't
stupid.

>2. Locate the family computer in a public area (e.g., dining room; living
>room) where a parent can supervise its use. For their protection as well as
>yours, do NOT allow a computer to be located in your children's bedrooms.

Ack.

>3. Each family member should have and use his/her own, password-protected
>User Profile but only one Profile (yours) should have Administrative
>privileges.

Ack.

>Of course, you will know everyone's password and serious
>consequences will ensue [see #1 above] if a password is changed without your
>knowledge.

Why? As an administrator you have all the access you need.

>4. From time to time, log-in to each of your children's User Profiles and
>review their browing History.

But let him know in advance if you're doing so.

 

[Marco]

Thanks very much for your response. Appreciate the help.

--
Marco


"PA Bear" wrote:

> > ...Is there a software our there that we can install that will
> > allow us to monitor sites that our computer has accessed?
>
> Marco, chances are that your son is more computer savvy than you and has
> already deleted the information you're looking for. Here's what I
> recommend:
>
> 1. Have a serious talk with your son about his internet use (remembering
> that he's innocent until proven guilty) and consider taking punitive
> measures (e.g., no internet access for X days) just because you're the
> parent and you say so.
>
> 2. Locate the family computer in a public area (e.g., dining room; living
> room) where a parent can supervise its use. For their protection as well as
> yours, do NOT allow a computer to be located in your children's bedrooms.
>
> 3. Each family member should have and use his/her own, password-protected
> User Profile but only one Profile (yours) should have Administrative
> privileges. Of course, you will know everyone's password and serious
> consequences will ensue [see #1 above] if a password is changed without your
> knowledge.
>
> 4. From time to time, log-in to each of your children's User Profiles and
> review their browing History. Set the number of days to keep such History
> as desired. More at
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/basics/history/button.mspx.
> (If you're running IE7 now, see Help > "To find websites you have visited"
> and "To change the number of days that webpages are kept in the browsing
> history".)
>
> Here's a great tool for you to use to accomplish #3 and #4 above:
>
> Windows SteadyState
> (formerly known as the Shared Computer Toolkit for WinXP)
>
> ["Whether you manage computers in a school computer lab or an Internet cafe,
> a library, or even in your home, Windows SteadyState helps make it easy for
> you to keep your computers running the way you want them to, no matter who
> uses them."]
>
> Download:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=d077a52d-93e9-4b02-bd95-9d770ccdb431
> (Validation Required)
>
> Handbook Download:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=d64af114-336c-4418-beb7-e074e813b498
>
> Good luck!
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>
> Marco wrote:
> > We have teenagers at home and until recently, they have demonstrated to
> > be
> > trustworthy in not logging onto inappropriate websites. A couple of days
> > ago, our daughter informed us that her brother was using our computer to
> > visit x-rated sites. We don't want to challenge him about this until we
> > have proof. Is there a software our there that we can install that will
> > allow us to monitor sites that our computer has accessed? Thanks.
>
>

 

[Roger Abell [MVP]]

Nice set of advisories Robear.

I only wanted to point out that on your item 3, the admin can
set the accounts so that they cannot change their own password.
One of course would want to then periodically change all of
the passwords for them, but one would then always be able to
use the handy shortcut of logging in with any of the accounts
and have access to their private storage, their internet cache, etc..

As a comment for Marco, as I see it this is not a question of
making a rule "do not do this", as that will only translate into
"can't do that here". Instead, as others have suggested, one does
need to work with the flow (of maturation) and discover ways
to allow things to unfold responsibly.

Roger

"PA Bear" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:e8qe6P7yHHA.1212@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> ...Is there a software our there that we can install that will
>> allow us to monitor sites that our computer has accessed?
>
> Marco, chances are that your son is more computer savvy than you and has
> already deleted the information you're looking for. Here's what I
> recommend:
>
> 1. Have a serious talk with your son about his internet use (remembering
> that he's innocent until proven guilty) and consider taking punitive
> measures (e.g., no internet access for X days) just because you're the
> parent and you say so.
>
> 2. Locate the family computer in a public area (e.g., dining room; living
> room) where a parent can supervise its use. For their protection as well
> as yours, do NOT allow a computer to be located in your children's
> bedrooms.
>
> 3. Each family member should have and use his/her own, password-protected
> User Profile but only one Profile (yours) should have Administrative
> privileges. Of course, you will know everyone's password and serious
> consequences will ensue [see #1 above] if a password is changed without
> your knowledge.
>
> 4. From time to time, log-in to each of your children's User Profiles and
> review their browing History. Set the number of days to keep such History
> as desired. More at
> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/basics/history/button.mspx.
> (If you're running IE7 now, see Help > "To find websites you have visited"
> and "To change the number of days that webpages are kept in the browsing
> history".)
>
> Here's a great tool for you to use to accomplish #3 and #4 above:
>
> Windows SteadyState
> (formerly known as the Shared Computer Toolkit for WinXP)
>
> ["Whether you manage computers in a school computer lab or an Internet
> cafe, a library, or even in your home, Windows SteadyState helps make it
> easy for you to keep your computers running the way you want them to, no
> matter who uses them."]
>
> Download:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=d077a52d-93e9-4b02-bd95-9d770ccdb431
> (Validation Required)
>
> Handbook Download:
> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=d64af114-336c-4418-beb7-e074e813b498
>
> Good luck!
> --
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>
> Marco wrote:
>> We have teenagers at home and until recently, they have demonstrated to
>> be
>> trustworthy in not logging onto inappropriate websites. A couple of days
>> ago, our daughter informed us that her brother was using our computer to
>> visit x-rated sites. We don't want to challenge him about this until we
>> have proof. Is there a software our there that we can install that will
>> allow us to monitor sites that our computer has accessed? Thanks.
>

 

[PA Bear]

You're most welcome, Marco. Good luck!

Marco wrote:
> Thanks very much for your response. Appreciate the help.
>
>
>>> ...Is there a software our there that we can install that will
>>> allow us to monitor sites that our computer has accessed?
>>
>> Marco, chances are that your son is more computer savvy than you and has
>> already deleted the information you're looking for. Here's what I
>> recommend:
>>
>> 1. Have a serious talk with your son about his internet use (remembering
>> that he's innocent until proven guilty) and consider taking punitive
>> measures (e.g., no internet access for X days) just because you're the
>> parent and you say so.
>>
>> 2. Locate the family computer in a public area (e.g., dining room; living
>> room) where a parent can supervise its use. For their protection as well
>> as yours, do NOT allow a computer to be located in your children's
>> bedrooms.
>>
>> 3. Each family member should have and use his/her own, password-protected
>> User Profile but only one Profile (yours) should have Administrative
>> privileges. Of course, you will know everyone's password and serious
>> consequences will ensue [see #1 above] if a password is changed without
>> your knowledge.
>>
>> 4. From time to time, log-in to each of your children's User Profiles and
>> review their browing History. Set the number of days to keep such
>> History
>> as desired. More at
>> http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ie6/using/howto/basics/history/button.mspx.
>> (If you're running IE7 now, see Help > "To find websites you have
>> visited"
>> and "To change the number of days that webpages are kept in the browsing
>> history".)
>>
>> Here's a great tool for you to use to accomplish #3 and #4 above:
>>
>> Windows SteadyState
>> (formerly known as the Shared Computer Toolkit for WinXP)
>>
>> ["Whether you manage computers in a school computer lab or an Internet
>> cafe, a library, or even in your home, Windows SteadyState helps make it
>> easy for you to keep your computers running the way you want them to, no
>> matter who uses them."]
>>
>> Download:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=d077a52d-93e9-4b02-bd95-9d770ccdb431
>> (Validation Required)
>>
>> Handbook Download:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=d64af114-336c-4418-beb7-e074e813b498
>>
>> Good luck!
>> --
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>> AumHa VSOP & Admin; DTS-L.org
>>
>> Marco wrote:
>>> We have teenagers at home and until recently, they have demonstrated to
>>> be
>>> trustworthy in not logging onto inappropriate websites. A couple of
>>> days
>>> ago, our daughter informed us that her brother was using our computer to
>>> visit x-rated sites. We don't want to challenge him about this until we
>>> have proof. Is there a software our there that we can install that will
>>> allow us to monitor sites that our computer has accessed? Thanks.