Re: Child Monitoring S/W
Becky Lash
<krh> wrote in message news:ijkee0h4a66jq2v3f...@4ax.com...
> Does anyone has suggestions for s/w for a young teenagers computer to
> limit access to certain sites?
>
> krh
Mike Mathis
make scanning the logs that CyberSitter sends a breeze. The macros use
color to highlight IM and filtered sites.
--Mike
"Becky Lash" <beck...@epictrends.com> wrote in message
news:Aq2dnVyxXpP...@comcast.com...
Becky Lash
as the only filtering software that truly blocks smut. The software was
rated better than Cyber Patrol or Net Nanny. I used to use Net Nanny and it
wasn't that great.
"Mike Mathis" <mike....@eds.com> wrote in message
news:40ea...@usenet.ugs.com...
John
Here they are, my biggest concerns with CyberSitter 9.x :
August 2004
1. IE Exception errors constantly, iexplorer.exe.
2. IE Web Pages script errors, such as Ebay.com, 'invalid object'.
3. Mishandling of Control Panel Internet Options Icon, which is
deleted, regardless of CB options. CB should not mess with any
internal Windows Systems options and setting, especially without
warning to user or by users request.
4. Many DLL files are dumped in sensitive SYSTEM32 folder. None of
these files have any hint of vendor identification whatsoever, no
version properties, nothing.
5. Sloppy technical programming structure, sloppy file allocation
structure. No surprise therefore that there are so many bugs,
problems, and security holes with CyberSitter.
6. No information for customers to see latest version release
information, no version change logs, nothing. The hacker web sites
are already promoting at least version 9.4.8.3. I'm a customer, how
do I read about and maybe get the newer releases.
7. There exist in many hacker newsgroups well documented instructions
on how circumvent CyberSitter, disable it, access it's passwords, etc.
8. Minimal/zero tech support from vendor, their web pages are only
for sales, no support, no FAQ's, and poor documentation.
9. Being rated well by Consumers and other magazines means nothing in
the real world.
Bottom Line: CyberSitter does and/or could do more harm than good for
your children, for you, and your PC.
That's my list. I have more issues, but these are the biggest one.
In defense of Solid Oak Software, I think it likely that all of the
software vendors in this niche of "Internet Content Filtering" have
technical issues.
Near Future: This is one of those areas that might be solved by
Microsoft. Windows XP SP2 has been touted as major "Security Centric
Update", maybe better easier content filtering.
John@NoSpam_SensorySIMS.com
(please remove "NoSpam_" from return address to respond directly)
Llertnac Cire
"John" <John@NoSpam_SensorySIMS.com> wrote in message
news:3aknh0l36u47jpqud...@4ax.com...
>
> Here they are, my biggest concerns with CyberSitter 9.x :
> August 2004
>
> In defense of Solid Oak Software, I think it likely that all of the
> software vendors in this niche of "Internet Content Filtering" have
> technical issues.
>
Can you recommend one that is better than the combined forces of tweaking
the security settings in IE, using Ad-aware and spybot?
-eric
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John
>Can you recommend one that is better than the combined forces of tweaking
>the security settings in IE, using Ad-aware and spybot?
>-eric
Unfortunately there is not a single software package which works well
in this area. This has to do with the 'hooks' into IE that is
required for these programs to work correctly. Doing this right,
would require a good group of expensive programmers, which is not
happening. Also consider how often MS changes IE, various service
packs, windows updates, etc, makes the task even more daunting.
Here's a sniplet of my original post from 4 days ago: I think it
likely that all of the software vendors in this niche of "Internet
Content Filtering" have technical issues.
Ok, see next post for my recommendations. This reallly deserves is
own post.
John
So, here are my recommendation(s): Near Future: This is one of those
areas that might be solved by Microsoft. Windows XP SP2 has been
touted as major "Security Centric Update", maybe better easier content
filtering.
Internet Explorer and important software recommendations.
1. My Recommended Minimal Security Settings for Internet Explorer:
In Internet Explorer, go to Tools | Internet Options | Click on the
"Security" tab, Highlight the "Internet" icon, click "Custom Level",
then:
-- "File Downloads" = Disable. <-- DO THIS TODAY.
(When you happen to actually need a file download, manually go
back and Enable this, but remember to DISABLE it right away.)
-- "Download signed ActiveX scripts" = Prompt
-- "Download unsigned ActiveX scripts = Prompt
-- "Initialize and script ActiveX not marked as safe" = Prompt
-- "Installation of Desktop items" = Prompt
-- "Launching programs and files in a IFRAME" = Prompt
-- "Navigate sub-frames across different domains" = Prompt
Click on the "Content" tab, Click the "Publishers" button, Click on
the "Truasted Publishers" tab:
-- Highlight and click "Remove" any unknown items in list,
click Ok.
Click on the "Advanced" tab:
-- Uncheck: "Enable Install on Demand (Internet Explorer)"
Uncheck: "Enable Install on Demand (Other)", click Apply\Ok
2. Software you should be using on Any PC:
Software tools for cleaning and protection from virus, trojans,
spyware, adware, etc.
In order of importance:
1. Symantec AntiVirus 2004 (Version 2004 is much stronger then
previous versions, spend the $25, buy it and use it) (This is only
program I enable for Full Time Protection.)
2. Spybot Search and Destroy (Good deep system checker of disk
files, registry, some IE settings, the works. Enable advanced mode.
Under Tools, Hosts File, add HOST entries. Under Tools, look at System
Startup and Process List, try to figure out what each line is for,
then watch for future changes.)
3. SpySweeper (Similiar to Spybot scan, may find/fix things
others miss)
4. Ad-Aware (Similiar to Spybot scan, may find/fix things
others miss)
5. HiJackThis (Nice quick simple scanner for MS Internet
Browser Hijacks)
Duncan
I have been evaluting the trial version and my experiences are very
similar. IE kept crashing and I couldn't get into Ebay either. It also
interfered with my mail server, despite manually releasing the ports.
I uninstalled it after a couple of days but I'm still left with programs
behaving strangely. (I have a desktop bar that was worked for years
but is now continually hanging). I can't prove that this was due
to the Cybersitter install but I am suspicious that you can't completely
eradicate it - maybe some leftover hooks/dlls etc. I'd recommend
people steer clear of this product unless you play with it first in a sandbox
environment that you are happy to trash.
I had been using We-Blocker which is free and stable but slow because
of its proxy architecture. Any other recommendations?
Duncan
(XP Pro)
Becky Lash
the best in this category. see "Becky" below.
"John" <John@NoSpam_SensorySIMS.com> wrote in message
news:3aknh0l36u47jpqud...@4ax.com...
>
> August 2004
>
> 1. IE Exception errors constantly, iexplorer.exe.
Becky: So far, no problems with that. We've been using Cybersitter for about
2 years and have the latest loaded.
>
> 2. IE Web Pages script errors, such as Ebay.com, 'invalid object'.
Becky: So far, no problems. We shop on ebay about 6 times a year for various
things, but not very often.
>
> 3. Mishandling of Control Panel Internet Options Icon, which is
> deleted, regardless of CB options. CB should not mess with any
> internal Windows Systems options and setting, especially without
> warning to user or by users request.
>
> 4. Many DLL files are dumped in sensitive SYSTEM32 folder. None of
> these files have any hint of vendor identification whatsoever, no
> version properties, nothing.
Becky: So far, no problems with 3 and the files in system32 do have version
properties and vendor IDs. at least on the files that I checked.
>
> 5. Sloppy technical programming structure, sloppy file allocation
> structure. No surprise therefore that there are so many bugs,
> problems, and security holes with CyberSitter.
Becky: no comment as I haven't looked at the software that much, beyond
setting it up and occasionally adding exceptions to the rules lists.
>
> 6. No information for customers to see latest version release
> information, no version change logs, nothing. The hacker web sites
> are already promoting at least version 9.4.8.3. I'm a customer, how
> do I read about and maybe get the newer releases.
Becky: I read a web page somewhere on their site that documented the latest
changes.
>
> 7. There exist in many hacker newsgroups well documented instructions
> on how circumvent CyberSitter, disable it, access it's passwords, etc.
Becky: Probably so. I've blocked newsgroups from my kids as they contain a
lot of porn anyway.
>
> 8. Minimal/zero tech support from vendor, their web pages are only
> for sales, no support, no FAQ's, and poor documentation.
Becky: They've usually answered my questions within 24 hours. I haven't had
that many questions though as the software does what i need it to pretty
effectively.
>
> 9. Being rated well by Consumers and other magazines means nothing in
> the real world.
>
> Bottom Line: CyberSitter does and/or could do more harm than good for
> your children, for you, and your PC.
Becky: Haven't found that to be true for my own experience. I'm not exactly
an expert on software architecture, but I do write software manuals, author
web sites, Flash components and online Help, and do a few other odds and
ends, with a bit of Visual Basic and other scripting languages thrown in, so
I'm not exactly computer illiterate. <g>
>
> That's my list. I have more issues, but these are the biggest one.
> In defense of Solid Oak Software, I think it likely that all of the
> software vendors in this niche of "Internet Content Filtering" have
> technical issues.
Becky: probably so. Cybersitter ain't perfick by a looooong shot.
xantia
sensitive settings. The new Cybersitter 9.x is very powerfull, hints
on -sites won't work.
John <John@NoSpam_SensorySIMS.com> wrote in message news:<3aknh0l36u47jpqud...@4ax.com>...
> Here they are, my biggest concerns with CyberSitter 9.x :
> August 2004
>
> 1. IE Exception errors constantly, iexplorer.exe.
>
> 2. IE Web Pages script errors, such as Ebay.com, 'invalid object'.
>
> 3. Mishandling of Control Panel Internet Options Icon, which is
> deleted, regardless of CB options. CB should not mess with any
> internal Windows Systems options and setting, especially without
> warning to user or by users request.
>
> 4. Many DLL files are dumped in sensitive SYSTEM32 folder. None of
> these files have any hint of vendor identification whatsoever, no
> version properties, nothing.
>
> 5. Sloppy technical programming structure, sloppy file allocation
> structure. No surprise therefore that there are so many bugs,
> problems, and security holes with CyberSitter.
>
> 6. No information for customers to see latest version release
> information, no version change logs, nothing. The web sites
> are already promoting at least version 9.4.8.3. I'm a customer, how
> do I read about and maybe get the newer releases.
>
> 7. There exist in many newsgroups well documented instructions
Rev. Bob 'Bob' Crispen
look like some pretty good parental controls: block ports (e.g., chat)
or IP addresses certain hours of the day.
You'd have to keep the kids from disconnecting the router and plugging
directly into the cable or whatever. Set everything up wireless and
banish all cat5 cable from your house?
Anyhow, if you've got a router, you might want to check the menus.
--
Rev. Bob "Bob" Crispen
bob at crispen dot org
Ex Cathedra Weblog: http://blog.crispen.org/
Browse Happy - Online, Worry-free - http://browsehappy.com/
Don't ask yourself what the world needs - ask yourself what makes you
come alive, and then go do it. Because what the world needs is people
who have come alive. -- Howard Thurman