Comments for How do I block porn?

Comment from WFilter on 2009-04-21

2009-04-22T01:49:15Z

WFilter website: http://www.imfirewall.us

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Comment from WFilter on 2009-04-21

2009-04-22T01:48:37Z

You really need an internet filter software.
Our company is using "WFilter" to filter websites, block p2p, filter emails...
I am sure its helpful to you.

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Comment from Porn filter on 2009-03-25

2009-03-26T02:59:49Z

Can you bypass opendns by modifing the dns on the computer you are using? Or use a web proxy to by pass it?
You didn't mentioned about desktop porn blockers, such as aobo porn filter, how do you think of this kind of software?

Yes the DNS could be bypassed. That's one of the reasons I started the article by saying that there's no way to absolutely block anything.

The questioner also did not have the option to install anything on the machine in question, so desktop blockers were not an option. Even so, any thing you install on the desktop can be bypassed by someone using the machine who has sufficient knowledge and motivation.

- Leo
26-Mar-2009

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Comment from Lynne Marie on 2009-03-16

2009-03-17T00:12:52Z

A very effective ISP that controls porn is found at http://integrity.com/.

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Comment from afreespirit on 2009-03-12

2009-03-12T07:19:01Z

If SIL and family are living in "an apartment in the basement"--is that apartment really the OP's "own home"? What if rent is being paid?

The OP will find that trying to control the behavior of others is only going to lead to more and more problems. Far better for her to work on her own reactions and behavior--the only things she really has the power to control. But, good for Leo for trying to help, anyway.

I *heart* Ask Leo!

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Comment from Terry Hollett on 2009-03-11

2009-03-11T12:53:23Z

I have to agree with m g (Posted by: m g at March 10, 2009 9:56 AM). I have my own personal computer in my bedroom and another out in the living room.

Both connected with a router to a cable connection and the last thing I want to do is to spy on any one using the client computer. What they are viewing is there business.

I also noticed the person in question only "suspects" - no real proof - "I may not beleive in what you say, but I'll defend your right to say it."

On the same hand, if there are children in the house, hopefully the son-in -law has taken necessary precautions to protect his child. I suspect in this case this statement is the bigger problem "... idiot son-in-law live in an apartment in our basement because he cannot support his family."

[link removed]

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Comment from William on 2009-03-10

2009-03-10T21:31:34Z

I've tried three approaches:

1. The content filter on ZoneAlarm running on each machine. This worked pretty well. But the version of ZoneAlarm I was working with about a year ago did not like Vista.

2. Webroot Parental Controls. It is possible to setup a "server" that manages all the clients. Far and away the best controll over who can use the computer when.

3. The Zone Alarm Z100 hardware firewall with wireless G. Extreemly good content filtering. Note there is a supsciption fee per host per year that can be bought in groups of licenses for 5 hosts.

I creat on each machine a "play" account and a "School" account. I then use the Webroot parentla controls to allow "play" only for a few hours after dinner and all day Saturday. The "student" account is allowed to go to only school related accounts any time of day. The content filtering is then done against checkpoints database via a proxy which has proven to be very good. I put the Z100 and other network equipment in a locked cabinet. If you have a tendency yourself to surf porn that you want to mitigate, have your wife enter the password for the Z100.

The only bad thing I can say about the Z100 is that it is on the upper end of complexity for a home user. It's ability to support printers via it's USB ports is limited. I highly recommend checking with ZoneAlarm for supported printers before planning to use the USB/Printer function.

I note that ZoneAlarm is owned by Checkpoint who makes six digit $$ firewalls for most of the banking industry.

We don't allow the public interstate system to be used for a crime, why the internet? The question is porn a crime? Or asserted that we cannot define it thus we cannot make it a crime. Is child porn a crime? Some place in the shades of gray from frontal Nudity to Child Porn a line is clearly crossed. "Under the Influance", e.g. DUI is really shades of gray too but we don't allow it on the highway or streets. Using the highways for a crime is a crime, for example crossing state lines with children of the "Ex". I'm stating something we've already excepted, i.e. public resources should not be used in criminal activity. Do what you want with your own private network. But please don't think the public Tax dollar should be used to support a crime.
William

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Comment from TacoMonster on 2009-03-10

2009-03-10T18:04:23Z

My ISP requires a login before using its services. I prefer using my router, thus I don't have to login from my machine. More importantly, as Rahul points out, if IS-I-L resets the router, then no one gets out until the router is reconfigured again, assuming they don't know the password required by the ISP.

For those who login in from their machines rather than use the firewall, but have a situation similar to the author of the original question, one could switch over the configuration, per Rahul, AND change the password without providing it to IS-I-L. From that point on, if, IS-I-L pushes the reset, but there goes his access.

I've had several routers. Both allow backup of settings to a PC. This greatly simplifies restoring settings if a router is reset.

Footnote, if IS-I-L actually resets the router, the fight you wish to avoid will be out in the open, but you are on solid to ground to regulate what comes into your own home.

A lawyer would have to advise whether or not you'd have any responsiblity should child porn be downloaded by IS-I-L, notwithstanding the First Ammendment.

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Comment from Amin Shah Gilani on 2009-03-10

2009-03-10T17:48:16Z

configure your computer to use a specific IP address for your network AND a specific DNS, and you're not using OpenDNS ..
Hope the guy's idiotic son-in-law isn't a computer geek ..
.
btw .. using an online proxy should bypass OpenDNS security .. atleast i think it would. OpenDNS would only see traffic coming in from the proxy server and let it go. O don't remember much from when i last used my OpenDNS account .. =P .. but if OpenDNS blocks proxies, google translater is a useful tool.
.
the guy who asked this should be praying his son-in-law doesn't read this thread .. =P

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Comment from m g on 2009-03-10

2009-03-10T16:56:00Z

It's pretty demented to actually monitor which sites adults are visiting. Living with you sounds like a nightmare. Even if your son-in-law is a pain, you are no picnic yourself to live with, I am betting.

Thank God for the First Amendment. What do you have against it?

The first amendment (assuming she's even in the United States) doesn't mean she has to allow others to bring materials she considers objectionable into her own home.

- Leo
11-Mar-2009

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Comment from Rahul Mehta on 2009-03-08

2009-03-09T01:47:56Z

Resetting the router is messy....

With a router, the default strategy is to have router point to a DNS server normailly assigned by the ISP or OpenDNS and have all computers on the network point to the router as their DNS as assigned by the DHCP. This is easier on adding any new PCs and taking PCs on another network. You don't have to reconfigure the PC every time you move it to a new network. Easy on the laptop too.

Also resetting the router erases the log-on information to your ISP. And all Internet connection is broken until you reconfigure your router to log on to the ISP. So unless you know the log on information, you can't reconfigure the router to ever connect to the ISP.

Not all internet connections require that the router "log on". In fact I'd guess that most actually do not. In those cases simply resetting the router will get you a working, but OpenDNS-free, internet connection.

- Leo
09-Mar-2009

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Comment from rammolo on 2009-03-08

2009-03-08T22:39:22Z

correcting my last post, you must point to open DNS in each individual computer when assigning Static IP,s, and have open DNS client software also in each computer.

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Comment from rammolo on 2009-03-08

2009-03-08T22:25:08Z

Open DNS settings will no change resetting the router because the settings resides on Open DNS servers, but you must be running the open DNS client on each computer so it can track IP if your ISP use dynamic IP adressing.

Not quite.

Resetting the router will cause your client machines to stop using OpenDNS as the router reverts to giving the default DNS servers for your internet connection.

You only need to run the OpenDNS client a) if you have a dynamic IP, and b) on only one machine on your network.

- Leo
09-Mar-2009

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Comment from Rahul Mehta on 2009-03-07

2009-03-08T05:09:02Z

Resetting the router also resets the DNS settings that were pointing to OpenDNS.

Besides that will be only a temporary access as such a reset is soon observed and you can take appropriate counter measures. Protect your router physically, if such case is to be expected.

Yep. As I mentioned in the article someone dedicated with just a bit of knowledge may work around whatever you do. There's no 100% solution. (But this is a good reminder: secure your router.)

- Leo
08-Mar-2009

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Comment from rammolo on 2009-03-07

2009-03-08T04:14:22Z

I really think Opone NS is better than just a router firewall, all you have to do is press the router reset switch for 10 seconds, and all your settings and protection is away, even by a remote computer on your own network..

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Comment from Rahul Mehta on 2009-03-07

2009-03-07T16:35:20Z

I used OpenDNS for a while and then stopped using it. One big caveat was that it depends on its database of sites classified into categories. There could be many porn sites that are not yet in their database (although very extensive) and those would be allowed to pass through. Wrong classification is also a problem with OpenDNS.

Also a little net savvy person can very easily circumvent the blockade.

I personally prefer a solution based on my own network - e.g router/firewall based or a separate parental control device. You can route all net traffic through a master computer and use a control software on that machine. Any small PC would do a good job.

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Comment from rammolo on 2009-03-06

2009-03-07T04:09:42Z

Open DNS has been a great solution for me in blocking selective internet content, however if you are the chief of the house you will likely have their computer log in without administrator privileges, that is a standard account, you can also "modify" the account to fit the bill.

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