Manage internet access

['putertutor]

A customer of mine asked me if I knew of any software/hardware that would help manage a user's total time online. Here's the scenario:

They have 6 computers (Vista Ultimate) with internet access and several kids who are allowed to get online. There are no servers, this is a workgroup type setup. Each kid has a login on each machine - meaning there are 6 accounts on each machine. Ideally, they want to limit total time online per day, regardless of the machine used. So Little Johnny, who is limited to an hour/day should not be able to circumvent this limitation by using one hour on computer 1, and then just switching to computer 2 for another hour.

They would prefer not to have to get into the expense of getting a server, but I don't think this is possible with their current situation. Any ideas?

 

[logiccs]

I agree, a server would be the best (maybe only) way around this. If they don't want to shell out the money on a server they could always just assign each user a single pc? or maybe convert one PC into a server for a minimal expense?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I don't see how a server would help this.
There are lots of "kiddie surf safe" software out there which limit access and allowed time....but as you said, that's "per computer"...so a kid will get smart enough to use move to another computer once they've hit 60 minutes on the first computer. Vista/Win7 even have this built into user account controls...can limit total time per user session.

I imagine you could find some "captive portal" software that meters time online....this may or may not be regardless of what computer they came in from.

Is this a day care center or something?
or a home? if it's a home...not to sound blunt..but jeeze the answer is...."parental supervision". I know...not your place to blurt that out to the client though.

 

[brandonkick]

With six children in the house I'm sure the parents have a LOT of other things to do which are more important than ensuring Johnny doesn't play too much WoW.

One child per computer sounds about right. If that won't work then maybe limit them down to say three of the machines (meaning no access to the other three). Three machines are much easier to handle then six, and having two accounts per machine means there isn't a gigantic issue with child a needing the same time slot that child b needs as were only dealing with an hour per day anways.

 

['putertutor]

It's a group home sort of deal. So there are actually 18 teenage boys, 6 of whom have the ability to get online. It's very unlikely, but possible that all of them could get that privilege. Right now there is a session timer that logs off after 60 minutes, but staff have to keep track of total daily time. I've looked at some of the kid safe stuff, but they all work per computer. Not sure what I am looking for exists.

 

['putertutor]

Is this a day care center or something?
or a home? if it's a home...not to sound blunt..but jeeze the answer is...."parental supervision". I know...not your place to blurt that out to the client though.

Agreed. 100%. And I have told more than one parent-customer as much. Mostly because as a parent it angers me to see some who put so little effort into being one.

 

[FoolishTech]

I don't see how a server would help this.
There are lots of "kiddie surf safe" software out there which limit access and allowed time....but as you said, that's "per computer"...so a kid will get smart enough to use move to another computer once they've hit 60 minutes on the first computer. Vista/Win7 even have this built into user account controls...can limit total time per user session.

Windows 8 also has this built-in, with more features than earlier versions. Although I have yet to TEST this, I SUSPECT that with a Microsoft Live login account (which transfers your user settings to each Windows 8 PC used) would also transfer the limitations on the account. Why not, it transfers the desktop background and everything else. If so, that means that a simple Windows 8 upgrade on all the PCs could solve the issue.

Got a few things on my plate right now but I can test this out when I get home. I just setup my son's account on his own Win8 PC yesterday and I'm already getting those PC Family Safety emails on his account usage. I went local but I can convert that to a M$ account I think, apply the restrictions, then log him into my laptop and see if they stick.

 

[markcuk11]

have you looked at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/Protecting-your-kids-with-Family-Safety

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/features/parental-controls

they used to be great guide for it will try and dig it up

 

['putertutor]

Windows 8 also has this built-in, with more features than earlier versions. Although I have yet to TEST this, I SUSPECT that with a Microsoft Live login account (which transfers your user settings to each Windows 8 PC used) would also transfer the limitations on the account. Why not, it transfers the desktop background and everything else. If so, that means that a simple Windows 8 upgrade on all the PCs could solve the issue.

Got a few things on my plate right now but I can test this out when I get home. I just setup my son's account on his own Win8 PC yesterday and I'm already getting those PC Family Safety emails on his account usage. I went local but I can convert that to a M$ account I think, apply the restrictions, then log him into my laptop and see if they stick.

I'd like to see how this works. I won't be back at my shop until Monday (3-Day Weekend!!), so I wouldn't be able to test it out until then. If you check it out, let me know. Thanks!

have you looked at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-vista/Protecting-your-kids-with-Family-Safety

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/products/features/parental-controls

they used to be great guide for it will try and dig it up

As far as I know, both of those allow you to set times of the day when you can get on the computer per computer, as opposed to a total number of minutes you can get online per day across multiple computers. I need the latter.

 

[markcuk11]

I came across this when I worked in New Zealand http://www.ibosswebfilters.com/home_overview.html

this might do it http://www.timesupkidz.com/tour and there a trail

 

[FoolishTech]

I'd like to see how this works. I won't be back at my shop until Monday (3-Day Weekend!!), so I wouldn't be able to test it out until then. If you check it out, let me know. Thanks!



As far as I know, both of those allow you to set times of the day when you can get on the computer per computer, as opposed to a total number of minutes you can get online per day across multiple computers. I need the latter.

Just tested, and Windows 8 on every PC (with a Microsoft login, not a local one) is definitely the answer to your problems, because it DOES IN FACT SYNC ACROSS DIFFERENT PCs and yes, it also has total time limitations as well as curfew, website monitoring, email reporting, and all of that.

Just tested by creating the Microsoft login account on one PC, set it to a child account. Then I setup family safety limits (only actually tested the curfew feature because I didn't want to wait xx minutes to see if it worked) and then added that Microsoft account to a 2nd Windows 8 box - logged in and voila, I was past the set curfew and I was booted off before I even saw a desktop. On the other PC the child user was also booted; actually forced to either provide an admin password for more time or switch users.

 

[tankman1989]

Is there a way they could have an account that is specifically for Internet use which has a 1 hour session limit per day? The other session could be used for anything. Shares could be set up between profiles if file sharing between profiles is an issue. That is the only way I can see this working with standard Vista/Win 7.