Simple Ways to Regulate Internet Usage

Whether trying to monitor PC usage or restrict access, both parents and employers often find themselves in the same position. Trying to set up a system to monitor or regulate computer usage can be a daunting proposition, particularly when the people you’re trying to restrict might be more computer-savvy than you are. It can also be difficult because those you’re trying to regulate just have more time to spend trying to circumvent your PC or network security than you have to set it up.

Block Access to Inappropriate Websites

Most browsers have built-in site blocking features. These measures are simple to institute and will block a single site at a time. For example: when using Internet Explorer, open Tools, click on Internet Options, and choose Security to restrict access to certain sites. Firefox has a number of parental control extensions that can be installed at addons.mozilla.org. These methods of blocking access to particular sites are easy to employ, but as a result, tend to be easy to defeat by someone with a just a little bit of know-how. Getting around this is as simple as using a different web browser.

A more sure alternative means to restricting computer access is to edit your PC’s Host File if you are using a Windows PC. If using Windows 7; Go to Computer, Local Disk (C in most cases), Windows, System 32, drivers, etc. Once there, open the file named “hosts”. Make sure you open it as an administrator. To block a site, type in "127.0.0.1 localhost sitename.com” at the bottom of the file. If you wanted to block Facebook, you would type “127.0.0.1 localhost facebook.com”. Whatever sites you enter will be inaccessible from that computer regardless of browser. Instructions for older Windows systems can be found by simply running a query through the search engine of your choice.

There are multiple reputable software suites available designed to block websites. Most require a little bit of know-how to set up and maintain, and can have the downside of being rather costly. Whatever method you use, completely blocking access to a site or category of sites, gives your users something to try to get around, and some will do so just to prove that they can.

An alternative is available, however...

Secretly Monitor Computer Usage

There are multiple options available for monitoring PC usage. Probably the most well known is key logging, which can be done in two ways; installing key logging software, or leaving a key logger plugged into the computer. The software solution usually needs to be installed and can be picked up by antivirus/antispyware utility programs. Hardware solutions are, generally, much more difficult for software to detect, but may not be an option, particularly when monitoring a laptop or notebook PC. A key logger will give you a report of all the characters typed into the PC’s keyboard.

Multiple programs exist that can be installed on PCs, with multiple levels of discretion. Some allow for custom set-ups that will monitor different accounts in different ways and email out detailed reports to their administrator. When installing these sorts of programs, it is important to keep in mind that, as a rule, the more the programs do and monitor, the more system resources they take up. Overloading your PC can have a negative effect on system performance, slowing down the computer.

Oftentimes simpler is better. An item like the Stealth iBot installs in only a few seconds, records keystrokes like a key logger, and also takes screenshots, allowing an administrator to view whatever a user was looking at on their screen. Files are kept small, but you can still review all activity on the machine.