Cannot add https: to blocked websites under Vista parental control

[Jen]

I am trying to block https://vtunnel.com as a blocked website under parental
controls. My children have discovered at school that you can bypass filters
and visit sites you want by first using this https://vtunnel.com site and it
will take you where you want to go. I can add it to a restricted site in
internet explorer but it can only be added to IE under each user account ID
and then they can edit it. With parental controls, when I try to block it
using Parental Controls, User Controls, Windows Vista Web Filter, Block a
Specific Website, I get an error message stating: "only websites starting
with http:// can be added to the allow or block lists".

 

[Victek]

I am trying to block https://vtunnel.com as a blocked website under

parental
controls. My children have discovered at school that you can bypass
filters
and visit sites you want by first using this https://vtunnel.com site and
it
will take you where you want to go. I can add it to a restricted site in
internet explorer but it can only be added to IE under each user account
ID
and then they can edit it. With parental controls, when I try to block it
using Parental Controls, User Controls, Windows Vista Web Filter, Block a
Specific Website, I get an error message stating: "only websites starting
with http:// can be added to the allow or block lists".

Do you know about the free OpenDNS service? By changing the DNS server
settings in TCP/IP properties on the PC (or adding the DNS server addresses
in the static DNS server settings in your router) all site address requests
are routed through the OpenDNS servers which offer free content filtering.
Go to www.opendns.com, note the DNS server addresses, create an account and
configure the content filtering to your liking. In particular there's an
option to add specific addresses to a "blocked" site list. If you decide to
try this and need help setting it up post back.

 

[Jen]

I have just discovered that I can add an https: website through internet
explorer by going to tools, internet options, content tab, click settings
under content advisor, approved sites tab, type website under allowed
websites, and then click "NEVER".

This is the only way I can add this site. I cannot add it throught parental
controls under the user account in the list of blocked websites and if I add
it just to restricted sites under the security tab in internet explorer I
would have to do this by logging in to their user account and then they would
be able to edit it. Very confusing - a round about way to try to accomplish
something. I hope they fix this! Ideally, you should be able to do this
when you set up parental controls and not have to go to internet explorer.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

Ideally, one would not have to rely on a computer program to control
his/her children.

Ideally, yes; but the world is not ideal. There are too many temptations and
other influences from organizations that insist they have a right to free
speech and such.

Realistically speaking, anyone getting advice here about how to control
children might be outsmarted again by children with their own network of
support for how to outsmart adults.

 

[MBUnit]

I am trying to block https://vtunnel.com as a blocked website under parental
controls. My children have discovered at school that you can bypass filters
and visit sites you want by first using this https://vtunnel.com site and it
will take you where you want to go. I can add it to a restricted site in
internet explorer but it can only be added to IE under each user account ID
and then they can edit it. With parental controls, when I try to block it
using Parental Controls, User Controls, Windows Vista Web Filter, Block a
Specific Website, I get an error message stating: "only websites starting
with http:// can be added to the allow or block lists".

What firewall on the machine are you using? If you find out what the IP
for that site is, you can block the IP with a firewall rule.

You can do this. You can download and install CurrPort which is free,
start CurrPort, go to the Web site in question using IE and look for the
connection using CurrPort to see what IP is being used, the *Remote IP*.

If you can do that, get the IP, then you can set a rule with Vista's
firewall to block the IP the remote site is using.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

Those are effective only when parents aren't.

Since we are far off-topic I won't continue but I still see the world quite
differently.