how to stop a user's internet access???

[Seahawk60B]

The OP did not say he himself was a student, in fact he said that "our
department Director has asked me, since I maintain all of our network
access and computers, to disable the internet from the student worker
PC."

It does not sound like they are bypassing the network administrator -
it sounds like it is being properly handled by whatever their IT
hierarchy happens to be. And since these are student WORKERS, the IT
department has every right to control what they can and can't do on the
computers while they are supposed to be WORKING.

I don't disagree that they should also be "counseled" with regards to
what is expected of them as student WORKERS, and their current use of
the computers, but if they can't be monitored directly while they are
supposed to be working - and I would assume receiving some sort of
compensation - then the computer(s) need to be locked down.

you are correct with what they are expected to do.

but, what i saw is that the network administrator was being left out of the
loop by the
director, likely because the director couldnt get the cooperation of
the network administrator or maybe some policy was in the way.

Then the director wanted the student worker
to alter the integrity of the system and regulate the other student workers.
Since the student didn't know how to do it and for whatever reason
couldn't send an email to their network administrator; decided to ask
the newsgroup.

Thank goodness for newsgroups and for the helpful people.
It was my intent not to provide the quick fix and instead
provided something that would resonate for the longer term..

Didnt mean to come down hard on the student, since
the problem of behaviors is with the leadership and the
use of innocent students to do their dirty work....

Student WORKERS, Ben....

Is it stifling their spirits too much to expect them to work when they're
at their job???

These do not sound like public-access machines in the library.

--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

sorry, i thought children
were considered to be under the age of 18.

i wouldn't want to attend a university that
has a dictator for a director or considers its students
that pay your salaries for attending, as children.

You say you are only doing what you have been told to do.
But is it within the codes of ethics? I don't think so especially
coming from an institution that receives public funding, receives
money from the students, and a director who rather dictate personal
policy rather than discussing the issues with the students...

Next thing you will be ordered to do is to
go to the library and remove the art books
because the students are spending too much time
looking at the nude masterpieces.

as long as the "children" don't recognize the conspiracy;
as long as you have 100% over the control
of the network (seems to me that you do not);
and as long as you are acting within the established
guidelines and not those just conveniently made but a director
who probably spends too much time drinking coffee;
and as long as a federal judge doesn't
consider the alterations as a violation,

then you are "a"-"ok"....



man, this wasn't meant to be a psychology question. we just want our
workers to do what they're at their job to do, work. Keep in mind these
are kids, children, not professionals. if given the option of screwing
off chatting with friends online or doing actual work, what do you think
they'll choose? They'll choose chatting with friends. Remove that option
and then either they sit there with their thumbs up their backside or
they work.

Therefore, I'm trying to do the job I was given, disabling their
internet access, and not have to go back to my director and tell her how
to do her job differently.

Now, if anyone can seriously tell me how to do what i asked, I would
appreciate the advice.

Thanks!

DatabaseBen wrote:

hmm, it sounds like you have a "real jar of sour pickles"...

but i don't think that altering the computer will alter the students
behavior.
whats next, altering books, etc.... Is it a question of protecting the
computer system
or trying to help the students? Are the students failing or are the
machines in some
kind of emotional pain?

I think we all agree that the internet can be addictive to people,
especially with
places like myspace, porn, etc.... Maybe your Director and with the
help
of the phsycology department can attempt to analyze the situation of
the interaction
between your students(customers), machines(publically funded equip) and
the data (freedom of
information).

I suggest a challenge for the Director to have the pcs moved into a
controlled enviroment and begin the study.
Or simply provide counseling to the students. I assume that the
students are aware of the concerns by the
Director......

Altering the behavior of the persons and not the machine should be the
goal...

The problem is that our student workers are spending too much time
screwing off on the internet so our department Director has asked me,
since I maintain all of our network access and computers, to disable
the internet from the student worker PC.

However, I don't want to completely disable it from anyone as I still
want to be able to personally, as an administrator, go in and do
windows updates or anything else on the internet I so desire under my
login. I also want them to still have network access as they need
access to files we have stored on our server and to be able to print
to network printers.

What I'm getting at is I want to prevent internet access for these 2
student worker logins but not prevent network access.

Thanks!
Buster

DatabaseBen wrote:

it is unclear if the problem you are having is a personal one or the
problem violates the official policy on the use of computer
equipment;
keeping in mind that if the computer system was federally funded,
then there
may be some other guidelines which permit the way
computers are being used now....

why was giving a free pass into the computer system as
an administrator considered in the first place.....?

one problem is that your network people are probably following a
policy
ok, I've got a silly question. I work for a university and we have
student workers. We have a student worker computer that they do
legitimate work on. However, we've caught them spending a lot of
time instant messaging as well as lurking around myspace.com. How
can I EASILY block internet access while still allowing network
access?

Currently their local accounts are set as local administrators which
obviously is part of the problem b/c it's allowing them to install
items like Instant Messenger. I'm assuming I need to change their
account to "restricted users" but what about blocking internet
access?

Thanks!

 

[Paul Johnson]

Currently their local accounts are set as local administrators which
obviously is part of the problem b/c it's allowing them to install items
like Instant Messenger. I'm assuming I need to change their account to
"restricted users" but what about blocking internet access?

You cannot solve social problems through technological means, much less with
an OS less than capable of providing said technological means. Discipline
the luser in question like a responsible employer. Also read this:

http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/23/0642201
Unlock Internet or Risk Losing Staff