Preventing "Clear History"

[Bruce]

At home, I have a kid who is visiting sites on the internet that he
shouldn't. He's been told not to visit these sites, so he alway clears
his browsing history.

First, I'd like to find out what these site are. Is there any way to
prevent him from Clearing History? I'd like for him to use IE(6), and
let all these sites build up in the history, and then when he goes to
clear the history after a session, I'd like him to be prevented from
doing so. Can I? I don't care if he knows I've done this, until he goes
to clear the history. One session would be enough.

The machine is a Window Media Center Edition box.

After I find out what sites he's been going to, I'd like to alter the
hosts file to redirect these site to the local host, 127.0.0.1. He's
pretty pc literate, and may know about the hosts file. Can I bury the
hosts file somewhere other than c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc, even if
I have to also edit the registry?

Two more questions. I know this isn't a Firefox newsgroup, but can I
also do something about this problem when he uses Firefox. The Firefox
forum hasn't been very helpful.

Next, if this isn't possible, are there any good parental type programs
that will show me the sites he's been visiting on the internet? I'm
looking for something that won't show up in the Task Manager or in the
StartUp menu.

Thanks.

 

[Alan Edwards]

See if these give a bit of background for you:

The restrictions that are available to Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=823057

Internet Explorer Restrictions (All Versions) (winguides.com
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/442/

Internet Explorer Toolbar Restrictions (All Windows
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1111/

While the above don't explicitly mention History, you might play with
this note I have:

History - Disable changes to History settings


Registry Settings: History
User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Restrictions]


System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Restrictions]


Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = disable restriction, 1 = enable restriction

....Alan

 

[Bruce]

See if these give a bit of background for you:

The restrictions that are available to Internet Explorer 6.0 SP1
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=823057

Internet Explorer Restrictions (All Versions) (winguides.com
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/442/

Internet Explorer Toolbar Restrictions (All Windows
http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/1111/

While the above don't explicitly mention History, you might play with
this note I have:

History - Disable changes to History settings


Registry Settings: History
User Key:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Restrictions]


System Key:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet
Explorer\Restrictions]


Data Type: REG_DWORD (DWORD Value)
Value Data: (0 = disable restriction, 1 = enable restriction

...Alan
--
Alan Edwards, MS MVP Windows - Internet Explorer
http://dts-l.org/index.htm

At home, I have a kid who is visiting sites on the internet that he
shouldn't. He's been told not to visit these sites, so he alway
clears his browsing history.

First, I'd like to find out what these site are. Is there any way to
prevent him from Clearing History? I'd like for him to use IE(6), and
let all these sites build up in the history, and then when he goes to
clear the history after a session, I'd like him to be prevented from
doing so. Can I? I don't care if he knows I've done this, until he
goes to clear the history. One session would be enough.

Thank you very much, Alan. I'll give it a read and a try.

 

[Swifty]

After I find out what sites he's been going to, I'd like to alter the

hosts file to redirect these site to the local host, 127.0.0.1. He's
pretty pc literate, and may know about the hosts file. Can I bury the
hosts file somewhere other than c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc, even if
I have to also edit the registry?

If you've found the hosts file then you obviously know your way around
Windows.

Your offspring should really have their own userid, and definitely one
without administrative authority. Then they couldn't change the hosts
file anyway.

I have no doubt that a child could run rings around my "old codger"
abilities (see http://www.swiftys.org.uk/wiz?517 ) but we have to try,