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Proxy / Web Filtering

  • 27-12-2009 10:27am
    #1
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭


    My kids are now using the laptop more and more and I've bookmarked some websites for them like iCarly and Hannah Montana (they're 6). They haven't discovered google yet but that's only a matter of time.

    So now it's time to set up some sort of protection in the form of a proxy/filter both to keep them safe and for me to monitor their web access. I'm a firm believer that education is the best filter but want to protect their innocence too so keep them away from undesirable sites.

    I've considered Clarkconnect (now ClearOS) on a spare old computer I have here - it seems to do everything I want. It can be a proxy server with filtering but it has moved towards a more commercial model than it used to be.

    I'm looking to stay OS completely. I don't want a locally installed filter - most of them are Windows based anyway and all PCs here are Linux. Ideally it would have logging capabilities too so I can monitor their access - no filter catches everything - and I can block sites on an ad hoc basis as well as talk to them about sites they may discover that I don't feel should be blocked.

    Anyone used any other solutions for this type of thing? And any pros/cons to consider? One drawback I will have is that this PC won't be a gateway. I use a Buffalo combo router/switch so there's only one device. In the past my bb router was separate to my Linksys switch which would have been perfect to use clarkconnect in gateway mode. But a proxy will do - I can configure the kids machine to use it and bypass it on my PC (I don't want my access logged :D).

    oscarbravo: if you think I'd get more responses in Comp/Tech feel free to move this.

    TIA


Comments

  • #2
    zAbbo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,985 ✭✭✭✭zAbbo


    I've used Clark Connect before, but for more than just proxy.

    I also had a transparent proxy (Squid), with Dansguardian - although all of this was a few years back.


  • #3
    Orion
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,807 ✭✭✭✭Orion


    Doing a bit more reading. I could just set it all up manually on the spare pc using iptables, squid and dansguardian. That might be better in fact - I'd have complete control and I'd learn more about both squid and iptables by doing it myself. iirc that's how clarkconnect works anyway.


  • #4
    PogMoThoin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,874 ✭✭✭✭PogMoThoin


    Also use OpenDns adult content filtering.
    My kids see an angry pic of me when they click a blocked link :D


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