[carbonize]

My partner is getting laptops for the boys for Christmas so muggins here has to set up a wireless network. I am after a wireless router that has good content filtering and preferably logging so I can control what they view and keep an eye on their activity. Any recommendations? I did ask Linksys for more details about theirs but getting sensible information from a help desk is near impossible.

[TCH-Bruce]

What type of filtering are you looking for? Most wireless routers have some of that capability today. As well as setting times to allow access.

[carbonize]

Content filtering where I can block certain terms/words. Such as Smoothwall Guardian offers. Bayesian perhaps.

[TCH-JimE]

Hmmm, I just looked at my D-link and I can't block content based on terms or words.

Personally, I would look at filtering from the laptop end.

JimE

[carbonize]

The Linksys sounds like it may do the job but they certainly wont win any clear English awards (a UK award). Ifyou look at page 57 of the user guide it says

Quote

If you want to block websites using specific keywords, enter each keyword in a separate field next to Website
Blocking by Keyword.

but does that mean it looks for the words in the url or the content :-/

I have looked at CyberNanny etc but was hoping to avoid the cost. the free alternative (ParentControl toolbar) is a bit rubbish and easy to bypass.

This post has been edited by carbonize: 19 October 2006 - 11:24 AM

[TCH-Bruce]

Another way you can block content (I do it all the time) is to create a custom HOSTS file with each address you want to block looping them back to 127.0.0.1

Most users don't know about the hosts file and would never think to look there.

[carbonize]

Oh I'm aware of host files and could lock it to admin write only if i wanted to but that only blocks domains. I don't want to be blocking geocities.com just because some idiots abuse it hence wanting a content filter. My only other option is networking through my machine and using filtering software on there but setting up a wireless network that way is a nightmare.

[Head Guru]

WG-102 Prosafe Wireless Router from Netgear will do the trick.

I block content based on url and keyword in url blocking.

The logging feature is useless, so i have the router dump its logs to my fileserver once per day and I analize the logs with a aftermarket app.

I used to be a very large dlink fan, however the past year we have seen a great decline in their products and I would not suggest them anylonger.

My entire home based network is all Netgear now.

[carbonize]

I think there's a problem with your status images. They are showing with the size as 2608x2573. Actually the HTML appears messed up. The HTML is

<A HREF="aim:goim?screenname=tchgurubill"<br /><IMG SRC="http://tchstatus.com:8080/aim/tchgurubill"<br />

[TCH-Thomas]

Quote

I think there's a problem with your status images. They are showing with the size as 2608x2573. Actually the HTML appears messed up.

The status images looks normal to me.

[carbonize]

Yes just work was blocking them and making them huge. The HTML is stil messed up though. I just checked in both Firefox and IE

<A HREF="aim:goim?screenname=tchgurubill"<br /><IMG SRC="http://tchstatus.com:8080/aim/tchgurubill"<br /><A HREF="ymsgr:sendIM?tchgurubill"><IMG SRC="http://tchstatus.com:8080/yahoo/tchgurubill"<br /><IMG SRC="http://tchstatus.com:8080/msn/tchgurubill@hotmail.com"</div>


Any more ideas on routers?

[heyguy]

I have a Netgear FVS318 wired VPN firewall router with URL and URL keyword filtering. Doesn't do straight content filtering as far as I know - I'd imagine a router that capable would cost some $$$$.

As far as brands go in general, it took me awhile to find the right combination but I'm finally happy with my wired Netgear router/firewall and a separate Linksys wireless access point.

[carbonize]

I don't mind spending money on hardware I'm just reluctant about spending it on software.

[stevevan]

I would second the Netgear route. I have them on my home network...easy to set up and seems to work pretty darn good! (My son was pissed when he couldn't access a porno site at 3:00 a.m.! Made me very happy I was using it!)

[makaveli]

i have a dlink mimo router (finding mimo) dunno what that is but anyways i can block IP adresses, swear words and rude words etc

[carbonize]

Looks to me like all routers work the same where you can block specific urls or block urls that contain certain words but they will not filter the pages content. Guess it's time to fork out $35 for cybernanny or similar need two copies so $70, about £40 in real money).

[TCH-Andy]

Have a look at http://www.naomifilter.org/ - Naomi, which is a freeware internet filter. It also has a link to various other filter systems on that page.

[carbonize]

God I love my works filtering. I can't even visit htxp://www.naomifilter.org.

The page has been blocked because the content has been deemed unrelated to business needs.

URL: htxp://www.naomifilter.org
Reason: Banned phrase found.

The man who deals with the filtering is a total idiot. He once blocked eBay but then unblocked it and now he's blocked PayPal. So I can buy things but not pay for them :| He's also blocked my domain :-(

This post has been edited by carbonize: 21 October 2006 - 03:31 AM

[darthsparky]

this could do the trick ...

http://www.trusteli....umer/index.html

i have not had a chance to test it out, so if you do, i'd be curious what you think.

currently, i use the software from Astaro...

www.astaro.com

free to download...plus an anuual subscription fee. you'll need an old pc to run it on.

Content filtering (for both the astaro software and the eli router) is dynamic based on a database of sites, instead of just url filtering. Not sure about the eli device, but astaro software also scans images (jpg, bmp etc) and can block xxx content based on just the image itself.

This post has been edited by darthsparky: 22 November 2006 - 12:16 PM

[carbonize]

Thanks for the suggestion but I've gone ahead and got a Linksys router and purchased Content Protect to sit on the laptops.

[PeterPeter]

Billion Modems can do this as well.

Problem with Software filters on their own machines the children these days are pretty savy.

Blocking at the modem/router with you as the only login admin makes it pretty impossible to hack into.

[TCH-Thomas]

Welcome to the forum, darthsparky.

[TCH-Don]

Welcome to the forums darthsparky

[TCH-Bruce]

Welcome to the forums darthsparky

[carbonize]

There is no way around Content Protect as it sits at the socket level and can only be disabled/uninstalled using a password.

[Head Guru]

Content Protect work arounds are available and I have seen them used in production windows networks.

If you build it they will work around it.

The only true web filtering is firewall based Netsreen makes a unreal line of consumer/production based firewalls that are really amazing. http://juniper.net

Needless to say, our entire west coast cage sits on Juniper Networking Componets.

[carbonize]

Thankfully they aint that computer savvy so I'm not that concerned about them figuring out workarounds. That and I'm logging everything anyway.

[Head Guru]

The workaround is a .exe file that is installed on local client.

One click and Content Protected is bypassed, hopefully your monitoring .exe downloads

[carbonize]

No I blocked the downloading of executables as well as archived files on their laptops. They also only have user level access to the laptops.If they want anything installing they have to ask me. If they want to download something they have to use the desktop.