InformAction Forums

Apologies in advance if this has already been covered but I have Googled the question and tried a forum search but could not see an answer. I saw this had been requested in the past but there was no definite answer/debate when the issue was raised, that I could find anyway.

My problem is having to allow my teenaged son access to a computer where, unfortunately, he will play games as soon as our backs are turned. The PC is not solely for his use. I have tried many options (K9, Microsoft safe access program etc) but all have some drawbacks that have caused me to discard them. At present I have slowed him down somewhat by only allowing access to 2 partitions on the PC and having other programs needed by others in the household on the hidden partitions.

I wanted to block access to flash based games and saw that No Script provides a really easy way of doing that via options. The trouble is that a user can just as easily switch that functionality off. As I can't bar his access to a PC for schoolwork reasons I am asking that NoScript have a password protection option added. Please do not debate the point that it is a parent's duty to monitor usage as I know I have to do that but I also know that would involve sitting beside him continually to really work. And that is not a practical option for 3-4 hours daily so some automation is needed to perform this duty, once he turns 18/leaves school I am happy (sort of, as it is a worry) that his life is his own to manage but for the moment a decent school record will increase his life alternatives no end

To me it seems an obvious feature and in line with NoScript's aims of a safer internet (even if, in this case, the user wants to live dangerously LOL). Is there some reason that there is no way to hide or restrict access to NoScript?

Thanks in advance for any advice/solution.

This question should really be more about Firefox parental controls in general...it is possible to lock user preferences, but somewhat complex.

Is Flash really necessary on this computer? Perhaps you could uninstall it.

Thanks for that pointer Thrawn, it's something I hadn't known about. I did have a peek and went "too late for this tonight, my heads spinning" . If this can be tied down to a single user or account it may be a solution.

To be revisited on Monday night I think, my next quiet night.

In answer to your question, I am trying to keep all features free for trusted users. Using a protected NoScript seemed to me a very easy solution.

If your son uses a separate account, then you could simply not install Flash for his account.

However, you'd need to monitor the PC and ensure that he doesn't install it himself. I don't know what kind of relationship you have with him.

Is NS to be used as a parental control tool? AFAIK, it'll still show placeholdets for blocked Flash objects, so your son can still click on them to display the flash content.

Please use software like K9 etc. that is meant for the purpose (of course, hoping that your son doesn't switch to Linux, run another copy of Windows in a VM, or nuke K9 from your computer using GMER).

Thanks AwfullyBigLizard

I have gone the K9 route but it didn't work overall making the PC problematic for other users...still to work on this as there are dramas at my end that are taking all my time. One thing, if memory serves me correctly, that was a real bugbear is that K9 blocked the install of Microsoft updates or some other process that was IMHO crucial.

Still would love NoScript to be password protected, as I said seems a no brainer for a security tool. And that is NOT intended to have a go at NS, just a personal opinion.

Guest wrote:Still would love NoScript to be password protected, as I said seems a no brainer for a security tool. And that is NOT intended to have a go at NS, just a personal opinion.

Well, NoScript protects you from the wild wild web, but it doesn't - and can't - protect you from yourself, or from anything that is already on your computer.

It has the same privileges as Firefox. So, anyone who is able to run a different browser, or remove and reinstall Firefox, or change Firefox configuration, etc, can bypass it (or remove it entirely).

To restrict what your son can do, you really need software that runs with more privileges than him. That's the idea of specialised software like K9 (or others).