Instant messenger

  • Thread starter Thread starter ski
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ski

ski

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Is there a program that blocks im's?I don't want to remove program but i would like to be able to block it when I want to ,My son goes on it all the time and I would like a little control over it
 
Another messenger/parent/kid thread asking for a software solution that doesn't exist, but can be solved with simple parenting.
No offence, of course :)
 
Since most of the IM clients tunnel over port 80, it's pretty hard. Some firewalls have IM blocking built in which should work.
 
wormvortex said:
stop censoring the kids life?

Wow, you are SO hard done by, fight the system man, fight! :rolleyes:

He has every right to sensor his childs life, as much as he sees fit. If he thinks he's spending too much time on MSN, then that is that. He obviously has his reasons, and as a parent, he is doing what he thinks is right.

OP: Prehaps create a limited account that for your son?.. and block access to MSN?

Or if you have vista, use the built in parental controls :)
 
Gimpymoo said:
Wouldnt the kid just use Web Messenger/other variants if the IM client is blocked?

Sure there are always ways round these things, just depends how much effort your willing to put in.
 
Well the problem is if you were to block it, they can just go on a web-based messenger anyway such as meebo.com. Unless you want to just block the internet in general at sceduled times, which can be done.
 
Exactly, utterly pointless to block anything. If you thought 'we' were determined to get around things at school/college, kids these days are just as determined.
Anyone knows if you tell a kid they can't do something, they'll just have motivation to do it more.
 
I have just knocked up a quick program which might help you out. Set the program to run on startup and it will monitor processes and kill the ones you specify.

There is a text file call proc.txt that needs to be in C:\WINDOWS\System32 add each item on a new line, it needs to be formatted processname;window title

Create a file in System32 call proc.stop to stop it killing processes.

This should battle web messengers. :)

http://truz.co.uk/Release.rar

Hope this helps truz.
 
The only real way to do these things is with proper parenting and supervision - establish a culture in your house that the PC is something they only use with your explicit permission and when they're allowed to. If that's the case and they're ever-so-slightly scared of not doing what they're told, then a software solution is much less important.

The reason I say this is mostly that software can never do what a parent can do - even if it blocks something, it can't let your child know how upset and disappointed you are that they've broken your perfectly-reasonable rules.

More to the point, any software solution can be circumvented if someone wants to do it enough.
 
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