Specific Question for Porn Blocking for Advanced User

[tech2008]

Hi, I'm working on blocking porn for someone who is self-motivated to stop. I can set up effective monitoring services for Windows and Linux, but one loophole he mentioned is that he could install a new partition of Linux to get around the block. Is there a way to stop this (e.g., prevent creation of new partitions on a HD) without stopping installation of normal programs within each OS?

 

[Atomic Rooster]

I would think that the only way would be to make one large partition on the drive. That way, he would end up destroying the original installation in order to create a second partition with Linux. Don't quote me on that though.

 

[wol-va-rine]

I would think that the only way would be to make one large partition on the drive. That way, he would end up destroying the original installation in order to create a second partition with Linux. Don't quote me on that though.

aren't there partition programs that can take an existing partition, reduce it's size and the create a new one with the newly available space...?

 

[Atomic Rooster]

Yup. They cost money or can be pirated if he goes that route. Like I said, that's the only thing that I could think of. Maybe someone can come up with a better solution. I'm sure there's a trick or two network admins know.

 

[JogaBonito1502]

Get parental control.

 

[hascet]

A bios password would probably work.

 

[Atomic Rooster]

That might work, but then again, all you would need to do is clear the CMOS and he's off and running.


Hey, a BIOS password and a locked case. They have some with loops that you run a padlock through to keep people from entering the case.

 

[Austinn1]

That might work, but then again, all you would need to do is clear the CMOS and he's off and running.


Hey, a BIOS password and a locked case. They have some with loops that you run a padlock through to keep people from entering the case.

Thats what I was thinking

 

[Celegorm]

Some routers have url and content blocking. It'd take him a while to figure out that it's the network blocking him. Change the default network setup password after and he shouldn't be able to get around it unless he resets the router.

 

[tech2008]

Thanks for all the replies and good ideas. His case has a lock on it already actually, which is nice for the BIOS password. That can prevent one option I considered, booting with a bootdisk like Knoppix that has web access.

I had considered a hardware router with security, and thought it was the best option, until I realized he could just unplug it and plug the modem straight into the computer.

So the BIOS PW with case lock will stop booting from a disk. I can have a trusted friend or the wife keep the password.

The remaining problem is setting up a new partition. There's 2 ways to go about this - either prevent installation of new programs altogether (maybe use TrueCrypt?), which I'd like to avoid b/c it would be a pain to have to use a pw to install a program each time (though this could be done). Or, if there's a way to simply prevent new partitions from being installed or prevent modification of partitions, that would be ideal (programs like gparted can reduce the size of a single partition as mentioned earlier).

Luckily, this doesn't have to be completely foolproof, but does have to be a significant impediment. He has mentioned that trying to crack the BIOS pw would be too much effort, and setting up a new partition is about as far as he would go.

So, if anyone knows anything about restricting partition formation on HDs, that would be great. Thanks again!