The quickest way to restrict travels on the Internet is through Internet Explorer's built-in Content Advisor. Content Advisor uses a rating system to block or allow Web sites. It's meant as an Internet filter for parents. But it can serve on a school or company computer just as well.
If you do use this option, you should remove any other browsers on the computer. And in Addition, set the computer up for use with a Windows Guest Account. This way, no one will be able to download and install new programs. I have several tips about how to do this on my Web site. Just use the search area at http://www.komando.com/ to read through them.
Sign on to the computer as the Administrator. Before you start Internet Explorer’s Content Advisor, you'll need to create a special text file. The file will configure Content Advisor to block all Web sites. Then you'll make one exception for your site. It’s not hard to do.
Start with Notepad. To open it, click Start>>All Programs>>Accessories>>Notepad. Then copy and paste the following:
((PICS-version 1.0)
(rating-system "http://www.microsoft.com/")
(rating-service "http://www.microsoft.com/")
(name "Noaccess")
(description "This will block all sites.")
(category
(transmit-as "m")
(name "Yes")
(label
(name "Level 0: No Setting")
(description "No Setting")
(value 0) )
(label
(name "Level 1: No Setting")
(description "No Setting")
(value 1) ) ))
After pasting in the text, click File>>Save As. Under "Save in:," select the C: drive. Select the Windows folder. Then select the System32 folder. That's where you'll be saving the new file.
Under "Save as type," select All Files.
Under "File name," type in the name "noaccess.rat" (without the quotes). Finally, click Save.
Now you can start Content Advisor. From Internet Explorer, click Tools>>Internet Options. Select the Content tab. Under Content Advisor, click Enable. Select the Approved Sites tab.
Type in the Web address of your site. Windows understands wildcards (*). So you don't have to specify each page of your site. For example, instead of http://news.yahoo.com/, enter *yahoo.com. After typing in the address, click Always. Now your site is listed as the only approved site.
Next, create a password for Content Advisor. Otherwise, someone might disable it and start surfing away on the Internet. Select the General tab. In Content Advisor, select the General tab. Under "Supervisor password," click Create Password.
You can type in a password and a password hint. The hint can help if you forget your password later. And it's a good idea. Without the password, you won't be able to access Content Advisor without some creative measures. When you finish, click OK.
Under "Ratings systems," click the Rating Systems button. Select any items listed and click Remove. Then click Add and pick the noaccess.rat file that you made earlier. Then click OK. You'll be at the General tab again.
Finally, make sure that the checkboxes under "User options" are not marked. Then click OK.
Now you can test the new settings. Try your Web site to make sure it works. Then try going to other sites. Internet Explorer will display a warning that other sites are not allowed.
Source: Kim Komando Show Tip of the Day -- Monday, August 15, 2005, http://www.komando.com/
