How do I expose my kids to the internet and its wealth of information, but keep them save from the bad side
The answer usually involves software or tools that filters what is being browsed or where you are browsing.
Most of these software packages even the paid ones filter by checking your request against a list of bad sites and block accordingly. This is however not optimal because sites (addresses) change and new sites pop up (literally) all the time.
Enter Dansguardian. Dansguardian checks every page you visit and does a quality check before allowing you or the young ones to view it, and the best part ... It is FREE.
The quality check is done using advanced content filtering and examines what is on the pages and not the origin of the pages. The user now has the freedom to choose how strict the censoring should be and set it accordingly (even to the level of blocking specific sites and download extensions).
Fixing and Cleaning that Mac or PC for a Fresh Start
Looking into fixing up that thoroughly used Mac or PC and detoxing it before putting it back on your now protected home network?
I have been using Onyx (free - Mac only) and it can be download here, however if you want to fork out some small change there is a great software package called Detox My MAC which everybody is talking about,download it here.
I have been using Onyx (free - Mac only) and it can be download here, however if you want to fork out some small change there is a great software package called Detox My MAC which everybody is talking about,download it here.
For PC (Windows) I would recommend CCleaner (free for Mac and PC home users) and as a paid alternative with added features - FixCleaner which can be download here.
Things to know before starting:
- The setup described here runs on a separate machine between your home network and internet gateway, thus acting as a firewall protecting everything on the inside, including tablets, phones and computers.
- Dansguardian do not run on Windows, we are going to run this amazing free software on another free open source software packaged called pfSense which is a customized distribution of freeBSD.
- pfSense runs very well on very little resources and wide range of hardware, so any old PC can be converted into your web proxy/content filtering box.
- pfSense installs directly on your hardware, is used as a firewall and router and needs two network cards connected to two different subnets.
- The setup described here is OS platform, device and browser independent, and you only need to change the gateway on these devices to take effect.
- The very easy process of download, burning on CD and install of pfSense is not going to be covered here.
How to Setup pfSense with Dansguardian and Squid proxy:
After installing pfSense, run through the initial configuration process configuring static IPs for the two network connections.
Next go to the pfSense web interface by pointing the browser to pfSense LAN IP. Configure DNS servers under System, General Setup.
Set the gateway of the WAN interface (pointing to your WAN router / device) under Interfaces, WAN.
Depending on your setup you should now have a WAN subnet pointing to your DSL / WAN router as gateway and a LAN subnet, with all your PCs and devices. Please note that these two subnets should be in different ranges, eg. 10.0.0.x and 192.168.1.x To test if everything is setup correctly you can configure your computer / tablet / phone with a static IP, a gateway as the LAN IP of the pfSense box and you normal DNS settings. Check if you still have access to the internet.
In the Web interface under System select, Packages, available packages and then Dansguardian. Wait for install to complete and then go to services, Dansguardian. Enable Dansguardian, click on LAN under Listen Interfaces and make the listen port 8080.
Install the Squid package the same way by going to System, packages, available packages, select Squid and click on install. Then go to Services, Proxy server, make sure LAN interface for binding is selected and proxy port 3128. Click on Save.
Click on Firewall, NAT and click on the plus to add a rule. Change interface to LAN, protocol TCP, source LAN Subnet and Destination any. Change Destination port range from: HTTP and to: HTTP
At the bottom of the page change the Redirect target IP to your pfSense box LAN interface, and the port to 8080. Save and apply the changes.
Reboot pfSense by going to Diagnostics and then reboot.
After reboot check that all the installed services are running by clicking on Status and then services.
To further fine tune and customize Dansguardian click on Services, Dansguardian and then select the appropriate tab. To change download extension restrictions look under the ACLs tab and set Naughtiness limit under the Groups tab.
