[wdm2291]

I have found that a three pronged approach works.

by the way, Boxclaw made a slight error in his first post (the first one in this thread). . he gave the wrong location for the hosts file in Win 98. .
in Win98 it's in either the Windows folder, or in the Windows\system or Windows\system32 folder. . it isn't in the place he mentioned (he gave the same location as where it is in XP, and I know that's wrong, cause I've done it a lot on both, but it's been a while since I did it on 98, so I can't remember exactly where it is. .

anyway, that said. .

I use the hosts file extensively, but I have a couple of other tools I use as well (both of which keep the kid from ever finding the hosts file, just in case he ever does figure out that that is where the site (and all the porn sites I can block as well) is being blocked). .

Step one is (if you have Windows XP or Windows 2000), make YOUR (the parents') windows account (login, screenname, etc) an Administrative one (this right here gives you the right to do anything on the PC, almost, including change other screennames (and change or delete or setup their passwords for their login). .

once you have set your account as the Administrator account (it probably was one to begin with, but you need to make it the ONLY admin account, and make your kids' account a 'restricted" one), then you need to downgrade theirs to a restricted account.

You can do both of the above in "Start > Control Panel > Users", and then click "change a user account", or "create a user account", (if you are all using the same account, you need two different accounts, so you have to create another one. . so there will be two accounts, one for you (the administrator(s)). . and one for your child or maybe one for each of your children, but make sure that they are ALL restricted accounts and yours is the only administrator account (and set up a password, and don't just write it down anywhere where they might find it). . this is crucial. .

so, step one, TAKE control of the computer. . it's YOUR computer, the kids didn't pay for it, YOU did. . so be in charge, and YOU decide what programs are installed and which aren't (another benefit of being the admin. . with a restricted account they can't install or uninstall programs. . but with an admin account you can, so you are in control). .

Step two. . a very extensive and well considered hosts file. . I have been assembling and adding to my extensive hosts file for many months now. . and it includes lots of proxy sites (those are sites that kids can go to to tunnel through the filters to Myspace and other sites).

If you want this file, I can email you a copy and give you instructions on how to put it in your PC as your hosts file. . and it will block a LOT of stuff (including Myspace). .

Anyway, I have run short of time, will finish this later. .

email me if you have any questions at all and/or need any help at all. .