Consumer (i.e. cheap) Firewall/proxy Solution

[fpwr]

I'm looking for a consumer level (i.e. cheap) firewall proxy solution for a cable modem connection to protect kids. Please note that I'm aware that most of the "broadband routers" seem to be decent firewalls to keep people OUT.... We need a solution that will control what our students can get TO (much like a corporate proxy server only not costing thousands of dollars). We've tried "parental protection" products like Cybersitter (which don't do too bad of a job), however, the problem is that some of our students are pretty technically savy and are able to circumvent most software like this. Is there a cheap hardware based solution that would require authentication or at least track/email usage? Any other ideas I may not be thinking about? THANKS.

Paul.

 

[cameramonkey]

Try websense. Its not cheap, but it works quite well in the k-12 arena. It works with the firewall/cache engine to only allow access to approved sites. No easy way to bypass, as the lock is on the gateway, not the PC itself. Its also updated daily as new sites come online. There is no perfect filter, but this one seems to do quite well.

http://www.websense.com/educators/

Just remember, you get what you pay for in this arena. If you are a public school, check with your distributors. I have heard of some amazing deals out there for public schools that might solve your budgetary restraints.

Also, logging and a good AUP stops alot of the problems. That same school I mentioned had a few bypasses on the library PCs that are not restricted to enable supervised research by the students. After a couple weeks, they had two student suspensions for violating the AUP. Once word got out that they were being tracked, and that even weeks after the fact you can (and will) get busted, It stopped almost dead in its tracks. They now only average about 1 incident per semester or less.

hope that helps.

 

[flipjevannelissen]

Get an old pc, like a PII 350Mhz and install Smoothwall express with Dansguardian. It is a low cost sollution, but works great.

 

[SimonMag]

You could use a Linux server and install Shorewall Firewall and Squid Proxy server - they are both free and work realy well. The shorewall is a bit of a pain to setup initialy, but works great, I use them both at home.

Simon.

 

[petrosky]

Hi fpwr,

One good one at the right price is freeproxy.

You can find it here...

http://www.handcraftedsoftware.org/

There is also a forum with search functionality should you have any problems setting it up.

Regards,

Peter

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