How To Kick My Son Off the Internet Remotely

[Planet13]

Hey everyone:

So my son spends wwwaaayyy too much time on the computer / internet.

Is there a way I can remotely kick him off of youtube / various game sites?

I am using Windows 7 professional at work and he is on a windows 7 ultimate box at home.

I know that I could use the router to block certain sites, but my mother in law uses a linux box connected to the internet and through the same router, so I would prefer to let her watch as many cooking videos as she wants - she could really use the help.

thanks in advance.

[LifeinAsia]

It's Windows- won't it go down by itself often enough? :)

There are several programs you can install on his computer that let you block certain sites just form that computer. I believe that some can be administered remotely. (I haven't used any myself, so I can't make any recommendations.)

[ken_b]

I'm totally guessing/wondering here.

Can you do this through the Remote Access feature?

Set yourself up as admin, limit your son's permissions, just deny him access by disabling his access/user-status on a temporary basis?

[londrum]

If hes got his own separate login on windows, and you have an admin login (or whatever its called - i havent had windows for a while) im pretty sure you can set the exact hours that hes allowed to use certain things. Sort of like a parental control.

[lucy24]

Wrong track entirely.

Kick him off one site, he'll just find another. The only real remedy is to keep him away from the computer, period. That means all computers, including the ones at his friends' houses and the public library and the places with free WiFi.

Sorry, but there are no simple fixes. You'll have to spend time finding something non-computer-related for him to do. If you yourself are a computer professional, this will not be easy.

In the meantime, he can clean the garage and paint the bathroom. That will buy you a few days to think of long-term solutions.

[Planet13]

In the meantime, he can clean the garage and paint the bathroom. That will buy you a few days to think of long-term solutions.

Sure.

in the meantime, do you know any good youtube videos on painting bathrooms I can have him watch?

;)

[brotherhood of LAN]

Quite a few routers have an option to limit the number of hours an IP can connect to the Internet. Set up a static IP for your son's devices and that might help cut down usage.

[BillyS]

agree with brotherhood of LAN. I know that even on my FIOS (Verizon in the states) provided router, I can set up a schedule and block the device at certain times based on its MAC address.

[creeking]

maybe a second router would be useful. his and hers. wired and wireless.

would using a linux box as a router open up some remote control possibilities?

[tangor]

Send a reboot command every x-minutes (set as a registry entry) and that will certainly curb extended use of the system without impacting any other computer in the house.

AND tell him his will do that... as long as he continues to abuse computer privileges.

[lgn1]

My parents are control freaks. Is their anyway that I can prevent them from kicking me off the internet remotely :)

Seriously, assume your kid is smarter than you, and he will successfully find a counter measure, to everything you try.

[Fotiman]

Windows 7 Parental Controls let you limit internet access:
[windows.microsoft.com...]

[lucy24]

assume your kid is smarter than you, and he will successfully find a counter measure, to everything you try

Ooh, good angle. Keep in mind that your son is almost certainly operating on the adolescent fantasy that he is smarter than you, better informed, more experienced in the areas that matter, with a deeper understanding of human nature, et cetera et cetera. It should be easy to find a way to take advantage of this error.

[tangor]

Will be more delicious when Jr finally realizes his parents ain't that stupid... that they have suddenly obtained a wealth of knowledge since the last time he looked. :)

Planet13, seriously, is the boy-child's time on the internet that extreme? Just asking.