Kids download bad things, help?

RBlass · 19 Jul 2011

We have a Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit.
My son keeps downloading useless stuff, and recently I've found out that he's gotten 68 viruses onto the computer. I've deleted them all, of course.
I've tried making him a new account with Windows Family Safety (a non-administrator,) but he's somehow figured out how to bypass this and still download things. He said something along the lines of "It was easy, I just made myself an administrator."

Please, what can I do to not allow him to download anything? Un-bypassable?

Thank you so much.

Maguscreed · 19 Jul 2011

It can be done, but it involves editing some local group and security policies.
It's not exactly my area.
It can be done though.

PooMan UK · 19 Jul 2011

Hiya and welcome to the forums :)

Have a looky here K9 Web Protection - Free Internet Filter and Parental Control Software really good and it's free (doesn't matter which account he's logged onto) ..

seavixen32 · 19 Jul 2011

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Open a Guest account and see if he can crack that.

Either that or you'll have to invoke the ultimate deterrent and chop his hands off.

RBlass · 19 Jul 2011

I've found out that the way he's making himself an administrator is by going into the command prompt and typing in:

"net user admin."

then,

type in 'net user (admin name space *.)

then,

type in pass (pass will not show on tab) retype pass

then,

logout and login the acc with your pass

He's also found out how to go into the command prompt and change all the passwords on all accounts (including admin) to 123.

Any way to not allow him to do this? And/Or disable him from getting onto the command prompt?

Britton30 · 19 Jul 2011

Sorry to be blunt. This is a parenting issue, not how to keep a child from a computer with security. Heck kids learn how to by-pass all sorts of lock-outs in school form their friends.
Two things to do, ban all the child's PC use or get him his own. If it gets screwed up due to his poor judgement, oh well.

You can put a password on BIOs and shut down when you leave it. If he tries to get into the case to disable that, there is a problem.

theog · 19 Jul 2011

You could install Norton, setup Parental Controls, when your son trys to bypass the controls, you will recieve a email.

Thorsen · 19 Jul 2011

Another possible way of locking it down for when he is grounded is to encrypt the HDD with Truecrypt and it will require a password on boot. TrueCrypt - Free Open-Source On-The-Fly Disk Encryption Software for Windows 7/Vista/XP, Mac OS X and Linux

I think the BIOS password can be bypassed as well

Warlockz · 19 Jul 2011

Maybe try something like Faronics Deep Freeze, It undoes anything changed on the machine when you restart your machine, you can password protect it and your son cant disable or uninstall it without the password. Unless he boots the machine with a live CD and deletes the program files...

Or if it was me I would take Britton30s advice and get him his own Computer, you would be surprised how cheap you can find one nowadays like on Craigslist or even a refurbished machine from Microcenter, then I would encrypt my machine with a pass and keyfile using DiskCryptor, so they would never be able to access it period nomatter what kind of hack they tried to use.

James Colbert · 19 Jul 2011

Reward his bad behavior by getting him his own computer or just using a workaround? Not here, not ever. That would merely teach him that he can get what he wants simply by doing whatever he wants. Boundries.

I would solve this problem by removing his access to the computer altogether. He would lose other priviledges as well. He won't like it, but if your goal is to be liked, you both lose the battle. He doesn't need you to be his friend and he can't respect a parent who won't parent. This is a battle you need to win for both of your sakes.

After clarity is achieved and he understands that respect is inextricably tied to priviledge, you can restore his access to the computer, having initiated a bios password and a policy for computer access and use. You should also remove his ability to access the command prompt, registry and the like. A 3rd party software may help you here.

James