Restrict Web Browsing Using Firefox


Regulating web browsing will protect us from accessing dangerous content on the internet, or having to make judgement calls over dubious relationships in chat-rooms. Marketers, for-profit websites, and chat-room users pursue their best interests, rather than those of your children and loved ones. Luckily, there are ways to protect them.

Firefox is a common replacement browser for the Internet Explorer that comes with Windows. This article shows how to filter web access using the Firefox browser.

If you use Internet Explorer, see your own guide ( How to Restrict Web Browsing Using Internet Explorer).

Steps

  1. Decide on a protection method that suits you.
  2. Maintain your own list of 'bad' sites. A simple solution is to use your windows' Hosts file, which controls how web page requests are handled. This is not thought of as being a complete solution, and family hackers may get around it. See External Links for a guide on editing your Hosts file.
  3. Change Firefox settings to check each visited page against a university-maintained list of bad sites (using a free proxy service). Checking web pages against a list of known bad pages can offer a measure of protection for your family. This does not offer you controls, nor can you influence the nature of blocked sites. Take the following steps to set up a proxy.

    • Open Firefox's Options which you can access under the Tools menu. Ensure the Generalor Advanced tab(depends on the Firefox version) is selected and click on the Connection Settings button (see the screenshot).
    • Click on Manual proxy configuration, and type the following in the HTTP Proxy field:

      www-filter.csufresno.edu

      In the Port field, type:

      5050
    • See the screenshot to see the process in action.


    • Enjoy filtered Internet Browsing.
  4. Alternatively, you can install a program that filters web browsing, with settings you can configure yourself. Web filtering software can extend your control:
    • Control what programs and games are run.
    • Restrict computer use to certain times or days.
    • View a list of visited websites.
    • Control which websites are accessed.

      Some programs to consider are as follows:

      • K9 Web Protection - a free family tool.
      • SafeEyes - This is what some schools are installing.
      • CyberPatrol - Perhaps the most used program at home. This program also can control access to programs installed on the computer.
      • ContentProtect - Includes a remote control feature.
      • Integrated Tools - If you are a AOL, MSN or Earthlink subscriber, or you own Norton Internet Security or ZoneAlarm Internet Security, you already have some parental control tools, as they are integrated into the software
    • For a comparison of features of different products, see this Comparison Chart:

Comparison Chart
Program OS Browsers Web Categories Per User Remote Control Restrict by Time Restrict Programs Restrict Chat Price
Sentry
Parental
Controls 		Windows Firefox
IE
 6 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes $2.99/mo
K9 2000/XP Any 59 No No Yes No No Free
Safe
Eyes 		Windows Firefox
IE 		35 No No Yes No Yes $40
Cyber
Patrol 		Windows IE
Firefox
AOL
Netscape 		60 Yes No Yes Yes No $40
Content
Protect 		2000/XP Any 22 No Yes Yes Yes No $40
Note: SafeEye's license includes installation on 3 computers, and there is a Mac version available.



Tips

  • If a child (or any other Internet browser in your home) feels that their Internet options are being limited, spend some time reminding them what happens to computers that are completely unprotected, and present the Internet filter as just another part of a good security setup.
  • Restricting a child's web usage when they are used to unrestricted access may result in negative behavior. Try to to install an Internet filter at an early stage to get them used to it.
  • By default, all users can browse the web whenever they want. If you're worried that your child is spending too much time browsing the web, you can control access and set time limits. The web browsing schedule lets you limit the days and times that your child can browse the web. You can even restrict web browsing entirely for a user. This way, you can control the time that any user spends browsing the web.

Warnings

  • All parental-control programs sometimes over-block or under-block websites. Read software reviews to minimize the risk of installing a program that blocks too many safe sites, or allows access to too much dangerous content.

Things You'll Need

A reliable and secure browser like Firefox or Google Chrome

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