Monitoring internet usage

Hello All

We are thinking about using Safe Eyes software to monitor internet usage. If you have used this product what are your comments. If there are other products we should concider please let us know.

Thanks

Louis

Are you more interested in monitoring and logging or blocking of inappropriate web sites?

Are you needing different levels of access to the Internet?

I am using the free version of Untangle http://www.untangle.com at a couple of locations

Another person on the forums is using a paid version

We've been happy with it.  I'm using it for the web control to block inappropriate web sites.

I'm not using the reporting function, and I think reporting is better in the paid versions where users login to get to the Internet.

Dave

Untangle is great.  OpenDNS is also good and probably quicker and easier to set up.

Make sure your users aren't administrators, or they can pretty easily get around either of these.

Thanks for your reply. I will look at the Untangle website.  One question, are you using any firewalls? We are using sconic wall hardware for our firewall.

Thanks

Louis

Thanks for your reply. I will look at the OpenDNS website too.

The Untangle product can be used as a firewall.  My usage is inside an existing network that is protected from the Internet by another firewall, so I'm really using the Internet filter and the fire wall inside Untangle users that are Internet filtered from seeing the office network on their way to the Internet.

Dave

lcommodore,

Since you're using a SonicWall appliance, have you considered its companion Viewpoint utility for monitoring activity?  It allows you to see who visited where on what day.  I seem to remember it being a relatively low-cost, one-time fee, as opposed to the SonicWall content filtering, which was a subscription.

-ENO

HI Louis, I am the user that Dave has said uses the paid version.  We do not use the firewall function on Untangle bundle.  We have a Sonicwall pro3060 as our firewall.  The reporting is better with the paid version since it logs by username.  We bought the hardware from Untangle so as not to worry about hardware compatibilities.  There is a new version called re-router that works on a windows xp computer and can be put anywhere on your network.  I haven't tried it, but it works best for small offices (10 or less computers).

As far as OpenDNS, I have used it with good success while moonlighting as a private computer/network repair.  Some of my customers have requested having a way to monitor their kids web activities and block inappropriate stuff.  The setup was pretty quick and easy.  Essentially, you are changing the dns addresses from your ISP to that of Opendns and providing them your public ip address.  You are required to confirm your IP address by clicking on a link in a confirmation email.  After that you can manage your account from their website.  Hope this helps,

Best of luck,

Gary