Easy websites blocking software

[jano_rajmond]

Hi all,

 

So here's the deal, and hope I won't get too much hate for this. I am looking for a software that can be easily configured to block certain websites in a PC laboratory environment.

 

Short backstory: I want to have the Internet on and available during normal classes. However, during tests, students cheat. By their own admission. And they don't even do it because the test is too hard, they admitedly just do it for the thrills of "fooling the system". This is not to their best advantage. I also do not want to cut all Internet access during tests as this would be absurd. Being a programming test, they should be able to look for and find solutions on the Internet, just like in the real world.

 

However, I would like to block social network and instant messaging apps where they can quickly exchange files and answers.

 

I am aware of the hosts file solution, I have even written a batch file which automatically adds entries to it, however this does not seem to always work for some sites (it blocks Facebook, for example, but GMail somehow still gets through). So I am looking maybe for a firewall type solution which could be easily enabled/disabled and would do the trick.

 

I'd like to add that I'm not trying to be mean: the blocking request also came from several students who feel disturbed by the cheating attitude of some of their colleagues.

 

Thank you all in advance!

[Aimi]

You should also contact the "higher ups" about your cheating problem, and your students definitely need consequences for what they're doing.

[Kilrah]

I don't think that will work, if you have to individually block every possible messaging service you will be looking at hundreds or thousands of them, plus the kids will take it as a challenge to find whatever obscure one you didn't think of.

 

Should instead log traffic per machine, spend some time afterwards to look at the logs, anyone who went to a communication service, or obviously tries to defeat it by using something like a VPN gets a fail.

 

You'll probably need approval for that too.

[jano_rajmond]

OK guys,

 

Just to clarify, think second world country, where there is no "IT department" and it's more of a "you're the professor, you're in charge of this laboratory/classroom" so you do not only get to teach, but you also get to be your own IT staff, do your own maintenance on the machines and software installs. None of the PCs are locked down (I mean, they are, but by me).

 

I'd just like to block the mainstream stuff: Facebook, GMail, Yahoo Mail, WhatsApp and a few others. That should to the trick for a 2 hour long test, without them actually poking around the system to find a way to disable it.

 

I will talk to the communications department, which provides the Internet infrascructure, maybe they could filter some of the content, or provide me with some logs.

 

Thanks!

[AbsoluteFool]

10 hours ago, jano_rajmond said:

Hi all,

 

So here's the deal, and hope I won't get too much hate for this. I am looking for a software that can be easily configured to block certain websites in a PC laboratory environment.

 

Short backstory: I want to have the Internet on and available during normal classes. However, during tests, students cheat. By their own admission. And they don't even do it because the test is too hard, they admitedly just do it for the thrills of "fooling the system". This is not to their best advantage. I also do not want to cut all Internet access during tests as this would be absurd. Being a programming test, they should be able to look for and find solutions on the Internet, just like in the real world.

 

However, I would like to block social network and instant messaging apps where they can quickly exchange files and answers.

 

I am aware of the hosts file solution, I have even written a batch file which automatically adds entries to it, however this does not seem to always work for some sites (it blocks Facebook, for example, but GMail somehow still gets through). So I am looking maybe for a firewall type solution which could be easily enabled/disabled and would do the trick.

 

I'd like to add that I'm not trying to be mean: the blocking request also came from several students who feel disturbed by the cheating attitude of some of their colleagues.

 

Thank you all in advance!

Wouldn't that be against the point as they all have phones?

 

Anyways your router probably have this ability..

[nanopone]

a lot of routers and isps have parental controls. use those.