Setting up a Kiosk style workstation

[kyle_engineer]

Hey All,

So I have 2 computers that I need to have open to public use. Obviously I want the user accounts to have extremely limited functionality, but there are also a few other things that I would like to add into it.

First, I'd like a message at log in that would inform the user that they have 5 minutes (or whatever) before they are automatically logged off.

Second, I'd like to have the browser highly limited on domains that it can access. In fact, I'd like to make it like 3-5 domains that it will allow.

It's kinda like a kiosk setup, but without any custom program/shell... like a library computer with a few more limits.

Anyway, if anyone knows of either a free software that can do this for me, or how to set it all up (or a reference list of how to do it), I'd be fantastically grateful.

-Kyle

[Chrisxs5]

Actually if you are using XP, then Microsoft actually offers a program called Steady State. Install on an admin account and you can control the other accounts on the PC. Disable software install, create opening messages, set time limits, disable usb and way, way more.

Just do a search for Steady State and you will find it available for download and the manual is still on Microsoft's website. Although if you are decent with PC's you can figure it out pretty easy. You can also o a quick search for Steady State Alternative for other options.

[Geek-9pm]

Question.
You said about 5 web sites. But Web sites link to other web sites. Do you want that?

Also, do you really want dynamic content? Could you not just download the pages you want and nerve them to people?

How you talked to a Librarian to learn how they do it?

[kyle_engineer]

@Chrisxs5 - Thanks. I'll have a look at that. I'm definitely not bad with computers... so yeah. I was thinking about writing an autohotkey script or something but figured I'd check to see if there was a less intensive way of doing it. So thanks.

@Geek-9pm - Honestly, linking would have to be fairly limited. Most of the links would be reference links. So I could probably say enable the links on the first window, but not any subsequent windows. Also though, I will probably cache/download most of the content so that other domains don't become an issue.

[Geek-9pm]

Some schools, public libraries and internet cafes use special software filters to prevent people from going to unwelcome web sites.
The general term is called "Content Control"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content-control_software
You have to buy it from someone who has already done the work. It is not easy. The software has to have a database of places that are allowed.

Content-control software, content filtering software, secure web gateways, censorware, web filtering software, content-censoring software, and content-blocking software are terms describing software designed to restrict or control the content a reader is authorised to access, especially when utilised to restrict material delivered over the Internet via the Web, e-mail, or other means. Content-control software determines what content will be available or perhaps more often what content will be blocked

[patio]

Or you could simply use a Hosts file...

[Geek-9pm]

Or you could simply use a Hosts file...

I thought hosts was for just redirection of a few items.
Please elaborate. Can you use a hosts file so that only a few sites will be shown. If so, how?  Curious minds need to know.

[Salmon Trout]

I thought hosts was for just redirection of a few items.
Please elaborate. Can you use a hosts file so that only a few sites will be shown. If so, how?  Curious minds need to know.

This might work for the casual or inexperienced user. Disable DNS and DHCP and set up the Hosts file thus:

# sites you want to allow
212.58.246.91 bbc.co.uk
212.140.180.162 tesco.co.uk

#Attempt to block all the rest by blacklisting all the TLDs you can think of
127.0.0.1 .com
127.0.0.1 .org
127.0.0.1 .net
127.0.0.1 .edu
(etc)

However, someone could type an IP address in a browser address bar if it was available, whereas using a firewall you can explicitly block all IPs except the ones you wish to allow.

[kyle_engineer]

Chrisxs5 - looks like steady state is going to be the ticket. Just testing it now, but it look's like it's got exactly what's needed!

Geek-9pm - I'm not looking for anything filter/censor related. Basically just whitelisting for the internet.

Salmon Trout & patio - HOSTS will work if needed, however SteadyState also has built-in features for exactly what I need. The drawback is that it leaves me stuck with using IE when I personally prefer FF. Anyway, I think I'll try hosts if I end up really wanting more than what I can get from SS/IE.

Anyway, gotta restart now. BBL!

[kyle_engineer]

So after toying around with SteadyState a bit, it looks like exactly what I need. Can limit all sorts of stuff and even has Disk/OS protection features so that the OS can't be corrupted/damaged. Lock command prompt, disable r-clicking and basically all the easy tricks that someone could use to get around it! 

I'm having a few issues getting the internet to work while limited to sites... :/ for some reason or another it won't connect to any sites, including the ones specified in the exceptions. So I'm gonna read the guide and see if I can't figure it out.

I'll probably post back in a day or two to let you all know if I got it figured out or not.

Thanks again!

-kyle_engineer

[patio]

I wasn't aware it didn't like FireFox...

[Chrisxs5]

Chrisxs5 - looks like steady state is going to be the ticket. Just testing it now, but it look's like it's got exactly what's needed!

Glad I could help. They did excellent with Steady State, I wish they would have carried it forward to other versions of Windows.

[kyle_engineer]

I wasn't aware it didn't like FireFox...

I'm not 100% sure that it doesn't like FF, I just say that because all of the SS settings for this are under the heading of IE features... so we'll see.

Anyway, I'm gonna go grab the actual workstation that will be setup this way so I can tinker with it there. It's getting a little annoying to try to mess with it on the workstation that I actually use all the time. lol!

So yeah... I'll let you guys know how it goes.

- kyle_engineer

[Chrisxs5]

It might not like anything but IE, it is a Microsoft product. I used it in a training room environment and all I had on it was IE. I prefer Chrome myself but also prefer not to have a users screw up pcs.

[patio]

That doesn't mean anything at all why it wouldn't work properly on another browser however...
As you said ...you only tried it on IE.