How to Block Sites and Limit Screen Time on Linux
Linux users have kids a bit like everyone else. When the time involves fork over the pc , some parents would really like a touch help keeping their kids from going overboard or venturing into certain corners of the online .
1. Limit Screen Time With elementaryOS
Most Linux desktops don't accompany parental control software, but that does not mean that none of them do. one among the more popular versions happens to be an exception to the rule: elementaryOS.
You can find parental controls inside the System Settings app. There you'll limit computer usage to certain times of day. you'll also designate more computer usage on weekends than weekdays.
elementaryOS requires that you simply create a separate user account for your kids. If there are apps on your computer that you simply don't need them to use, you'll block them. you'll also block access to specific websites. this would possibly not filter sorts of content, but it can stop them from visiting one particular time-wasting or troublesome site that they've encountered.
2. Install Extensions in Firefox or Chrome
The same parental control browser extensions that employment on Windows and macOS also work on Linux. Mozilla Firefox comes preinstalled on many Linux desktops, and Google Chrome is straightforward to download.
While extensions offer perhaps the simplest thanks to start filtering out web page , they're also very limited. a child can get around any limitations established in Firefox by installing a special browser. Plus add-ons are easy to disable.
3. Edit Hosts File to dam Websites
The hosts file may be a simple document that is alittle gateway between you and therefore the web. Before your browser loads a site's IP address, it checks the hosts file first. If your hosts file displays a special address, one that points to your local machine like 127.0.0.1, then the browser will say the location can't be found.
The site is effectively blocked, as long as your kid doesn't have access to your administrator password.
But subsequent option addresses both of those shortcomings.
4. Filter web page With OpenDNS
OpenDNS may be a free service which will block websites from coming through your router. this manner you'll stop sites from loading on computers, tablets, and smart devices alike.
The service offers multiple filtering options. A "low" setting attempts to filter pornography, while the "high" setting also blocks social networks, video sharing sites, and criminality . you'll also block time-wasting websites.
Yet there remains one simple and obvious workaround. OpenDNS does nothing to dam content coming in through a cellular network. If your child features a smartphone with a knowledge plan, they will still access the whole web unless you put in parental controls on their mobile device. Though if they need a limited amount of knowledge , which will limit some activity at least until their friend comes over with a smartphone of their own.
5. Monitor Usage With StaffCounter and KidLogger
Maybe you've come to the conclusion that attempting to dam unwanted sites just isn't well worth the effort, but you are not able to trust your kid to navigate the online unsupervised. it is a good practice to stay PCs out of the bedroom and limit kids to a desktop during a public area of the house .
But albeit you grew up without a PC within the home, you've probably learned at work how easy it's to attenuate what you're doing when the boss comes around.
