How do I block web based chat.

Randy R · n00b Joined: 09 Jan 2004 Posts: 63

I know, I know GNU, Feedom etc.

I have a small network at home that my small children play games on some of which are web based. Some of the sites hosting these games also have chat on thier web sites. What I want to know is do I have to block the entire site, or is there some way to block the chat?

My current setup:

gateway server (gentoo obviously):
-Squid - transparent proxy
-Dans guardian
-Shorewall

Computers:
-mix of windows and linux machines
-any one of the internal machines may be used by the children

Thanks in advance for any ideas

NeddySeagoon · Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject:

Randy R,

It may be suffcient to block the port that the chat runs on, as long as its not port 80.
That would block browsing too.

Run tcpdump while connected to the chat, it will show what port is in use. If its all port 80, its everything or nothing.
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Taladar · Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 5:07 pm Post subject:

If you want to limit them to certain sites you can just use a (transparent or not) proxy and filter out all urls they shouldn't visit (or even better, list all allowed ones if they are not too many). You can then stop all direct connections (around the proxy) with some iptables rules.

pjp · Administrator Joined: 16 Apr 2002 Posts: 20589

Moved from Gentoo Chat
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nunogt · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 11:01 am Post subject:

Disabling javascript and other scripts for that specific address on your browser will do the trick. There are firefox extensions that do just that. Check http://www.noscript.net

Randy R · n00b Joined: 09 Jan 2004 Posts: 63

Thanks all for your replies. Blocking with the browser will probably bet cumbersom after a while. I am just going to block the entire site each time I think.

thecooptoo · Veteran Joined: 27 Apr 2003 Posts: 1353 Location: UK

add a phrase to dansguardian eg 'chat login' and stop it that way
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