Is it possible to set up a computer to access only 20 specific websites?

Question

This computer will be in a workplace and the idea is to let employees access 20 specific websites which are needed for work. The idea is to keep them from wasting time shopping for personal items online, playing games, chatting, etc. I know that specific websites can be BLOCKED, but what I want to do is somewhat different-- just allowing a small number of websites and then blocking the rest. Any suggestions you might have will be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

From memory, I think IE has the ability to set up a "whitelist" with the option of only allowing access to site contained there-in. But then that's easy enough to get around by installing Firefox or the likes

Answer 2

First off, seriously consider that what you want to do here will negatively affect office moral. I know this from experience. If an employee doesn't feel that they can be trusted, then they tend to have lower moral.

I will answer your question, but I will first provide alternatives that will either positively affect moral or not affect moral.

The most common method is to not block any internet sites at all and instead monitor productivity. After all, that's what you're most interested in.

If you notice an drop in an employee's productivity, monitor their internet usage and suggest that they try to curb it if it's excessive.

Allow internet at break and meal times. Keep an image of a clean install of Windows for a quick five minute restore if the user manages to get a virus or spy ware, but more importantly, mandate the use of Firefox. (This will require the user to store work files in a centralized location (i.e. a file server).

New employees should be required to earn the internet privilege. If their job requires internet access, give it to them and don't make it difficult to get at.

If you're concerned about possible sexual harassment for users who (and this does occasionally happen) like to look at porn in the workplace, make it company/department policy that you create a 'best of' newsletter that circulates detailing what sites were visited. DON'T ACTUALLY IMPLEMENT THE POLICY, just let the employee know that you can see what he sees and others might too.

Now to answer your question:

Go to your local office supply store and get a broadband router. Hook it up between your department's/company's switch and the internet connection (this assumes a small company, btw) and set the router to route, not pppoe or any of that nonsense. The router will let you block any specified site or any sites not on a list you provide. Using a hardware router (aka firewall) is one common way of blocking sites. You can sometimes set a list to be specific to a workstation or class of workstations.

This is a short and sweet hack. There are more appropriate ways to do this, but I don't work in IT and am not qualified to suggest other methods. I consult for management and moral issues. (Just not professionally.)

Answer 3

you should be able to do this via a proxy server on your network.

the other option would be to use a hosts file to do some tricks.

these are both fairly advanced techniques though, so you will probably need a computer technician to set it up for you.

you can get more information about both of these at http://www.wikipedia.org

the other option would be to install like trend micro internet security, there is a setting in there to only allow specific websites. and then password protect that setting.. again you may need a computer technician onsite to set it all up.