HIT: Security software

[Ellen Fisher <EFisher610@AOL.COM>]

Thank you all for your answers to my query about what software people are
using to prevent unwanted student changes to computers.  The answers received
so far follow:
---------------
We have a piece of hardware installed called a ProTech card.  It partitions
the hard drive into two parts.  No matter what the kids do, when you reboot
the computer, it's gone.
---------------
We are using a great program called WinSelect Policy and Kiosk.  It's from
HyperTechnologies, a British Columbia company with offices in Washington
State.  It's kind of pricey ($34 per desktop), but entirely worth it to me.
Their tech support is wonderful.  Now I don't have to spend all of my time
deleting programs, changing backgrounds, renaming icons, etc.  You can set
it up so the students can only access the things you want them to.  I love
it!  You can find them on the web at www.hypertec.com.  Please let me know
if you have any specific questions.  I can't recommend this software highly
enough!
-----------------
We use Foolproof on both our PCs and MACs and are happy with it.  I've also
used At Ease and find Foolproof much easier to use.  Students cannot access
the hard drive, settings, or any of the control panels but the desktop looks
the same.  The one thing that the students have to get used to is that there
is a specific protocol for saving to disk which involves typing A:\ to find
the A Drive instead of going through "My Computer".  It gets my vote.
---------------
Our techs use the Microsoft "profile editor" that can be downloaded for free
from their website. It seems to work quite well ( I can't even change the
home page in my computer lab! -- or the screen resolution on my desktop
computer!) -- and it's free -- and it's a MS product, so if there are any
conflicts (and there haven't been), nobody can point fingers at each other,
saying "Well, *there's* your problem!"
-----------------
We switched from IE to Netscape because we could lockdown more areas.  In
addition, we are using Fortress.  Rarely, are the library computers changed.
On occasion, the lab adjacent to me has changes.  I know the password along
with the techs and give it to noone.  If I find that students might be
circumventing the system I have changed the password but only once.  This has
helped.  I don't have as many problems as I did previously.  We are using
Windows 95 on a Novell network with Compaq 486 computers.  Good Luck.
-----------------
I want to get Fortres 101.  Right now I have set the registry using the
Policy Editor to restricit all kinds of options but it is kind of a pain to
deal with.  I also had a lot of help (OK I watched a guy do it and now I can
do some of it)so beware if you try messing with it.
----------------
We are using Fortres and it seems to work just fine.  So far we haven't had
trouble with hackers.
----------------
We don't have any special security program, but within Windows NT the
student group was not given the rights to be able to change the computer
setups--such as wallpaper. They simply cannot do a lot of the things that
can be done on a stand-alone. They get the message "Your administrator has
disabled this function" or some such thing. A few students know how to get
around this system, I know who they are and keep a fairly close eye on
them--they are also the first students I call on when I need something
simple done & the techie guy is unavailable.
----------------
We have used Fortres Grand for about 4 years and have been pleased.
-----------------
Hi, we are still running Windows 95 on a Novell network.  Our security
program is called SASI.  It seems to take the computers an awful lot of time
to logon because of SASI.  It does seem to do a good job of preventing the
kids from changing things, downloading off the Internet, etc.  The rights
applied to the login determine what can and cannot be done to the desktop.
Rarely can the students make any permanent changes to the computer.  The
biggest problem I have is connected to the right click button on the mouse.
To save a picture off of the Internet, you need to use the right click
button.  Unfortunately, this also allows you to change the wallpaper.  All I
have to do, though, is restart the computer because permanent changes cannot
be made with the student computer logins.  I hope this makes sense and
helps.  Let me know if you need anything else.
------------------
We use Fortres on our Novel, Windows 98 network.
------------------
I use At Ease (and with the iMacs, Multiple Users.) They are absolutely
effective.
-----------------
We are using Fortres, but a few students can get through the passwords and
do pretty much what they want.  But for the most part this program works for
our purpose.
-----------------
My predecessor used At Ease, which I have always hated.... I promptly
took it off all computers when I arrived (after we finally figured out
what her password was!!!)... we do not use a security system... we
monitor students using the computers pretty consistently... if they
change anything, they are not allowed to use them anymore and are
written up.... so far, so good... a few slip by occasionally, but
nothing worth putting up with a security program! Hope this helps.
----------------
We use FORTES. Works well. Check their website www.fortres.com  or call
1-800-331-0372.
----------------
I am sending an attachment with directions for using system policies.  They
worked for me before we switched to NT Workstation.  [This attachment is 29
pages.]
----------------
We have a system called the Sheriff.  When you shut down the computer
and/or reboot it gets rid of any thing added and also retains all of the
programs.  We like it other than it is necessary to reboot when there is
garbage of deletion of icons etc.

Contact the following for more information:

jay_pilch@educ8.org
---------------
Again, many thanks to those who responded.

Ellen Fisher, Librarian
Radnor HS, Radnor PA
efisher610@aol.com

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