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Stopping ChatZilla Installs on FireFox Systems?

Posted by Cliff on from the limiting-user-abuse dept.

TonalSpeller asks: "I'm in charge of a language learning computer lab in an Asian university. We have Windows XP on all machines, but I convinced my superior that I needed to hide Internet Explorer on all student machines (can't remove it entirely because some proprietary software might need access to it). I'm counting on security through obscurity -- I know that a minority of savvy people can still access IE via the command line. I am running the latest version of Opera and Firefox 1.0 PR on all machines, but now I am faced with a dilemma -- extending Firefox is so easy that sooner or later, someone will try to install Chatzilla. Is there any easy way to block Javascript while keeping Firefox's superb usability? I will be running TrustNoExe, but that won't catch Mozilla extensions. Any ideas or suggestions?" "I have also removed all chat clients, games and Outlook Express so that people can concentrate on language learning (I don't want people using all this expensive hardware to goof off). I work hard to create interesting lessons, but I won't get a chance to teach anything if students are immersed in irrelevant conversations."

3 of 81 comments (clear)

  1. Ask Slashdot? by vasqzr · · Score: 3, Insightful


    Why not ask here, or here??

  2. Re:Software Firewall by Spoing · · Score: 3, Insightful
    1. How about a software firewall like zonealarm that would block chatzilla from accessing the Internet.

    If he has control over the local systems, it's better to lock them down instead of tweaking firewall settings. One reason (of many): By allowing the program to be installed, the users may be motivated to 'get it to work', possibly breaking other security settings in the process.

    --
    A firewall can not protect you from yourself. Turn off what you do not need. Do not use the firewall to do your work.
  3. Don't waste your time by kagaku · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Don't waste your time by going out of your way to block access to IRC. The people who want to chat on IRC during class will find a way, either by Chatzilla, a java client, or a php/perl html client somewhere. These people aren't children, they're adults. If they want to sit on IRC during class, that's their loss. They're paying for the classes.

    This is basically the stance my college takes on computer usage. You can do almost anything you want on the college computers (providing you don't screw 'em up), because if you don't pay attention during class it's your loss.

    --
    everyday is another shooter.