Cyber cafe

[kongwane]

Hi there!!!

Im starting a cyber cafe in my area. My problem is that i have no control over the content that gets downloaded on my machines, which usually result in my 3GB cap being reached very soon.
I was wondering if theres any kind of software i can use to block media downloads such as mp3s, avi's and so on. I wud like this to be the case on all the machines.

I dont want to limit the amount of data that comes in, i just wanna block certain file extensions and streaming videos from the net.

Finances are a bit tight so i wud appreciate it if the solution cost as little as possible or if it was free!!

PLEEZ HELP I

[Moederloos]

It may be better to look at uncapped offerings - a bit more expensive, yes, but then you need not restrict people...

[kongwane]

It may be better to look at uncapped offerings - a bit more expensive, yes, but then you need not restrict people...

i really need to limit them!!

[twiga]

Use the squid proxy service, can do everything that you require.

- twiga

[rsachoc]

And check out dans guardian for squid...

[vangend]

Don't worry to much about your cap at the beginning. My wife just sold her internet cafe and most people that used it only checked emails, light surfing etc. There was always a few that downloaded movies and stuff but the bw never went over about 5gb, She had 12 computers and most of them was being used about 4-5 hours min per day.

[Kenny]

I would suggest NetLimiter + Bandwidth Monitor Pro
Thats of course if u feedind ur traffic through ur server or "main" PC
otherwise u need some kind of management software... Server-clent based
just use google and u'll find the answer

[Jeeva]

a FreeBSD machine as a server :)

[The_Librarian]

Have a look at Smoothwall + Dansguardian - this will enable you to block certain content from being downloaded. I have posted somewhere in this forum a listing of the various types of files which DG can block, but will post the list again for your convenience :



#Banned extension list

# File extensions with executable code

# The following file extensions can contain executable code.
# This means they can potentially carry a virus to infect your computer.

.ade # Microsoft Access project extension
.adp # Microsoft Access project
.asx # Windows Media Audio / Video
.bas # Microsoft Visual Basic class module
.bat # Batch file
.cab # Windows setup file
.chm # Compiled HTML Help file
.cmd # Microsoft Windows NT Command script
.com # Microsoft MS-DOS program
.cpl # Control Panel extension
.crt # Security certificate
.dll # Windows system file
.exe # Program
.hlp # Help file
.ini # Windows system file
.hta # HTML program
.inf # Setup Information
.ins # Internet Naming Service
.isp # Internet Communication settings
.js # JScript file - often needed in web pages
.jse # Jscript Encoded Script file - often needed in web pages
.lnk # Windows Shortcut
.mda # Microsoft Access add-in program
.mdb # Microsoft Access program
.mde # Microsoft Access MDE database
.mdt # Microsoft Access workgroup information
.mdw # Microsoft Access workgroup information
.mdz # Microsoft Access wizard program
.msc # Microsoft Common Console document
.msi # Microsoft Windows Installer package
.msp # Microsoft Windows Installer patch
.mst # Microsoft Visual Test source files
.pcd # Photo CD image, Microsoft Visual compiled script
.pif # Shortcut to MS-DOS program
.prf # Microsoft Outlook profile settings
.reg # Windows registry entries
.scf # Windows Explorer command
.scr # Screen saver
.sct # Windows Script Component
.sh # Shell script
.shs # Shell Scrap object
.shb # Shell Scrap object
.sys # Windows system file
.url # Internet shortcut
.vb # VBScript file
.vbe # VBScript Encoded script file
.vbs # VBScript file
.vxd # Windows system file
.wsc # Windows Script Component
.wsf # Windows Script file
.wsh # Windows Script Host Settings file
.otf # Font file - can be used to instant reboot 2k and xp
.ops # Office XP settings



# Files which one normally things as non-executable but
# can contain harmful macros and viruses

.doc # Word document
.xls # Excel document


# Other files which may contain files with executable code

#.gz # Gziped file
#.tar # Tape ARchive file
#.zip # Windows compressed file
#.tgz # Unix compressed file
.bz2 # Unix compressed file
.cdr # Mac disk image
.dmg # Mac disk image
.smi # Mac self mounting disk image
.sit # Mac compressed file
.sea # Mac compressed file, self extracting
.bin # Mac binary compressed file
.hqx # Mac binhex encoded file
.rar # Similar to zip


# Time/bandwidth wasting files

.mp3 # Music file
.mpeg # Movie file
.mpg # Movie file
.avi # Movie file
.asf # this can also exploit a security hole allowing virus infection
#.iso # CD ISO image
.ogg # Music file
.wmf # Movie file
.bin # CD ISO image
.cue # CD ISO image


DG is very flexible and highly configurable, and with a bit of tweaking you can get optimal results.

I have also installed the bandview mod on my smoothwall at work, this enables me to see, at a glance, how many bandwidth per workstation is used up.

You may PM me for more details.

Regards

TU

[babwe_zim]

HandyCafe is easy to use and allows u to put a cap on each user, we put ours on 20MB per person at our cafe. It also has SA customer support.:) You can also take screen shots and keep logs on all users.... if you want to invade their privacy.;)

[The_Librarian]

HandyCafe is easy to use and allows u to put a cap on each user, we put ours on 20MB per person at our cafe. It also has SA customer support.:) You can also take screen shots and keep logs on all users.... if you want to invade their privacy.;)
:D hehehehe - sounds good.

But isn't a cyber cafe a public place where you forego any privacies you may have? Or is there any privacy rights you enjoy while doing a shufti at a cyber cafe?

[babwe_zim]

I just feel guilty when you are required to take screen shots of someones E-mail or logging history. Their emails should be private.... but thay are not.