Introduction to Blocking

Spector Pro allows you to control who to block, what to block, and when to block various Internet activities on a monitored computer.

The Blocking feature assists parents or employers who want to proactively filter inappropriate or unauthorized material before it is viewed on the computer, or who want to prevent access to one or more sites and applications in response to those sites or applications being visited.

By default nothing is blocked, but you can block all Internet access, specific Internet functions and applications (such as file transfers using FTP, AOL Instant Messenger, or ICQ), all web sites or specific web sites, and certain chat / IM contact names that use AOL, Yahoo or MSN.

In addition, you may create a customized blocking schedule which works with Blocking Internet Access, if you want to control when blocking occurs. Do not set up a schedule if you want to blocking to apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Does Blocking Apply to All Users?

Blocking works at the Windows account or login level. By default, when you configure blocking it applies to all users who have a Windows account on a monitored computer. To apply blocking to a specific user, enter the appropriate user account name in Who To Block. Once you enter a specific user in Who To Block, all blocking that is configured applies to that user.

The monitored computer is used by 17-year-old Raphael and 10-year-old Michael, yourself and your husband. You want to block the boys from accessing AOL Instant Messenger. Select AOL Instant Messenger in Block Internet Access, and enter Raphael's user account name and Michael's user account name in Who To Block.

You later learn that Raphael has been visiting www.badsite.com, and you decide to block it. Add the web site to the list in Block Web Sites. Neither Raphael nor Michael will be able to access it.

What Happens to Blocking if Applications Are Not Recorded?

Blocking settings work together with recording settings to give you maximum control over the twin capabilities: what can be accessed by the user and what is recorded by Spector Pro. It is important to understand that you cannot block anything that is not being recorded. Whenever you exclude an activity or a program from being recorded, you eliminate the possibility of blocking it.

You have decided that Outlook Express is the only program you want to record, and you have chosen to block all Internet access. Since it is the only program recorded, Outlook Express is the only program blocked.

Example - Internet Access is blocked, all programs except Outlook Express are being recorded:

You have decided to record all programs except for Outlook Express, and you have chosen to block all Internet access. Since it is the only program not recorded, Outlook Express is the only program not blocked.