Protecting/Backing Up Internet Explorer History File

Broq

In an age where it seems like everyone is wanting to ERASE their internet history files, I am seeking to back them up to another file name, or preserve them in some way against arbitrary erasure. My children are inquisitive and sometimes visit inappropriate web sites. They are aged 12 and 15, and both have been computer literate since about age 3 or so, and especially since they learned to read at age 4 or so have become (as you could imagine) quite instinctive about computers and their many uses and possibilities on the internet. With this comes the natural curiosity of a child, visiting inappropriate sites, downloading adware, and the problem that they have learned how to cover their tracks in Explorer, by erasing either the entire history or specific sites they've visited from internet history file. Is there any way currently existing to have the computer automatically make a backup of the history file, as it is created, to another name so I could check it periodically as I do the actual history file in IE '[View] - "History" Or is there otherwise a way to protect IE's built-in history against erasing by protecting it with a password or something (some kind of add on that would still allow constant updating by the system, while preventing erasing without taking special steps)

Stevesur2001

An excellent question, and one I am currently trying to figure out. Kids are pretty savvy about clearing out the history folders, and it would be great to password protect it to prevent that. If there is a way I too would like to know. If not, perhaps Microsoft could make a patch for IE7 that allows this.

Carlos E.V.

Without elaborating very much on the subject, in my opinion you have some pretty good alternatives:

- (1) you may use a blocking firewall with Internet activity logging. This way you would be able to log not only IE's Activity but all Internet activity done by your kids. Be sure to get one with some kind of "configuration's lock by password" and use a difficult one. Note that some firewalls do not log web pages but only the IP address of the connected web server. So choose one that fits your needs.

-(2) You may also use a transparent proxy software with logging features. Most of them log the viewed pages. be sure to get one with some protection against log clearing.

- (3) Keyboard / screen loging software. Several spyware softwares do exactly that but there are some legitimate software that are used exactly for the purposes you mentioned.

- (4) Get some Internet Control software for kids. Those software come with some updatable database that prevent children from accessing forbidden sites and innapropriate material over the web and I guess that they have also activity logging features.

- (5) Remember to use different windows user's accounts. At one to each kid and another for your. Define their accounts as "regular user". So you'll be able to look at their Internet history files and also will prevent them from installing unwanted software.

There are hundreds of other solutions. It depends how detailed is the information you want and the size of your pocket.

Regards,

Carlos

EricLaw-MSFT

Which version of Windows are you using You can use Windows Parental controls on Vista to control what sites your children see, and get a report of what they're visiting. On Windows XP, you can use Policy to disable the ability to clear the history and cache.

Stevesur2001

I am running Windows XP Home Edition. A friend had also mentioned setting policies to prevent clearing of the History, but I cannot find where to set policy in XP Home. I know how to access the policy settings in XP Pro, but I can find nothing in XP Home.

furguss1961

Was there ever an answer about finding WindowsXP Home Policy I'm having a problem with history clearing and would love to know how to back it up.