Blocking Flash Games Software restriction Policies... Hash

[MyDejaVu]

Hello,

 

I would like to know if somebody has found a way to prevent these naughty flash games from loading (.swf) I found out that using Hash rules would stop many file types , but It does not work for .swf, at least not with me that I have tried.

 

please help because game invasion os on the rise on this school

 

Ricardo Carrera

ICT Technician

Moorside High School

[Norphy]

You could try blocking the MIME type at your firewall and just allow a whitelist of sites to use Flash.

[ChrisH]

Hash rules are specific to the file the hash is created on. If you are looking to ban file types in student areas then the file filter features of Server 2003 R2 are probably your best bet.

[maniac]

We have the same problem, and I've not found a method of stopping them yet! The problem is the kids create legitimate SWF files as part of their work, so we can't ban the file type, we just need to filter out specific SWF files and stop them from running.

 

Mike.

[tarquel]

Although our pupils dont create swf files for work, the staff do use some sites that use flash, or i would have blocked it in my local hardware firewall ages ago.

 

*sighs*

 

Nath.

[ChrisH]

Although our pupils dont create swf files for work, the staff do use some sites that use flash, or i would have blocked it in my local hardware firewall ages ago.

 

*sighs*

 

Nath.

 

Do what I do. Get a proxy that bans flash and whitelist all the sites that the teachers use so they can use the flash content.

[tarquel]

If i remember, I'll suggest it to the guy that follows me

 

What I might do if i get time is to setup an old server as a proxy box for this very purpose, and place any pupils misusing the net on it, so that they get filtered even more / only have certain sites they can access.

 

I wager that I wont have time to do it before i leave, but surprises do happen dont they?

 

Nath

[Guest Guest]

Dont you already have a proxy? Just add them to a whitelist only group

[MyDejaVu]

Blocking the websites is not problem, the problem is, the kids bring the flash .swf games in a pen drive, then they share them with their mates and so on, so what I am looking for is to get a similar way to stop specific files (like hashing) from loading, as some posts in here have cleared, there are some course work related .swf files they create, so to block all .swf files is not ideal.

 

well I was jumping of happiness when found out about hash rules, but then because it does not work with .swf files.,, so I have been deleting the files from their home folders, but the pupils are even starting to laugh at me because they know that I cannot stop them!!!

 

mmhh

[srochford]

I think this is one of those areas where you have to accept that the problem is not technological so the fix is also not technological.

 

There's a whole raft of things which are not allowed in schools and that is enforced not by any kind of technology but by teachers saying "no" and, if necessary, dishing out punishments or sanctions.

 

Trying to find a "fix" for blocking some swf files but not others is pretty much doomed - you simply need to be able to report user "X" to a teacher, head of year etc and let them deal with it. Alternatively, if the school won't deal with it then don't let it worry you :-)

[internetdemon]

Blocking the websites is not problem, the problem is, the kids bring the flash .swf games in a pen drive, then they share them with their mates and so on, so what I am looking for is to get a similar way to stop specific files (like hashing) from loading, as some posts in here have cleared, there are some course work related .swf files they create, so to block all .swf files is not ideal.

 

well I was jumping of happiness when found out about hash rules, but then because it does not work with .swf files.,, so I have been deleting the files from their home folders, but the pupils are even starting to laugh at me because they know that I cannot stop them!!!

 

mmhh

How about blocking all SWF files for users who don't need them? Im guessing students making flash files are in the higher years (and should know better than to play games on school time?). ...Block flash files for everyone, but dont apply it to a certain group of users.

This would probably create a lot of extra work unfortunately:mad:

[pinemarten]

you can't block all kinds of games from school PC's , it's as simple as that, so I don't bust my nuts over it.

 

whenever you block one way, they find another and in fact the brighter ones see it as a challenge.....

 

I agree with the 'classroom management' solution - we can only take reasonable measures to ensure that games are not easily accessible, but it's the teacher's job to monitor use of PC games in the classroom - from a behaviour point of view it's no different from pupils using mobiles or other gadgets in class really (and ICT technicians have no control over that at all.)

 

I know some teachers do turn a blind eye if leaving a disruptive kid playing a game on a PC in the corner , or listening to music or whatever keeps him from annoying others who want to learn - that way the kid is only wasting his OWN time.

I would not say that was BAD classroom management, would you ?- in this situation , I would be inclined to do the same thing.

 

school for some kids is a wonderful learning environment, but for others it is a state - sponsored childminding service - unfortunately in state schools, they are all in the same classes together.

[cookie_monster]

The problem is that by leaving that kid to waste their time the school are failing them.

[pinemarten]

The problem is that by leaving that kid to waste their time the school are failing them.

 

-but if too much of the teacher's time is taken up in managing the behaviour of ONE kid, then the rest of the class is being failed to some extent.

[cookie_monster]

That's what inclusion is for if the teacher can't controll them then that student should be removed and educated in a more controlled environment.

[mrforgetful]

The problem is that by leaving that kid to waste their time the school are failing them.

 

What rubbish.

 

If the kid is playing games when told not to, getting around policies, security and doing it when even after been punished for previous offences then that's their own doing.

 

Fair enough we have a duty of care and some responsibility to prevent students wasting time, but how about looking at it that those kids circumventing the things we do are failing the other kids who want to work because we spend time blocking things instead of fixing or progressing other resource?

 

How about Classroom Management that lies with the teachers? How about us not chasing every little violation?

 

When I was at school and sat chatting or doodling and not paying attention, did the teachers take away my pens? Did they strap my eyes open ala Clockwork Orange? No I was punished and either accepted I was doing something wrong and stopped.

[cookie_monster]

As i said above it's not all the teachers fault (although i feel some are far to soft) it's a policy issue but it's still the school failing the student. These consistent trouble pupils should be educated in smaller more focused groups and when they're sick of that quite often they're willing to return to classes and work. Edited March 5, 2008 by cookie_monster

[mrforgetful]

If we're talking about pupils that can be disruptive in class, I've found if they're sat playing a game it usually means they're quiet and not stopping anyone else from learning.

It when they can't amuse themselves they turn to more disruptive measures.

 

Sure they should be in smaller groups, we have a Behaviour Support Unit here they can be taken to, but as you know school funds have a lot they should be spent on, when they're actually wasted on unnecessary things.

[cookie_monster]

This is a very large and political issue that has been debated long and hard and i don't think we're going to solve it here. I think we'll have to agree to disagree.

[mrforgetful]

That's very diplomatic. Fair enough.

 

Politics, weird isn't it how we're all convinced Democracy is the way to go, then complain constantly...bring on the Revolution!

[cookie_monster]

If we didn't all think we were right all the time it might work better, but i don't see that happening and life would be a bit boring that way :-)

[Logan]

OK i think i have the solution don't ask me how but it is working on my network.

Warning this might impact on your security

first set in gpo - user configuration \ administrative templates \ windows components \ attachment manager - set default risk level for file attachments to low

then add .swf to inclusion list for low file types

then in software restriction polices add your .swf hash file

seems to then work.

[Paid_Peanuts]

Has anyone done what is mentioned in the previous post and does it work?

 

If so did it have any other impact ?

[Paid_Peanuts]

*** BUMP ***

 

I have been asked by SLT to look into a way of blocking all these swf games they are bringing in on memory stick.

 

Does anyone have any experience of preventing these?

 

Any help would be appreciated.

[mrforgetful]

Yeah basically it's not possible.

 

You can't use a software restriction policy because that blocks IE not the SWF files.

 

You could block SWF files but that would mean you couldn't do a lot of ICT courses.

 

This is where the line is drawn between computer restrictions and classroom management. It has to be reaslied that technology can prevent a lot of things, but not everything. For the small parts that remain then teachers must exercise their authority.