Can I stop Inprivate browsing?

Q We have young children who use the internet. I want to see their browsing history so I know exactly what websites they are viewing, so I can ensure they are safe.

I would like to know how to disable Inprivate browsing in Internet Explorer 8 on Windows 7, which hides the sites they have visited.
Anthony Gallagher

A There are a few ways to disable Inprivate browsing. One is via the Group Policy Editor, which gives precise control over many different Windows settings.

To start it, click the Start icon and in the search box type Gpedit.msc. Press Enter and click the top link in the results. In the program window, click the plus icon next to Computer Configuration on the left, then the one next to Administrative Templates.

Do the same for the icon next to Windows Components, then Internet Explorer and click the Inprivate link.

Double-click the Turn off Inprivate Browsing link at the top. This displays a Properties window with options to enable or disable the setting. Choose Enabled and click Ok.

However, the Group Policy Editor is not included with all versions of Windows such as Windows XP Home, Windows 7 Basic or Home Premium. Children are also resourceful with computers and if it is easy for you to disable Inprivate browsing this way, it’s easy for them to enable it again.

A better way to monitor and control your child’s internet access is with Windows Live Family Safety (WLFS), a free download from Microsoft that works with Windows XP, Vista or 7. To use this, you will need a Windows Live ID. You should also avoid using a single login for the computer and instead create a separate account for your children. This can be limited using WLFS, while the adults’ accounts can be left unrestricted.

It lets you disable Inprivate browsing for specific accounts on the PC or block individual websites and works in all web browsers on that PC, including Google Chrome or portable versions of Firefox. You can also view your children’s browsing and gaming history and record how much time they have spent online. For young children, it has a setting that lets you block the entire internet, except a few specific sites such as CBBC or any others you choose.

WLFS is part of the Windows Live Essentials package that can be downloaded from here. Run the program, tick the box next to Family Safety on the left, click Install. When it has downloaded, optionally untick the boxes to alter your browser’s search engine and home page, then click Next.

Start the program by clicking the Start Icon (All Programs in Windows XP), Windows Live and then Windows Live Family Safety. This lists the accounts on the computer. Click Create a new standard Windows account to set up limited accounts for your children. For now, all you need to do is enter a username for the account.

Click next, click the down arrow under Family Safety members and choose Add, to monitor your child in WLFS, then click Save. If your main account does not have a password, WLFS will recommend you set one.

Administration of the account settings is done on the Family Safety website. Sign in with your Live ID, then click Edit Settings under your child’s account name at the top. Click Web Filtering, select the Turn on web filtering option.

You can customise the sites that are blocked or enabled. Strict filtering blocks access to all websites except ones you choose. You can add a site to be blocked or allowed on this screen by entering its URL in the box in the middle of the page and choosing whether it applies to just this user or all restricted accounts.

Click Activity reporting to list sites your child has visited or click the Web activity tab to see their browsing history. Untick the box next to Show blocked activity and WLFS will list every page they have requested and whether the site was allowed or blocked. Click the Computer activity tab and you can see how many times they have logged on, how many programs have been used and so on. If your child wishes to view a blocked site, they can request you enable it, and requests will be listed on the main page.

However, while WLFS is a good way to monitor your child’s internet use and despite its effective filter, no system is perfect and your children may find a way around it.

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