Where are temporary Internet files stored for Firefox?

[pnolan]

hi,

I am confused.

I am running Windows XP using Moxilla Firefox

I am the admin and there are three other users

I'm having trouble finding the temporary internet files and the history for two of the users.
have they figured out a way to clear that completely everytime?
is there a way for me to be able to view /track my childrens surfing?

when I go to the two adults - the files are there under
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files/content.ie5
under folders of various names such as:
6LE9GPUT and JO491T63

always some variation of numbers and letters

when I go to the kids and look in
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5

there is only a file there
index

and no other files or folders


one of the kids has the folders with letters and numbers but no temp files in the folders

what are they doing ?

this is what I get looking for history
C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\History\History.IE5\MSHist012008122220081223

and no record of history

I hope I made sense..........and someone can help me

is there any free downloads of tracking software? to track their surfing.


thanks

lostinafog

[kryyst]

Those temporary files are for Internet Explorer.

In firefox if they are clearing out their privacy data they can clear it right from the tools menu. Also you can't stop them from doing it because Firefox can't be controlled through group policies.

Firefox stores it's stuff in Documents and Settings\username\local settings\application data\mozilla
and
Documents and Settings\username\application data\mozilla

However if you want to curb their surfing habits I'd suggest using opendns as your dns provider then you can lock down the types of sites you don't want them to go to. There are also other net nanny programs that are available that will log things for you. I have never looked into the quality of them so I can't comment but I'm sure other people can.

However from one parent to another I'm going to say this. It's better to guide how and what your children are doing on a computer then just putting up the iron wall. The harder you try and lock them down through obvious blocks the more they'll try and get around what is being presented as taboo, trust me. Also snooping through what they are doing on the net is a breach of trust in your childrens eyes.

If you want to keep them safe, which is something I can fully support you need to give them a sense of responsibility and a trust. Limit the hours they can spend on the computer in the same way you may limit the hours they can veg out in front of the TV. Use the net as a tool with them. Find interesting, informative and possitive sites to view. Let them know that there are dangers on the net and that it's not that you don't trust what they are doing, but more a case of you don't want them to run into trouble. Also keep in mind that many easily attained 'bad sites' are easily attained for a reason. They want people to stumble upon them and are frequently loaded with malware and it's a legitimate reason to block them from getting there and opendns will do a great job of it.

At the end of the day you can never - ever allow them to be both on the net and at the same time 100% protected from everything. If they are allowed to surf they are going to get curious and try and get to place you don't want them to go. The best you can hope for is to steer them in the right directions and the best way to do that is guide them yourself.

My home setup is simple. I have admin priveledged accounts for me and my wife. My daughter has her own account that is only a user account. I use opendns as my dns provider and she's locked down from being able to change that. Other then that the computers are all in family areas (she doesn't have one in her room) not that we are always there - but we could be.

That's pretty much it.

[pnolan]

I looked here

Firefox stores it's stuff in Documents and Settings\username\local settings\application data\mozilla
and
Documents and Settings\username\application data\mozilla


I don't see any history files or temporary internet files.

just a bunch of files I can't open.


and what's a dns provider? and how would I get opendns?
I never picked one before.