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My son has a Nexus 4 and wants to use Google Now. I have k9 web protection enabled on it, which blocks Google Now, as there is no way to force safe search for google images. However, I have found some interesting information, which I would like to put into practice. According to Google, one can:

2) Update the router configuration

To enable SafeSearch throughout a school network, you can use a proxy server to append &safe=active or &safe=on directly to all search URLs. This will enable strict SafeSearch.

Google Sends search queries along URL paths like google.com/search?..., google.com/images?..., google.com/s?... Schools that activate SafeSearch with a proxy should keep their filters updated to include /search, /s, and /images URLs.

So, I would like to do this. I just have an AT&T Wi-Fi router. I am guessing I will need my own computer for this, which is a Mac, OS X 10.8.2, on WiFi.

In summary, I need to know how to set up a proxy server on my router, and enable this change of query, on EVERY device. Actually, if that is too difficult, just the phone. Thanks.

Kenster
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Josiah
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4 Answers4

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I need to know how to set up a proxy server on my router

First, this isn't possible (in the way you mean). You don't set up proxy servers IN routers. At least, not in a standard DSL/Cable modem/Router that would have been provided.

You set up a proxy server in another device (computer) in the network, and have the router point at it.

I'll use my home network as an example. I have a media converter (changes the DSL/phone line to an Ethernet plug). Next in line is my MacMini Server. It creates the PPPoE connection to my ISP. In the server I am running DHCP (hands out the IP addresses to my network so other computers can connect using WiFi), DNS (handles name services for me), an email server, a VPN server, a caching proxy server, and many other services. The only way to connect to my network through the MacMini is wirelessly. In this way, all clients are forced to go through the services I built.

I mention all this because I am NOT using the stock DSL router that was provided by my ISP.

The process to do all this would be the subject of a book. I did it because I am a network security engineer by trade, and understand the nuances of what I'm doing (and places that I traded off security, speed, and functionality).

I can't recommend this for you, because I don't know all the specifics of your situation. What I can say is that you may want to see about installing something like netnanny on the phone. Other options include researching proxy services that are available commercially and requiring it to use them.

EDIT: Conceivably, you could try and install a version of linux into a modem/router and make this happen. However, you would:

  1. Void warranties
  2. Brick the device if you make a mistake
  3. Potentially cause a problem that gets the attention of your ISP
  4. Not get it to work without compiling a version of Linux to go on it
  5. Have to find a driver to get the modem function to work/write a driver to make this work.

When I say this isn't possible, I mean for a consumer grade situation. If you are an enthusiast and can afford to take all the risks, then it may be the thing for you to try.

Sathyajith Bhat
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Everett
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4

You could accomplish this task by setting your DNS servers to opendns.com addresses, 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220 and then sign up for an account there to manage your public IP address, then specifically disable all requests to google.com, or to http://www.google.com/imghp, and all other image areas in order to block out those requests. It's not a perfect solution.

I also do IT for a living and there are solutions that can use a proxy inside the router.

First, you could try installing DD-WRT with squid on your home router, but that is a complicated process and not what I would recommend.

A better option is to look at a Buffalo WZR-1750 router that has DD-WRT installed.

A third option is to use an old PC, add a second network card into it and then download and install the IPCop router solution. IPCop takes some work to set up, but it's online, it's very reliable and you can do all sorts of things with it such as restricting what devices can get online, blocking certain IP addresses, certain MAC addresses, or you can restrict access to the internet to certain times of the day (such as from 5PM - 8PM when there's family accountability, and the kids can't search porn when their in the family room with you.

I would recommend going with either the buffalo router or with the IPCop solution. You can get cheap PCs from many computer shops or check your local school or university for PCs that they sell off as they replace their computers in the classrooms.

random
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Chris
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This does't answer the request on how to setup a proxy server, but is responding to OP's question regarding how to force google safe search on all computers on network. See this answer to a similar question https://superuser.com/a/1520877/973180 - it provides specific steps on how to force Google Safe Search for all computers on network by modifying the router's DNS lookups. It only works if your router uses DDWRT firmware (but similar concepts may apply to other routers if they allow bootup commands and/or DNSMasq).

CoderBlue
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I would suggest that you use the Untangle gateway ISO. There is a free version and pay version. I suspect the free version will likely do what you need it to do.

Untangle Gateway is a KNOPPIX-based network gateway with pluggable modules for network applications like spam blocking, web filtering, anti-virus, anti-spyware, intrusion prevention, VPN, SSL VPN, firewall, and more.

For your home use, you can install it on your own computer. For larger installations, they make pay versions that can be purchased on network devices.

http://iso.linuxquestions.org/untangle/untangle-gateway-10.0/

jonsca
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gr8spirit
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