[OPLINTECH] Internet Explorer kiosk mode stumper

Thu Aug 30 13:48:49 EDT 2012

At Way Public Library we use Public Web Browser which forces a sort of
"super" kiosk mode and is very customizable.  It's not free, but I'm
guessing it would take significantly less man-hours than GP + Registry
Hacking + hair replacement surgery (and so, may be cheaper in the long run.)

There's also the caveman approach:  Have you considered blocking the ctrl
key's movement by placing some sort of inhibitor under the key (pencil
eraser, perhaps)?  They pop off and on easily, and would be easier to
remove/replace than the registry hack. 

Travis McAfee

Systems Administrator

Way Public Library

101 E. Indiana Ave.

Perrysburg, OH  43551

Voice:  (419) 874-3135 x103

Fax:     (419) 874-6129

Email:   mcafeetr at oplin.org

Web:  http://www.waylibrary.info <http://www.waylibrary.info/> 

From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org
[mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Eric Maynard
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 1:32 PM
To: Chad Neeper; OPLINTECH
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Internet Explorer kiosk mode stumper

Chad,

When I was Holmes Co. we used a locked down kiosk linux distro
(http://webconverger.com/) that booted from CD/USB and then restarted at the
end of each session assuming the patron click on the close button.  It also
ran on an idle timer that did the same after a set time.  I understand that
is not what you are after here, but our public stations at the State Library
might provide what you are looking for.

Here at SLO, we handle the history thing on our public PCs using mandatory
profiles and forcing reboots at session end.  A clean profile (incl.
browsing history) is then loaded for each patron.  As for the downloads, we
have locked down C: using policy in a way that even if they get a browse
button (and I only saw one in quick testing), then they are not able to
browse anywhere useful in Explorer.

I would be happy to share our resultant set off list if you think it would
be helpful.

-Eric

From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org
[mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Chad Neeper
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 12:45 PM
To: OPLINTECH
Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] Internet Explorer kiosk mode stumper

Thanks for the response, Nathan. One of the things nagging in the back of my
mind was if this was a problem unique to this particular environment. If
you're having the exact same results in a similar setup, then it's not just
me. It must be a real thing. It appears you can actually do it within GPP
(or manually I assume) without KeyTweak by making some registry changes.
Check this link out:

http://www.sdmsoftware.com/group-policy-preferences/disabling-print-screen-t
hrough-group-policy/

He's talking about disabling Print Screen, but the same technique should
apply to whatever key or key combination you desire, including CTRL-H and
CTRL-J. I haven't specifically tested it (or even very closely read the
above link) myself, but I'm familiar with the concept of remapping the
scancodes, which is what he's doing using the built-in tools provided by the
OS. Used to do this occasionally in the old MS-DOS days! Still applies.

I'm still looking for a solution because the scancodes changes are computer
level policies that will affect all users. I'm really trying to find a user
policy to accomplish this.

However, this may be the only option. Not my first choice on a production
server, though!!!

If I end up going there, I'll post the exact changes I made to disable
CTRL-H and CTRL-J using the scancodes method.

Thanks,
Chad

-- 
______________________________
Chad Neeper
Senior Systems Engineer

Level 9 Networks
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

Full LAN/WAN consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and schools

On Thu, Aug 30, 2012 at 10:40 AM, Nathan Rice <nrice at findlaylibrary.org>
wrote:

Chad, I have a very similar configuration as you. I'm running a GPO with a
custom user interface launching IE in kiosk mode, I am having the same
issues trying to disable the crtl+h and ctrl+j. I'm still running standard
desktop PCs for my catalog systems and my next move was to install KeyTweak
to disable the Ctrl key and maybe have the custom user interface launch a
script that opens KeyTweak then IE in kiosk mode. I also thought about
writing something in autohotkey but I'm not sure how much time I really want
to invest into this. 

Unfortunately it seems that there's no easy registry or GPO setting for this
one and since you're running terminal services I'm sure this could be a
little more tricky when 3rd party software gets involved.  

Sincerely,

Nathan Rice
Manager of Information Technology
Findlay-Hancock County Public Library
206 Broadway
Findlay, OH 45840
419-422-1712 (Library)
419-424-7051 ext. 264 <tel:419-424-7051%20ext.%20264>  (Direct Line)
 <mailto:nrice at findlaylibrary.org> nrice at findlaylibrary.org

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From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org
[mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Chad Neeper
Sent: Thursday, August 30, 2012 9:49 AM
To: OPLINTECH
Subject: [OPLINTECH] Internet Explorer kiosk mode stumper

Ok, folks. I've got a stumper I can't seem to solve. I spent half of
yesterday getting to this point and am hoping someone here can get me moving
again. I'm trying to make an Internet Explorer kiosk which only accesses the
library's web-based catalog and nothing else. I'm using a thin client to
access a Windows 2008R2 server, so Deep Freeze isn't an option and all of
the lock-down mechanisms must be in the user profile only so as to not
affect other users. After the better part of the day, using nothing but the
tools available in Windows, I've worked around all of the failings of doing
this and have a nearly bullet proof browser locked to the catalog, incapable
of accessing any other site and which affects only the user profile:

I'm using Group Policies to enforce the following setup for the user:
- Locked the browser to one website only by setting the proxy server in
Internet Options to 127.0.0.0:91 (just a loopback address with an unused
port...an invalid proxy server) with an exception to bypass the proxy for
the catalog server. (This affects only the user, not the whole system.)
- Replaced the Explorer shell with Internet Explorer running in kiosk mode
(iexplore.exe -K)
- Group Policies again to prevent everything but Logout when CTRL-ALT-DEL is
pressed.
- IE as a shell in Kiosk mode works great until it is escaped by clicking a
link that opens a new window...which opens in regular old non-kiosk mode.
Fixed that by majorly austere group policies and some specific registry
changes via group policy preferences...effectively re-creating kiosk mode
the hard way, complete with no URL bar, pull-down menus, etc.

The only thing left that I can't seem to disable via GP or registry tweak is
that CTRL-H and CTRL-J are still enabled. CTRL-H brings up the
history/favorites window. It's pretty much benign, since I'm removing
history and favorites, but it's a potential escape point. More devastating,
however, is CTRL-J. This brings up the View Downloads window...which leads
to Download Options...Which leads to a "Browse" button...Which SAYS that the
operation is cancelled due to restrictions, but actually brings up a file
system browse window complete with enumeration of the server's file system
and network...which leads to anything I feel like doing, including easily
launching a full Explorer desktop.

Complete and total failure to lock down IE using available group policies
and GPPs, even with kiosk mode enabled. On the surface it SEEMS secure, but
as soon as some kid mashes the keyboard, the breach will be exposed.

I was able to slightly limit some of the browse window by using some of the
Explorer Group Policies, but since Internet Explorer is the shell...ot
Explorer...the policies don't seem to affect it the same way.

So what I'd like to be able to do is disable at least CTRL-J...the View
Downloads window, which will lock out the breach. I can supposedly remap the
CTRL-J and CTRL-H scan codes to NUL but that's a computer-level change
affecting all users. I want to keep this at the user level.

Yes, I know:  Linux, or another browser with a better kiosk mode/plug-in.
But I'm trying to use available software and tools, which means Windows OS,
IE, and the standard tools that come with them. No third party apps. I'm
99.9% of the way there and it would really stink if that last .1% turns out
to be this glaring breach that Microsoft overlooked in their infinite wisdom
of security-as-an-afterthought.

Thoughts anyone? I'm stuck.

Thanks,
Chad

-- 
______________________________
Chad Neeper
Senior Systems Engineer

Level 9 Networks
740-548-8070 (voice)
866-214-6607 (fax)

Full LAN/WAN consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and schools

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