10.5: Clear parental control log entries

Dec 15, '08 07:30:03AM

Contributed by: Anonymous

While recently setting up user accounts with parental controls, I decided to test how well various websites are blocked. I was using the Guest Account, which as far as I know, cannot be deleted. When checking the logs after my nasty little trip through the internet, I discovered that the logs cannot be deleted through the Parental Controls menu. I found a way to do this using Terminal, but also found a way to do this successfully using Finder. You will only be able to do this if you have administrator privileges.

The logs are stored in: /Library » Application Support » Apple » ParentalControls » Users » username. Normally, you will be allowed to see the /Users folder, but you will not have access to it. Accessing the file and deleting the log is straightforward:

  1. Highlight the Users folder.
  2. Select Get Info from the Action button.
  3. When the information window opens, click on the lock in the lower right corner to authenticate.
  4. Click the + and add yourself to the permissions list.
  5. Assign yourself read/write privileges.
  6. Return to Finder and select the desired user.
  7. Entries appear to be organized by date. Delete folders covering the dates you would like to erase.
  8. Restore correct permissions for the Users folder.
  9. Restart computer.
This should completely erase the user logs as seen in Parental Controls.

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