parental controls dilemma :o(
 

Hi All

I need advice from the good people here who have any experience with routers that have particularly good parental controls.

I don't really want to block sites etc but what I really want is to be able to deny internet access to our smart TV in the mornings - distracts teenage son from getting ready for school! I also want to be able to switch off his internet access via his PS3 at meal times and to switch off his wireless access to the internet via his PC at say 9.45 on a school night

I have been to my local independent PC dealer who drew a blank. His initial recommendation was a Netgear but it looks as though that just has site blocking - or does anyone here know any different?

I figure this must be a very common dilemma for the parents of teenagers and surely someone makes a suitable router!

I have an old Linksys WRT54g at present which is ok and in theory is capable of switching off the wireless at a given time but to be honest when I tried to do that it just locked out the internet for precisely 7 days to the minute - I couldn't figure out what had gone wrong or how to fix it! So I guess a simple set up would be another usefull feature!

Any suggestions people???



regards



Dudley

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

switch it off manually when you want it off either at plug or via the router set up screen :)

you should have been able to set the times to switch off wireless on that router if it did go wrong its most probably time for a new one

i think it is capable of blocking devices by mac address to if its working via the The Access Restrictions Tab

there you should be able to see the pc tv etc and pick times they can access the router

but other than the first method and or disconecting the network cable going to the device ALL can be got arround by a determined user if left alone ;)

nothing works as well as doing it manualy ;)

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

DD-WRT does everything you want.

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

I have a V7 WRT54G and have read that it will only reliably run the cut down version of DD-WRT plus I have no idea what they are talking about when t comes to the install procedure - like i said, it needs to be simple - which of course is a relative term!

Yes I can switch off the router and thats what I have to do now, its a pain in the backside and means that everything is off - which is absolutely NOT what I want to do. Also its not rocket science to plug it back in.

As I said I tried using the access controls in the web interface to shut off his pc and it didin't work.

I was hoping for a really simple to use interface that doesn't rapidly descend into geek speak, something the average NON TECHIE parent can control easily. We have an old Mac which my son uses for Garage Band and that is simplicity itself to set up the network access times.

So - any other router recommendations? Maybe something that is already running a version of DD-WRT or similar?


regards


Dudley

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

unfortuneately the simpler the interface the simpler it wil be to by pass in fact any software solution will be a waste of time if the child is willing to plug it back in to bypass your wishes

if they are using wireless though and you are at home you can switch that on and off manualy from the routers control page

otherwise have a look at a new router but go to thier web site first download the instructions on them and see if they look easier to you I am fairly used to Linksys and therefore find it easy but I uderstand others wont but you might like one of the other makers methods easier

though again that said what ever you do will be easily bypassed if they wont obey the rules unfortuneately

on your router have you tried the access restrition tab if you have did you use the ip if you did the pc only has to get a diferent one then it will be back on easily try using the mac number should work better thoughits not that hard to alter the mac on the laptop

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

This tech stuff is fine but why not simply tell him when he can and can't use stuff? :confused:

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

I hear what you are saying re just turn it off manually, however I am not always here to do it and his mother can't be left alone with anything more high tech than a tin opener without it all ending in tears.

He is quite capable of looking to see what is unplugged but is not that much more tech savvy than his mother and at present he has never attempted to reconnect the internet himself. He certainly isn't able to go into the web interface and switch it back on - and if he was, he would still need to get my wife or I to log him onto XP - all of our computers require a log on.

Surely one of the manufacturers must do this kind of thing? If not, then they really are missing a trick as I am convinced there are non techie parents all over the world who would happily pay out for a decent router with this stuff built in - so long as it was very easy to use. I don't see that it could be so difficult to do. The thing is that the interface needs to be designed by or in conjunction with a non techie parent not a programming geek!

And thank you so much to Ramrod for your suggestion.

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

The current superhub does this using mac filtering, using it to remove Internet access for iPods when needed.


Jamie

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

I use the mac filtering on the superhub to limit the times that my daughter can spend on her laptop. It works fine.

Log onto the superhub, click advanced settings and mac filtering. It's fairly obvious when you're in there what to do. Add the mac address of the device you want to filter and select the days and times you want to allow it to be able to connect.

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

googled superhub - I take it you are referring to the Virgin Superhub?

Looks like its free to new 100mb accounts but doesn't say what it costs to existing customers - well it probably does but I just can't see it.

Any tips or tricks that can get a free superhub?


Dudley

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

Can't you just tell your son not to use the Internet, he needs to learn to respect your decisions,

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

Like I said, DD-WRT does exactly what you want and everything you want.

You can get a router that'll run the full DD-WRT properly for less than £10 off ebay. It takes about 10-20 minutes to set up once you get it.

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

you don't have teenage sons do you?

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

And you, Dud (ley) lack a sense of humour. You could try saying NO!

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

i have a teenage daughter ;) and 10 year old boy and i can use the loging feature to see what they are up too ( except the dreaded bbm though i can check that if i ask too )

we dont often let them use the laptops or computer out of our sight as i dont censor the web using any software they know what they shouldnt be viewing and when to switch off else the equipment is mine again :)


however any one with ideas on how to stop teenage daughters and mothers arguing over the daftest thing ( imo ) will be gladly welcome my headache will be very greatful

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

How difficult is is to explain to them that " You will not use your PC" FCOUL

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

About as hard as it is to explain "You will not do drugs, alcohol or underage sex".

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

Not exactly qas, he is using the PC at home in view of Mum or Dad. Drugs, alcohol, underage sex etc. are usually not experienced in front of one's Parents. (Hopefully!) :D

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

You'd be surprised what teenage kids get up to these days, and where.

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

:D

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

This may be slightly O/T since it's not about the router per se, but given that we're talking about parental controls...

How many user accounts do you have on the PC? If there's only one, i.e. the Administrator account, you may end up with all sorts installed on there - malware, trackers, the lot. Being a teenager, your son doubtless spends time on download sites...some of which, sad to say, are infested with spyware and other junk. Prominent examples are Kazaa, Limewire and BearShare. If you're using an Admin account, these things can quietly install themselves without ever letting you know. All the splash screens you see when installing commercial software, e.g. Microsoft Office, don't have to be there; they're just to let the user know where the installation process is up to and/or extol the virtues of the software and/or advertise other software from the same company, and they're not part of the actual installation process - more of an optional extra. Malware doesn't do this.

The best way to guard against this is to have one admin account - which should not be used for Internet access, only for installation of new software and PC maintenance, and only one person (you, obviously, duh! :D) should know the password - and a number of user accounts, i.e. accounts that don't have installation privileges. That stops most malware in its tracks, apart from some very sophisticated ones that do a little trick called privilege elevation. These, however, are rare, and an effective firewall/AV package will usually intercept them.

You can in fact set policies in Windows XP and above to determine what users can and can't do - for example, on the PCs in my local library we can't even access the Control Panel or change the screen resolution - and I suppose you could set up a policy to only allow Internet access at certain times. I don't know how to do it, mind, :erm: but I'm pretty sure it can be done. Needless to say, policy editing can only be done from an admin account, and should only be attempted by someone who's fairly expert.

Hope that helps!

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

Our kids only use Linux which means I have far more control on what they do. Can't download and install most malware since it just won't run.

Use of OpenDNS controls some access to some sites for any computer on the network, well any I have set up or most visitors too.

Others have already come in on how various routers and firmware can control client access. Some probably can even control more finely such as data limits and actual use limits too.

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

if thier tech savy enough to use linux then they likely could run it from a usb and you wont know what they have been up to ;) its not the perfect way either being with them is the only sure fire way
Anonymouse sugestions are good but do take some expertise in doing

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

Glad I found this I want to do the same I have gone into IP filtering but on that one it gives the IP address ranges for example 192.168.0.1 to xx xx xx xx

My understanding of wireless is that if it can't get onto the original signal 192.168.0.1 it will jump to another IP so would be no point in blocking the IP on wireless because I might end up on that channel thats blocked.

Not had a chance to look up in the SH settings but will it list the MAC as well when connected? so blocking that should stop them accessing the net even if they jump onto another IP address?

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

yep it will block far more effectively than using ip but they could change the mac if they know what they are doing ;)

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

Wireless assigns IP addresses in whatever pattern you specify. Devices don't "jump to" to any IP address. They wait to be given one and do not ever "jump on" to one. Signals do not have IP addresses. Channels do not have IP addresses. Channels cannot be blocked. You cannot end up on an IP address that is not yours.

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

he means if you block 192.168.1.8 say that the laptop could be on now if you switch the lap top off , the next time you switch on the router may well just offer it 192.168.1.9 thus avoiding the block, using the mac address mostly stops that ( unless you alter the mac of the laptop ;) )

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

No.

The IP address is assigned by the router. Set a static IP assignment and it will never assign anything else.

The MAC address is usually easier to change than the IP address.

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

that works too sort of though not many set up static ip on routers especially those not that tech savy to start with plus still possible to spoof the mac of a connectable pc and still get on

you could enable the log and see if any one is cheating but really it all comes down to trust and getting the kids to obey the rules and or being with them

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

Hi, i have same dilemma, wish to block wireless internet to teenager at times of day. I have tried the mac filter /ip filter etc method, she just overcomes it by pressing the reset to factory settings on the virgin superhub. she has a pc and ipod touch. Ideally its just her pc/ipod i want to block, not the whole wireless setup.
Alll suggestions welcome. HELP !!!

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

Trust her? ground her? she will just end up tethering anyway

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

The last time I did so in a thread like this I got into trouble.

Frankly there is only one parental control worth a damn and that's for a parent to separate the PC and the gadgets completely from the teenager during the periods they want their teenager to not be using them.Harsh I know but it's the only effective method I'd trust. :erm:

It's my experience as an educator having covered IT lessons in secondary schools is that teens are extremely smart and are very adept at getting around most blocking systems.

Re: parental controls dilemma :o(
 

Yeah, something like that. If they have a device that can get online and physical access to your internet connection, no electronic measure is going to stop them.