NOM

DS (10yo) got a computer for his birthday. I got it setup, but one question is what options do I have for monitoring, access control and internet filerting for him?

Anyone have any recommendations? I currently have the block at the router, for this computer, but that won't work for a long term solution.

Computer is a refurb Dell, running Win10.

Circle by Disney, and K12 Blue Collar (I think, Utah company with free decent internet filtering)

Also, point your DNS servers at OpenDNS. It won't work forever, once the kiddo figures out how to point DNS at someone else's server (Google, for example), but it provides a basic level of adult content filtering.

We use the Google Wifi hotspots so I get coverage through the entire house (it runs in a mesh), but also run SafeSearch on all the kids devices. It's not perfect, but it's pretty good.

One thing we've done is prohibited computers in the bedrooms. They are in public, high-traffic areas only, which has also helped.

Have you had the important conversations with your 10yo? Personal safety online, sex, etc.? What do you want him to know and do with this access? Do you have these conversations as a family?

The Qustodio app is great. You can control screen time and monitor all the sites they visit from your phone. You can also shut their computer off from the app too.

MoPag wrote: ↑Fri Jul 27, 2018 10:25 am The Qustodio app is great. You can control screen time and monitor all the sites they visit from your phone. You can also shut their computer off from the app too.

Can the PS4 be hooked up to it?

Red Ryder wrote: ↑Fri Jul 27, 2018 10:28 am

MoPag wrote: ↑Fri Jul 27, 2018 10:25 am The Qustodio app is great. You can control screen time and monitor all the sites they visit from your phone. You can also shut their computer off from the app too.

Can the PS4 be hooked up to it?

I wish!!!

My kids play Fortnite 27 hours/day or so it seems. Do these internet filters also help control ps4 play time?

2bizE wrote: ↑Thu Aug 02, 2018 8:42 pm My kids play Fortnite 27 hours/day or so it seems. Do these internet filters also help control ps4 play time?

Parental controls on PS4 can limit time. I use it with my 11 year old. He only gets 90 minutes a day and it keeps track if he logs off and starts again.

Evil_Bert wrote: ↑Thu Aug 02, 2018 11:02 pm

2bizE wrote: ↑Thu Aug 02, 2018 8:42 pm My kids play Fortnite 27 hours/day or so it seems. Do these internet filters also help control ps4 play time?

Parental controls on PS4 can limit time. I use it with my 11 year old. He only gets 90 minutes a day and it keeps track if he logs off and starts again.

Good to know with school starting up again soon.

Parent of a Fortnite junkie too!

Your isp usually offers a filter option but that will apply to everyone.

The router really is your best option. Asus has some pretty good filtering options in their more advanced routers.

But it's a lost cause if he has any computer smarts or a smart friend.

There are tons of free vpns he can install and set up that will bypass the router level and the isp. It's trivial to create and use a USB flash drive to boot Linux and bypass any software on the windows boot.

You may be able to lock out the boot options in your BIOS/EUFI but maybe not on a consumer grade mass produced box.

Best to monitor your logs and have discussions as content comes up.

Imho your bigger risk is spyware ransomware on your home network. Can you put the kid on his own segment to protect the rest of your computers?

The more expensive routers support multiple simultaneous WiFi networks that don't have to have access to the printer or other boxes on the other networks. Good protection.