Visitor
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3 Messages
Bypassing Parental Controls On The Internet
I have internet time restrictions and certain websites blocked through the admin tool, but my teen son is bypassing it. To start, he does not know the wifi password. He simply takes his phone, goes to the settings, turns the wifi to off, then back on and he can now bypass everything. When he does this, it looks like it's changing one of the three ipv6 addresses. I already have notifications set up through the app to notify of new devices connecting to the network for the first time. Sometimes it's 2:00am and I'm asleep or I miss the notification altogether. I do know that when it comes to his computer, he is doing a little more work to change an address, so he can bypass my controls. Why isn't there a way in the admin tool to block new devices unless I approve? I have read so many xfinity forum posts from parents having the same issues and they never get a clear answer or help with the problem. Why is it so easy to bypass the controls? What is the point in xfinity even offering this? From what I've read online it seems like I'll need to purchase some sort of device or software to actually have internet restrictions.
Accepted Solution
NoNoBadPuppy
Problem Solver
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543 Messages
3 years ago
There isn't a tool that will prevent someone from connecting if they know how to do so, as your son does. You will have to make it so that he will not want to connect against your will. You will have to be a strong parent and take away his devices when he breaks your rules, and you will have to do so without hesitation or exception. Technology cannot replace strong parenting skills. No matter what you do on your network, he will find a way around it...kids have built a community online to share just how to do that. Technology alone cannot stop him. Good luck...I hope you find a solution.
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Accepted Solution
flatlander3
Problem Solver
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1.5K Messages
3 years ago
Teenagers. Yeah, they can be pretty clever and if they are not, one of their friends is. They do also crowdsource as nonobadpuppy says. Xfinity is playing wack-a-mole, but it's a bug/feature request and they might close that one in a future update.
You can buy net-nanny software and install it on every device. That works until they figure out what regedit does on windows, or root kit their phone. You can also buy or setup a separate firewall box/appliance. Run all your traffic through that including the WiFi. Then create firewall rules, schedules, block anything you want. Learning curve on your part for that, but you could manage it. You're in a sysadmin arms race at that point, but you could win.
That might keep them busy until they figure out single user mode on your firewall when you aren't home, or ssh tunnels and socks5 proxies or friend sets up a squid proxy, or maybe they just go with cell data. Local attacker with physical access is very hard to defend against. Couple of neighbors might even go in on a MyFi hotspot too for their scandalous activity needs, and not use your Xfinity at all.
Taking cell data out of the mix, and regular beatings, and if it's just a schedule thing --- for $5 you can get an old school appliance timer and plug your gateway into that. No power=no gateway. Move the gateway to your bedroom nightstand if you have to.
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