New Poster
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6 Messages
Parental controls: MAC address, IP address or device name?
Do Xfinity parental controls work by MAC address, device name, or IP address?
I can see by active time details that my teen is still finding a way around schedules and I am trying to close those bypasses down one-by-one.
I changed MAC address filtering from “allow all” to allow only specific addresses so that he cannot skirt the controls by changing his address but that does not seem to be the answer.
Can I create a whitelist of IP addresses to restrict access to the gateway?
Can I restrict access to any device name not on my whitelist?
What’s my next step?
dyfd
New Poster
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6 Messages
3 years ago
I would think that a "whitelist" of approved devices, where all others are denied access, would be pretty straightforward whether the device is identified by name, MAC address or IP address. Does anybody have any information on this?
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fnbreed
Visitor
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4 Messages
3 years ago
This is a problem that Xfinity will not address. The issue that a parent wants to control/monitor their kids use.
Once you have a passwords if the device is paused, you only need to go and randomize the MAC address and you can log in with no restrictions.
-The Parental Controls do not work the majority of the time.
-MAC Filtering (allow) does not work.
Xfinity will not fix this issue.
Their response include:
#1: Do not give out password. Not realistic.
#2: Use the App to pause the device. Again all that has to be done is log in under a different MAC address and the "new" device now has access.
#3: Just give out the Xfinity Hot Spot. The problem is I do not want people parked in front of my house using a Hot Spot and I do not want my kid to access the Hot Spot that has not restrictions. Also it takes hours sometimes to active or deactivate the Hot Spot and it turns on without my knowledge.
SOLUTIONS: These were allowed on older modems.
- Be able to create a "guest" or "kids" account under a different SSID name. This would allow you to let them log into this account and limit it without affecting the main account.
- Give better control of what can be accessed.
- Add a simple verification: Person a wants access you get a notification that they want on the network, but you need to approve it. Not just pause it, but they cannot access until you approve it.
I have called Xfinity multiple times on this and you get the same robotic answers.
If someone knows a work around please respond.
I do not wish to have to spend $10+ dollars a month for a separate program this should be a feature with the Xfinity Service.
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fnbreed
Visitor
•
4 Messages
3 years ago
This is a problem that Xfinity will not address. The issue that a parent wants to control/monitor their kids use.
Once you have a passwords if the device is paused, you only need to go and randomize the MAC address and you can log in with no restrictions.
-The Parental Controls do not work the majority of the time.
-MAC Filtering (allow) does not work.
Xfinity will not fix this issue.
Their response include:
#1: Do not give out password. Not realistic.
#2: Use the App to pause the device. Again all that has to be done is log in under a different MAC address and the "new" device now has access.
#3: Just give out the Xfinity Hot Spot. The problem is I do not want people parked in front of my house using a Hot Spot and I do not want my kid to access the Hot Spot that has not restrictions. Also it takes hours sometimes to active or deactivate the Hot Spot and it turns on without my knowledge.
SOLUTIONS: These were allowed on older modems.
- Be able to create a "guest" or "kids" account under a different SSID name. This would allow you to let them log into this account and limit it without affecting the main account.
- Give better control of what can be accessed.
- Add a simple verification: Person a wants access you get a notification that they want on the network, but you need to approve it. Not just pause it, but they cannot access until you approve it.
I have called Xfinity multiple times on this and you get the same robotic answers.
If someone knows a work around please respond.
I do not wish to have to spend $10+ dollars a month for a separate program this should be a feature with the Xfinity Service.
0
user_ff7baf
Visitor
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2 Messages
3 years ago
I used the Infinity App to name devices that are accessing the internet. And I pause them or un-pause them, or set a time period that my kids can be online. But kids learned how to change their pc/device names on their devices. That makes it impossible to manage by the device names. Can we manage the devices by the MAC address on the Infinity App? I understand that unlike the IP addresses and the device names, generally the Mac Addresses are hard wired so they don't change. Any suggestions?
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