Parental controls enabled on the router for a specific computer but the rules do nothing


Recommended Posts

My niece has a nasty habit of wanting to sleep all day and stay up all night, her dad decided to enable the parental controls on the router (Linksys EAB300) and restrict the internet to cut off at after a specified time. However this does not happen, neither does the block certain websites. Is this something related to the router itself? The connected PC is connected via Ethernet and shows up on the network map.

would not surprise me if it was a bug in the firmware.

 

you could try installing OpenWRT to see if that works better. shouldn't be an issue reverting back if you need either with linksys routers (Y)

 

https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/firewall/fw3_configurations/fw3_parent_controls

After a quick Google search ... it seems that you need to disable IPV6 on the router.

 

Another option, depending on the device, why not enable those parental controls...or I don't know...grounding the kid.  :) 

  On 27/09/2019 at 13:16, Brandon H said:

would not surprise me if it was a bug in the firmware.

 

you could try installing OpenWRT to see if that works better. shouldn't be an issue reverting back if you need either with linksys routers (Y)

 

https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/firewall/fw3_configurations/fw3_parent_controls

Expand  

I will mention this to him, see what he thinks. Thanks!

  On 27/09/2019 at 13:20, Jim K said:

After a quick Google search ... it seems that you need to disable IPV6 on the router.

 

Another option, depending on the device, why not enable those parental controls...or I don't know...grounding the kid.  :) 

Expand  

So is there any reason to enable/disable IPV6? Other device I suspect you mean the desktop? Yeah it Windows 10, and I will look into enabling the controls on the system. As for grounding the kid, trust me, if she were my child this would not be an issue at all, but her dad is lazy and doesn't want to be a parent.

  On 27/09/2019 at 13:20, Jim K said:

After a quick Google search ... it seems that you need to disable IPV6 on the router.

 

Another option, depending on the device, why not enable those parental controls...or I don't know...grounding the kid.  :) 

Expand  

that is a bad limitation on the linksys firmware if the parental controls don't effect IPV6 traffic ....

another reason to go OpenWRT with the LuCi webUI; it should be able to apply the rules on all interfaces :)

 

  On 27/09/2019 at 14:57, jnelsoninjax said:

So is there any reason to enable/disable IPV6? Other device I suspect you mean the desktop? Yeah it Windows 10, and I will look into enabling the controls on the system. As for grounding the kid, trust me, if she were my child this would not be an issue at all, but her dad is lazy and doesn't want to be a parent.

Expand  

disabling IPV6 won't hurt anything in most cases but it honestly shouldn't be needed.

 

and yes he means the parental controls in the Windows Control Panel on the desktop itself; that I'd leave as a backup option as depending on how persistent the kid is that would be easier to circumvent than router level blocing.

  On 27/09/2019 at 15:02, Brandon H said:

it honestly shouldn't be needed.

Expand  

It isn't needed, ipv6 has no actual need currently..  And yeah it can be a bit of a pain to curtail from a security point of view. Unless you have the skill set and tools to properly manage it.. The simple solution is to just disable it.. And should be done at the router and the desktop - since what happens if the user just smart enough to turn it back on via the desktop..

  • 3 weeks later...

So lets get some specifics of what your trying to block exactly and how.. What specific site are you trying to block? 

 

Also problem with schedules other then just turning off wifi completely at a specific time is if the states are not flushed on the schedule.. If they went to say www.domain.com before the time to be off hit, then the state has been created already.  And if the control does not kill that state - then they would still be allowed.

 

Does the schedule prevent any new connections?

  On 18/10/2019 at 11:10, BudMan said:

So lets get some specifics of what your trying to block exactly and how.. What specific site are you trying to block? 

 

Also problem with schedules other then just turning off wifi completely at a specific time is if the states are not flushed on the schedule.. If they went to say www.domain.com before the time to be off hit, then the state has been created already.  And if the control does not kill that state - then they would still be allowed.

 

Does the schedule prevent any new connections?

Expand  

Not trying to block sites, trying to disable internet access at certain times.

  On 27/09/2019 at 12:58, jnelsoninjax said:

neither does the block certain websites

Expand  

But you stated you tried both..

 

Ok so your just trying to do a schedule thing at say 9pm no internet for client xyz...   After the time of cut off, try going to something you are sure have not gone to before..  If new stuff is blocked - but old stuff still works its most likely just states are not being killed.. If you can go to stuff that your sure client has never gone to before, then it just not working at all.

While it may prevent Internet access, I'm not sure that this is the way forward if the plan is to prevent her staying up all night. As an example, I have a couple of TB worth of music, tv, films and games. Even if someone cuts my Internet access I have days of material to work with.

 

If he wants his daughter to go to bed at a reasonable hour the best idea is to impose a restriction like, "no phones or laptops in the bedroom."

 

EDIT: Actually, I think we've had this discussion before. In which case that means the last attempt didn't work, I'm not sure implementing the "no internet access" will have an affect either. If the father is annoyed by the behaviour the only thing for him to do is step up and set some ground rules.

  On 18/10/2019 at 11:19, BudMan said:

But you stated you tried both..

 

Ok so your just trying to do a schedule thing at say 9pm no internet for client xyz...   After the time of cut off, try going to something you are sure have not gone to before..  If new stuff is blocked - but old stuff still works its most likely just states are not being killed.. If you can go to stuff that your sure client has never gone to before, then it just not working at all.

Expand  

I tried the website blocking when the time did not work. I will try again this evening when the schedule is set to run, I am assuming that just because time X is reached and the computer is still actively accessing the internet (Netflix, YouTube, etc) it will not just stop because the time is reached. Is this a correct assumption?

  On 18/10/2019 at 11:47, Nick H. said:

While it may prevent Internet access, I'm not sure that this is the way forward if the plan is to prevent her staying up all night. As an example, I have a couple of TB worth of music, tv, films and games. Even if someone cuts my Internet access I have days of material to work with.

 

If he wants his daughter to go to bed at a reasonable hour the best idea is to impose a restriction like, "no phones or laptops in the bedroom."

 

EDIT: Actually, I think we've had this discussion before. In which case that means the last attempt didn't work, I'm not sure implementing the "no internet access" will have an affect either. If the father is annoyed by the behaviour the only thing for him to do is step up and set some ground rules.

Expand  

You are correct, Nick, daddy needs to grow up and make his baby be more responsible, but I suspect that it will not happen, and at this point anything I try to say/do is pointless.

  On 18/10/2019 at 12:25, jnelsoninjax said:

the computer is still actively accessing the internet (Netflix, YouTube, etc) it will not just stop because the time is reached. Is this a correct assumption?

Expand  

Yeah the only way for active stuff to be killed is for that the router to kill all active states/sessions when the schedule kicks off - unlikely that some soho 20$ shitbox does that ;)

yep, I blame the firmware which is why I recommended trying to install openWRT on it to see if that helps before jumping to a new device :)

 

it tends to be hit or miss with the advanced features on consumer routers with the OEM firmware

 

edit: I have a Linksys WRT1900AC router so I can tell you from experience some things just don't work properly in their default firmware. OpenWRT allows me to do SO MUCH more with it.

  On 18/10/2019 at 13:24, Brandon H said:

OpenWRT allows me to do SO MUCH more with it.

Expand  

Yup 3rd party firmware is really the only way to get these things to do more than get you connected... I doubt they do any sort of testing of their so called "advanced" features ;)

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • WWDC 2025: Apple AirPods gain new remote control feature on iPhone and iPad by Aditya Tiwari Apple's annual developer event, WWDC 2025, is now up and running. Alongside the much-hyped Liquid Glass design for its software ecosystem, the Cupertino giant introduced new features for its wireless headphones. The AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) are being updated with studio-quality audio recording capabilities. Building on the Voice Isolation feature from last year, it allows users and content creators to record their content with greater sound quality. Apple has also improved voice call quality on these AirPods models to add "more natural vocal texture and clarity" when using FaceTime, CallKit-enabled apps, and regular phone calls. Meanwhile, the upgraded audio recording capabilities work across the Camera app, Voice Memos, dictation in Messages, video conferencing apps like Webex, and compatible third-party camera apps. You have already been able to use your Apple Watch as a wireless remote for your iPhone's camera. This capability is now available on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods 4, and AirPods 4 ANC. You can press and hold the stem of your AirPods to snap a photo or start and stop video recording. Apple AirPods already support head gestures when responding to the Siri voice assistant. You can nod your head to say yes or shake it horizontally to say no when responding to the virtual assistant. Now, you can also use your AirPods to capture content from a distance. "For users who like capturing themselves singing or dancing, the new features make it easy to perform in sync with a soundtrack while simultaneously recording the video," Apple said. The camera remote feature on AirPods works with the Camera app or supported third-party camera apps on your iPhone or iPad. These new AirPods features are now available for testing through the Apple Developer Program and will be offered through public beta next month. Their public rollout will happen later this year through a firmware update shipped alongside iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe 26.
    • Anyone remembers times when Apple already had everything glassy looking? I do and I didn't even use Apple products back then...
    • This app has become so bloated. I just want to see my money, send and receive it. Not offers and recommendations.
    • >it will be hiring 1,250 operators, technicians, and engineers to help manage the facilities Um, that's chump change employment numbers for any sector. Any word on what the cost will be to PA for "securing" this investment?! How much do the PA taxpayers have to eat?
  • Recent Achievements

    • Rookie
      CHUNWEI went up a rank
      Rookie
    • Enthusiast
      the420kid went up a rank
      Enthusiast
    • Conversation Starter
      NeoToad777 earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • Week One Done
      VicByrd earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Reacting Well
      NeoToad777 earned a badge
      Reacting Well
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      480
    2. 2
      +FloatingFatMan
      281
    3. 3
      ATLien_0
      255
    4. 4
      Edouard
      204
    5. 5
      snowy owl
      201
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!