Need help limiting 12yo's Internet Access - is there a content filter for iPad?

silentrust

OK so my housemate's mother and little sister are coming to stay next week. Little sis is 12 and has a laptop and netbook.

Her mother is very worried about her little flower accessing inappropriate content on the internet and has roped me in to try and enforce household rules which apparently are:

- No social networking esp. Ask.Fm, Facebook etc.
- No internet access past 8pm. (What a 12yo is doing up past that time is beyond me but there you go).
- No adult content (obviously).

Now I have one of UPC's custom made routers so my options are limited but it can restrict internet access at certain times of day. OpenDNS can block the main social networking sites but I am not sure of any way to block adult content directly.

Unfortunately due to the nature of the iPad, having Mummy there at all times when the internet is in use, is out of the question.

Does anyone know if there's a good filter available for the iPad for this kind of content?

To forestall everyone's obvious question, apparently at home they have some super duper router which can filter adult content as well as make you a cup of tea and whistle you the time. Not an option for me sadly.

PS : A note to the Mod: As the original poster, please allow me to assure you I am more than happy for people to think outside the box on this one and suggest a solution which will keep the child safe from adult content which doesn't include installing an app on the iPad - this is just an idea of mine. As such, please do not feel any need to try to rein in people who come up with solutions that may seem off the wall. Of course if you have a suggestion regarding how this can be accomplished please feel free to post, however I am quite capable of separating the proverbial wheat from the chaff when it comes to useful advice, thanks all the same.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Tell her to **** off and worry about it herself, her kid her problem. I realize this is not helpful information but I really don't see why you should concern yourself with it. Is housemate code for wife?

dr.bollocko

http://www.gottabemobile.com/2012/03/26/how-to-set-up-ipad-parental-controls-and-content-filtering/
Might help.

Khannie

silentrust wrote: »

- No adult content (obviously).

OpenDNS does this just dandy with their category filter. Unfortunately it rules out you having adult content too unless you use a separate DNS server.

silentrust

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

Tell her to **** off and worry about it herself, her kid her problem. I realize this is not helpful information but I really don't see why you should concern yourself with it. Is housemate code for wife?

I agree with you chief, there's no replacement for actually being there when your kid is online. However I agreed in a weak moment to do it and I'm sure you like me are a man of your word, so here we are...! :-)

zl1whqvjs75cdy

Ah you're shagged so. iPads are dangerous pieces of kit. My GFs brother (he's 7) is constantly on it whenever I'm up. The child doesn't talk to or socialize with anyone and on the odd occasion that he does talk he swears like a trooper. And yet he's still let off with the iPad. As you say there is no substitute for being there.

ardmacha

It depends on what other people are using the Internet and how they are connected.
You could just turn off wireless access altogether/at 8pm.
Restrict wireless to particular IP numbers, don't add the relevant numbers, or don't give them the password. Allow the visitor plug in their ethernet cable at some known location at reasonable times.
Obviously the DNS filters also.

Mr. Loverman

PaurGasm wrote: »

Does she not trust her child? Doesn't sound like it... Trust is a big part of the relationship...That child will end up going off the rails in a few years with a mother like that

Are you for real?

Trust has nothing to do with it.

It is almost impossible a 12 year old won't look up porn etc.

In my opinion children should not be allowed use the Internet unsupervised. It is unsuitable for children.

silentrust

Khannie wrote: »

Sure when you're a parent you can let your 12 year old look at porn at midnight all you want.

Well I suppose it's for every parent to decide what they want their kids to see. Porn gives young people unrealistic expectations of how quickly a pizza will be delivered to your house.

silentrust

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Are you for real?

Trust has nothing to do with it.

It is almost impossible a 12 year old won't look up porn etc.

In my opinion children should not be allowed use the Internet unsupervised. It is unsuitable for children.

Agreed. Sadly the iPad makes this difficult to enforce.

KoolKid

Unhelpful posts removed
Let's keep it constructive.

silentrust

ardmacha wrote: »

It depends on what other people are using the Internet and how they are connected.
You could just turn off wireless access altogether/at 8pm.
Restrict wireless to particular IP numbers, don't add the relevant numbers, or don't give them the password. Allow the visitor plug in their ethernet cable at some known location at reasonable times.
Obviously the DNS filters also.

Thanks ardmacha. The Router lets me restrict wireless times plus block specific sites and keywords but obviously this is a bit crude. Will consider your other suggestions though, thanks.

silentrust

KoolKid wrote: »

Unhelpful posts removed
Let's keep it constructive.

I did say all thoughts are welcome Mod, insisting Mummy sits with her kid is constructive advice, just not particularly realistic under the circumstances.

silentrust

Khannie wrote: »

OpenDNS does this just dandy with their category filter. Unfortunately it rules out you having adult content too unless you use a separate DNS server.

I saw that but think this is only for paid service? Perhaps I could get Mum to put her money where her mouth is?

JJJJNR

you could try meta cert, never used it myself.

http://blog.metacert.com/metacert-dns-for-family-safety/

silentrust

donkeyoaty0099 wrote: »

Ah you're shagged so. iPads are dangerous pieces of kit. My GFs brother (he's 7) is constantly on it whenever I'm up. The child doesn't talk to or socialize with anyone and on the odd occasion that he does talk he swears like a trooper. And yet he's still let off with the iPad. As you say there is no substitute for being there.

Well now that I am officially an employee of Apple I am contractually bound to tell you that the iPad is an amazing learning tool and offers children wonderful opportunities to socialize and enrich themselves online.

How unlucky you and I were when we were forced to do this by talking to other human beings at the age of 7 - still at least we weren't exposed to as much porn. :-)

KoolKid

silentrust wrote: »

I did say all thoughts are welcome Mod, insisting Mummy sits with her kid is constructive advice, just not particularly realistic under the circumstances.

But calling the mother names and predicting how children will turn out is not.

silentrust

JJJJNR wrote: »

you could try meta cert, never used it myself.

http://blog.metacert.com/metacert-dns-for-family-safety/

Very promising thanks.

silentrust

KoolKid wrote: »

But calling the mother names and predicting how children will turn out is not.

Please don't worry on my account, I agree wholeheartedly!

[-0-]

How about not letting the kid use the iPad while she's there.

silentrust

[-0-] wrote: »

How about not letting the kid use the iPad while she's there.

I'm given to understand that the iPad is sufficiently discrete that it can be used without Mummy knowing.

bonzodog2

Do they not have net access at home, what solution is in place there, if any?

^^
does the upc router not have mac filtering? just block it altogether.[ipad]

silentrust

bonzodog2 wrote: »

Do they not have net access at home, what solution is in place there, if any?

^^
does the upc router not have mac filtering? just block it altogether.[ipad]

Hi bonzodog,

As I mentioned in my original post apparently there's some kind of super duper router they have in place at home, far superior to the cheap and nasty one UPC gave me which doesn't permit you to do much at all...!

We could simply confiscate the iPad for that matter but apparently certain online games are permitted and the girl keeps in touch with her father by e-mail. It's been a bit of a nightmare, I hope people realise the moral of the story is never to volunteer to help anyone. :-)

[-0-]

silentrust wrote: »

I'm given to understand that the iPad is sufficiently discrete that it can be used without Mummy knowing.

Ah. Sorry, I actually meant the mother could just take it from her for the duration of the visit. Give the kid a good book, involve them in board games and conversation.

silentrust

[-0-] wrote: »

Ah. Sorry, I actually meant the mother could just take it from her for the duration of the visit. Give the kid a good book, involve them in board games and conversation.

From your lips to her mother's ears my friend! :-D

BaconZombie

The easiest fix it do not allow her onto your network.

Prodigious

How many 12 year old girls shnake off somewhere in the house to put on some porn!?

silentrust

Prodigious wrote: »

How many 12 year old girls shnake off somewhere in the house to put on some porn!?

Apparently there was a problem a few months ago where an older boy was sending her stuff not appropriate for her age.

silentrust

BaconZombie wrote: »

The easiest fix it do not allow her onto your network.

You try saying no to a young girl and dealing with the tears, I am too soft! :-)

littlejo

TAKE THE IPAD AWAY!!!!

silentrust

littlejo wrote: »

TAKE THE IPAD AWAY!!!!

I think you're the fourth person to suggest it my friend but as I explained it's not an option I'm afraid. I might agree you'll develop better social skills without one but then it's down to each parent to decide I suppose...

littlejo

why is it not an option????
her mum cant have it every way can she not use net book to keep in touch with her dad?
Fair enough for each parent to decide but if I had a 12 year old receiving "inappropriate material" I pad would be gone.
Mummy needs to toughen up and parent her child

silentrust

littlejo wrote: »

why is it not an option????
her mum cant have it every way can she not use net book to keep in touch with her dad?
Fair enough for each parent to decide but if I had a 12 year old receiving "inappropriate material" I pad would be gone.
Mummy needs to toughen up and parent her child

It's just that you're not the first person to suggest this Jo and it would be easier on my poor fingers if you take a look at the discussion so far where we go into it, to some degree.

Many thanks to all for your suggestions in any case, I've a few irons in the fire, let's see which one turns out best.

LoLth

This has moved away from being about security of any kind and gone into the realm of parenting advice...

About the suggestions to block the Ipad from the local wireless network... does the Ipad have 3G ? Does the mother or child have any form of 3G or wireless access device the Ipad could be tethered to?

Mobile devices and content when it comes to children has long been a discussion in my family. While its not a direct "computer security" issue, it is related. Handign a child an Ipad with unmetered internet access is like handing a user a login/password combination that happens to also be root on the local network server. Sure, 9/10 times the user wont do anything bad...on purpose.. but there's still the accidental deletions to consider, the material they may receive from elsewhere and of course there's the possibility that they will be disgruntled and do something maliscious on purpose.

Same with kids and internet access. Its a great resource but you wouldnt allow your 12 year old to go to a nightclub on her own where she can listen to whatever music is playing, get chatted up by guys who she cant really make out properly in the dim light, make her own way home afterwards at 3am. There's the standard "ah, sure its only the internet".. as if the internet is a mills & boon book the kid found in a charity shop, slightly racy but no big deal really...

So , take away the argument that the parents really should have thought about what they were doing *before* they gave a few hundred quids worth of unregulated technology that they themselves are ignorant of to a pre-teen - thats done and whether or not is should be undone is not the domain if network/computer/system security - (how often have you suggested plan A because despite it being more expensive, its better and safer only to be told that Plan B is being implemented because its cheaper so now, go make it secure as thats your job. If it hasnt happened , it will, if you dont work in security - or IT in general - you probably have your own version of that scenario, possibly an accounting story where accounts say go with option A because its cheaper but the IT department go with option B because they say its safer but its costs three times more and now you have to balance the quarterly reports and it looks like the annual spend is going to be frontloaded because of those pesky IT kids!)

The question here (sorry for the ramble) is - can you secure an Ipad with some form of parental control?

though this isnt the apple forum (tahts under Tech > Consumer electronics > apple devices) so lets make it generic:

1. what are your recommendations for impementing content filtering / user dependant content filtering on:

a. A network (any network)

b. A mobile device (do none of your workplaces provide blackberries / some form of tablet or laptop for staff?) with/without 3G

c. A mobile phone

2. is there a unified solution someone has experience of?

3. is there a free or opensource solution available?

---

as an exercise: what if you get a report about a company employee posting on an inappropriate site? (not necessarily porn, could be some website planning a violent protest, or a planned fight at a football match or maybe just good ol' racism with a touch of Nazism/Hitler fanboi thrown in)

Anyone got any method or suggestions on how to go about checking if company materials were used to post?

Does the device used make much difference?

---

or limit your responses to the specific Ipad issue and kids....

ironclaw

OK so my housemate's mother and little sister are coming to stay next week. Little sis is 12 and has a laptop and netbook.

So she has a laptop,netbook and iPad, and the mother expects her to not use facebook etc etc? What else do kids that age do on the net? Nothing. That's fact.

Sorry, give up now. Short of actually switching off that router or blocking by DNS there is no option.

Capt'n Midnight

From the Daily Mail (ie. this stuff is not rocket science)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2344791/Education-minister-Dont-allow-TVs-computers-childrens-bedrooms.html

'Don't allow TVs or computers in children's bedrooms': Education minister reveals concerns parents don't realise their offspring can access hard core material

Debate in Parliament about harmful impact of pornography on youngsters
Lord Nash: ‘fact of life’ that parents gave their children such free rein
Follows concerns porn is too easily available on the interney
Many claim children with TVs in bedrooms are watching adult programmes

buzzerxx

open dns blocks all filth on all devices.

colm_c

There's parental controls on an iPad, you can lock down what applications they can use including internet browsing.

So just get the mother to set it up so only the few games and email can be used. Not sure why they haven't done this already TBH.

gctest50

or if you have a spare/old pc* around :

download this

http://www.untangle.com/store/get-untangle/

burn it onto a CD/ USB stick ( http://rufus.akeo.ie/ will put it on a USB stick for you )

install it on the pc ( it will delete whatever is on the disk of the PC )



put the pc between your source of internet and a wireless access point

set up the filtering on it

give the kid the password to the "new" access point and not the existing wireless



* this spare/old pc will need a second network card

see here :

http://wiki.untangle.com/index.php/Hardware_Compatibility_List#Network_Interface_Cards