Device-specific router based parental controls

ave05

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Apr 17, 2010
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I'm looking for a parental controls solution for my daughter's Android tablet and school-provided iPad. Her school has web filtering, but obviously that only applies when she's on their network. I've worked on/built computers for years, but haven't had to worry about filtering until now. The only desktop she uses is running win8, which has parental controls enabled.

Are there any decent solutions out there allowing filtering for specific MAC addresses? My current router (Netgear WNDR4500) uses their opendns/genie software, but that's a blanket deal. I don't see any options to choose which devices are covered. I could install an app on her Android tablet, but that really isn't an option on the iPad due to it being school property.

Thanks for any help.
 
Solution
You can install openDNS on a single device - this article explains how: http://www.howtogeek.com/201312/how-to-use-opendns-on-your-router-pc-tablet-or-smartphone/

ave05

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Apr 17, 2010
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18,510

Thanks for your reply. From what I can tell, I would allow the tablets to use the router-provided DNS (openDNS), and manually input the DNS servers from either my ISP or Google for devices not requiring any filter.

Is this what most parents are doing? I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything, as I'll be passing this along to friends/family.

Thanks again.
 

ronintexas

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Dec 10, 2012
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Back when I had kids, the PC was the only devices on the network....LOL - showing my age. openDNS works great if you need filtering of domains of any kind. I use Google DNS as my primaries, as "grandma and I" don't need filtering....LOL.

Your setup would work fine, if you don't manually add the DNS entries into the device, it will default to the router for your configuration. Manual entries can have customized filtering.

I am sure there are paid programs that "lock down" devices (kids are smart - my grandson shows me how to use my phone when I am lost). When they get that smart....the only security that keeps them "safe" is mom & dad looking over their shoulders.