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Help needed! Tech Savvy kids & wifi
I have parental controls set up on my modem. My daughter has figured out a work around. She resets the modem to default then unplugs the printer ethernet cable and plugs it into her laptop. She gets f...
From a purely technical standpoint, the solution would likely be to physically secure the modem/router.
Or you could get something similar to a Meraki, which although intended for business, is cloud managed and only works when it connects to the cloud (and it downloads the settings). If you hit reset on a Meraki, it will just get the settings that were in previously....
There may be some cloud managed devices that are similarly immune to people pressing reset.
Some parenting resources may have information about how to tackle this from another perspective, your daughter is highly unlikely to be the only child who does things like this.
Both good suggestions above. However there is only so much technology can do to address this situation. There is a behavoral factor here that is out of reach to technology.
If you can't move the router to a secure location then perhaps try to physically secure the router at the current location. Maybe something like this would work:
https://www.amazon.ca/Lockabox-Compact-Hygienic-Lockable-Medicines/dp/B01KVKMGBE/ref=sr_1_42
Drill holes for ventilation and cables. Depending on which router you have you may be able to drill holes for the antenns as well but polycarbonate is fairly transparent to WiFi so it may not be needed.
I agree. I believe there's a screen addiction piece when kids go to such lengths to get wifi. I've actually looked into getting a lockbox but she can still take the power cord for the modem. She's done it before. If she can't have WiFi then no one can attitude. Now I have an extra power cord locked in my room.
If there's no way to stop her from plugging in the ethernet cable from our printer into her laptop to access wifi (after resetting the modem), not sure what else to do but pay for relocation and hope for the best.
I noticed again the parental controls section of the Telus GUI has disappeared AGAIN!
If there's no way to stop her from plugging in the ethernet cable from our printer into her laptop to access wifi (after resetting the modem), not sure what else to do but pay for relocation and hope for the best.
I noticed again the parental controls section of the Telus GUI has disappeared AGAIN!
- Nighthawk
Community Power User
amam Have you considered not permitting her to keep her laptop in her room at night or locking it up somewhere safe at night? If my kid tried to get around the household rules by resetting the router to reset the wifi password or use the cable from the printer, they'd lose their computer until they earn it back. They'd only be permitted to use the computer at the kitchen table and not in their room. I'd also include taking away their phone as a punishment as well.
- I've already taken away her laptop. She doesn't get wifi on her phone (unless earned which is rare bc she thinks it's a right) but she can still play games and watch whatever she's downloaded. Last time I tried to take her phone away, things did not end well...
- NFtoBCThis is clearly a situation which will not be resolved by timed access to wifi. It may be time to chat with a counselling service.
