l43a2:

 

a chrome VPN addon would get around this DNS "filtering" ? modern kids are pretty smart :P

 

Far too much effort, try google translate.

vulcannz:

 

l43a2:

 

a chrome VPN addon would get around this DNS "filtering" ? modern kids are pretty smart :P

 

 

 

 

Far too much effort, try google translate.

 

no different to avoiding say, opendns.

This has the advantage of being on the normal dns servers rather than a third party.

hio77:

 

vulcannz:

 

l43a2:

 

a chrome VPN addon would get around this DNS "filtering" ? modern kids are pretty smart :P

 

 

 

 

Far too much effort, try google translate.

 

 

no different to avoiding say, opendns.

 

 

 

This has the advantage of being on the normal dns servers rather than a third party.

 

correct - or any other DNS filtering system (and systems that do not do HTTPS filtering and/or let Google QUIC out).

My kids know how to do it (at school, they cannot at home). I just warn them of the consequences and tell them to let all the friends know, so if they are caught they are just part of the 'crowd'. If one person is doing it, then they're breaking the rules and can be punished. If everyone is doing it then there is fundamental problem with the system :)

Standard disclaimer: the following represents my own personal opinion and may not reflect that of my employer.

This type of protection exists to prevent users on your network from accessing things on the internet you'd rather they didn't.  It exists as a tool that should stop inadvertent access to that content.  As a parent I find it is a tool that enables me to have conversations with my kids about what is and what is not appropriate to view on the internet.  Personally it doesn't mean that I'm going to stop keeping an eye on what they are doing (my kids are <10years).  Like any tool of this sort if a user is determined (and tech savvy) enough they will be able to bypass it.

The premium version has some cool tools as well like time of day controls - e.g. "no internet after 11pm at night".

Once someone is connected to your home WiFi network, the Net Shield rules apply regardless of how they set up their own device

GregV: I'm glad that Spark is offering this, and will have a play this weekend, however, I'm still not convinced that this line should be in the FAQs (my emphasis)

Once someone is connected to your home WiFi network, the Net Shield rules apply regardless of how they set up their own device

Changing DNS on the device is a simple thing to do (especially on Chromebooks).

Some of this content relates around the likes of "net nanny" where the application could be disabled, closed or whatever.

the folks have said they are keen to hear feedback on the product though :)

Seems like a great thing to make available free of charge and require next-to-no set up for the end user.

Of course there is the work around's the intermediate/high school kids will work out. But for keeping lewd content away from little kids with their iPads/tablets/whatever it should work extremely well.

@hio77 - some more feedback for you

Update - even though I was able to choose the 'basic plan', and get the message that the service was being provisioned (a couple of days ago), nothing seems to be in place.  Visiting the Net Shield page again, just gives me the same options to choose either the basic or the paid plan.  To top it off, the link to switch back to the old 'grey' interface - to see if the purple interface is bugged - doesn't do anything.  Tried multiple browsers, but unable to get this service going.

GregV:

 

@hio77 - some more feedback for you

 

Update - even though I was able to choose the 'basic plan', and get the message that the service was being provisioned (a couple of days ago), nothing seems to be in place.  Visiting the Net Shield page again, just gives me the same options to choose either the basic or the paid plan.  To top it off, the link to switch back to the old 'grey' interface - to see if the purple interface is bugged - doesn't do anything.  Tried multiple browsers, but unable to get this service going.

 

weird. will do some basic checks on your account to make sure it's active and otherwise pass the feedback on.

Thanks, have sent you a DM with details.  Interestingly it is only the Net Shield and Xtramail sections of the Products & Services menu that are on the purple interface.  All other options (Broadband, Home Calling, Landline etc) are on the grey interface.

did spark build this themselves? or is it a third party thing?

I know the guys who did 'global mode' also built something that sounds very similar to this called buddyguard which they whitelable to telcos

https://bypass.net.nz/

it would be pretty funny if Spark are using them for this service.

NonprayingMantis:

 

did spark build this themselves? or is it a third party thing?

 

I know the guys who did 'global mode' also built something that sounds very similar to this called buddyguard which they whitelable to telcos

 

https://bypass.net.nz/

 

 

 

it would be pretty funny if Spark are using them for this service.

 

 

 

It's not bypass. nor is it anyone that atleast i know of, has ever offered a "global mode" feature.

yitz: Spark do filtering for schools (publicly funded N4L) so it may be the same infrastructure vendor to that (might be Cisco?).

You got almost half of that right :)

That's about all I can say... 

yitz: Spark do filtering for schools (publicly funded N4L) so it may be the same infrastructure vendor to that (might be Cisco?).