Recommendations required - parental control software

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nzclover

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#240503 11-Sep-2018 12:00

My 8 yr old son has issues with his writing so I have had to buy him a probook for schoolwork. I installed Qustodio software on it so I can see what he is doing at school - he started off fine and followed the rules, but now I'm seeing more and more instances of Steam/Roblox/internet surfing coming up. Qustodio does not allow you to restrict applications during certain time periods e.g. Mon-Fri 8am-3pm, it only allows me to limit the time spent on certain applications, or block altogether.

Can anyone recommend software that will allow me to block certain apps during specified time periods (and unblock during school holidays etc). I found a product called Home Guard, which appears to do what I'm wanting, but at $49USD, I want to ensure it will suit before I purchase.

I would appreciate any advice from others who have used or know about the options out there.

jonathan18

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#2087459 11-Sep-2018 12:16

I can't pass comment on the quality of the app you're referencing above, but its website does allow you to download the software to trial it so you can check - it's not mentioned on the page's text (and there's no mention as to what limitations the trial has, eg time- or feature-limited) , but that it is a trial version is stated in the page header https://veridium.net/homeguard-activity-monitor/download/

Dynamic

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#2087462 11-Sep-2018 12:27

This comment does not specifically answer your question, but at home we have and strongly recommend the cheaper Koalasafe https://koalasafe.com/ device, and it is brilliant. Devices are grouped and schedules applied to those device groups. The schedule can open a "homework sites" profile for access, or a "normal access" profile where a wider range of sites are open for recreational access. Lots of customisation available. Friend's devices get unrestricted access so they can keep in electronic contact with their parents.

For us, there are certain times scheduled for normal access, certain times pre-scheduled for homework access, and if you want access beyond those times, it's "do a job to earn some more time" or "half an hour's reading to get half an hour's internet time" or sometimes the answer is just no.

If you need to extend the coverage, there is an ethernet port and any cables or wifi access connected to this has the same restrictions as the device's own WiFi network.

EDIT... the scheduled are easily controlled via the smartphone app, from anywhere you have internet access. Kids can txt me on a Saturday morning while I'm out to say they have done their chores and I can give them 10/30/60/120/unlimited (unlimited for the day) minutes of internet time on any of their device profiles and on the homework or normal access profile.

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xontech

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#2087464 11-Sep-2018 12:31

Microsoft Family may do what you are after, and it's free....

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12413/microsoft-account-what-is-family

nzclover

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2087465 11-Sep-2018 12:35

Microsoft family didn't seem to have the granular control I needed. Will check out the koala one, thanks!

softwareguy

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#2091744 17-Sep-2018 08:01

Use activtrak.com it's free I have used it, it works great you can monitor anywhere in the world. Works with Mac os, Windows, Linux, Chrome Book and more.

kryptonjohn

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#2091749 17-Sep-2018 08:26

nzclover:

Microsoft family didn't seem to have the granular control I needed. Will check out the koala one, thanks!

Have had nothing but trouble with MS Family. As mentioned it is free so no harm in trying but don't get your hopes up.

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Yoban

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#2092064 17-Sep-2018 17:15

softwareguy:

Use activtrak.com it's free I have used it, it works great you can monitor anywhere in the world. Works with Mac os, Windows, Linux, Chrome Book and more.

I am a Microsoft family user for a while and while the time of day access controls work well - the website stuff etc. only works with a MS web browser. Soon as kids on chrome...all bets are off.

Does activtrak do time of day control?