How can I stop my child bypassing the Family Safety restrictions?

Yes understandable.

1. Qustodio Features: Qustodio offers detailed activity reports, app blocking, time limits, web filtering, and location tracking. It also has a panic button for kids to alert parents in case of an emergency. Platform Compatibility: Available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Kindle devices. Cost: Qustodio has a free version with basic features, but its premium versions offer more comprehensive controls and cover multiple devices.
2. Net Nanny Features: Known for its strong internet filtering capabilities, Net Nanny allows you to manage screen time, monitor social media use, protect privacy, and block inappropriate content. Platform Compatibility: Available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Cost: Net Nanny charges per device with various package options, making it flexible depending on how many devices you need to manage.
3. Norton Family Features: Norton Family provides web supervision, time supervision, search supervision, video supervision, and mobile app supervision. It emphasizes a balance between safety and independence for children. Platform Compatibility: Supports Windows, Android, and iOS, but has limited features on macOS. Cost: Offered as part of the Norton 360 plans, which include additional security features like antivirus.
4. Kaspersky Safe Kids Features: Includes app management, time limits, web monitoring, and even battery tracker to inform parents when their child's device needs charging. Platform Compatibility: Available on PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. Cost: Kaspersky Safe Kids offers a free tier with basic controls, and a premium tier that is very affordable compared to other options.
5. Circle Home Plus Features: Manages every device on your home network and also mobile devices using a companion app. It includes content filtering, time limits, and a pause button for the internet. Platform Compatibility: Works with your Wi-Fi router to manage devices connected to your home network. Cost: Requires purchasing a device and a subscription plan, which can be more costly upfront but effective for comprehensive home network management. Browser Extensions: BlockSite: Available for Chrome and Firefox, this extension allows you to block specific sites and also has a "Work Mode" to block sites during specified times. StayFocusd: A Chrome extension that restricts the amount of time spent on time-wasting websites.

Considerations: Evaluate Free Trials: Many of these services offer free trials, which can be a good way to see if a particular software meets your needs before committing financially. Check Reviews: Look at recent reviews from other parents who might be facing similar challenges. This can provide insights into how effective the software is in real-world scenarios.

Thank you very much Deeksha! You've given me very solid advice and I will definitely look into all the options you've listed!

Also, if anyone had any other additional insights I would love to hear them of course.

Hi Deeskha,

Thank you for your elaborate reply!

Our software is up to date, passwords on the bios/uefi have been set and the user accounts have been configured properly without admin rights. They even went as far as finding a way to give themselves admin rights, but fortunately I have been able to prevent that from happening again (until the next backdoor they find at least). Regular checks of sites to be blacklisted have become part of my daily routine. In the Family Safety settings I cannot find any more settings to prevent bypassing on start up. It seems there is a small window in which Family Safety isn't operational yet which makes it possible to start an app. After approximately 15 min Family Safety is up and running and synchronizing. The child just reboots and enjoys another 15 min of game time.

The problem only occurs at school (I tried addressing the problem at school, but no luck). They haven't been able to bypass me at home anymore lately fortunately. At home we have a gateway with advanced settings in place. We already use OpenDNS FamilyShield, but that's a very useful suggestion for other parents though who might be dealing with the same problem.

I will look into your suggestion about third party software/browser extensions. Was hoping to avoid additional costs as everything has already gotten ridiculously expensive lately, but I might not have a choice it seems. Do you have any recommendations on third party software/extensions by any chance?

With kind regards,

Emma

Hi, thank you for reaching out. My name is Deeksha and I'm a Microsoft user like yourself and I will try to help you as best as I can today.

Update Your Software: Ensure your family safety software and operating system are up-to-date. Software updates often patch security vulnerabilities.

Use BIOS/UEFI Passwords: Setting a BIOS or UEFI password prevents changing boot settings or booting from external devices without the password. This can stop bypass attempts that involve rebooting the computer into Safe Mode or using a bootable USB drive.

Configure User Account Controls: Make sure that your child does not have administrator rights on their account. Administrator accounts can change system settings and bypass restrictions. Use a strong password for administrator accounts that your child does not know.

Enhance Family Safety Software: If you are using Windows, check for any specific settings in Windows Family Safety that need to be adjusted to prevent bypassing during reboot. Consider third-party parental control software that offers more robust and less bypassable controls.

Blocking Website Extensions or Genres Use Parental Control Software: Many parental control applications allow you to block websites by categories (like gaming, social media, adult content, etc.) and by specific URLs or keywords. Look for features in the software that let you block domains with specific extensions (.io, .fun, etc.).

Browser Extensions: Use browser extensions that are designed for parental control. These can often block websites based on content and URL patterns. Ensure these extensions are locked down and cannot be disabled without an administrator password.

Router Settings: Many modern routers come with built-in parental controls that allow you to block certain types of content or specific websites on all devices that connect to your home network. Check if your router allows you to set URL filters or blacklist certain domains.

DNS-Level Blocking: Use DNS services like OpenDNS FamilyShield. These services allow you to block entire categories of websites and are very effective at preventing access to newly created sites within those categories. Configure your router or individual devices to use this DNS service, which can enforce content filtering at the network level.

Regular Monitoring and Updates: Regularly update the blacklist or filtering rules as new sites and trends emerge. Engage with your child about the importance of safe internet use and what types of sites are restricted and why.

Try these steps and hopefully, it resolves your issue. In case you need further help or assistance, please let us know. You can also contact Microsoft Support if the problem persists.

Best regards Deeksha