Is it possible to install parental controls remotely?

[RichardCoulter]

Is it possible to use the system where someone else can take over another device remotely to install parental controls? Would this vary from device to device e.g. phone, tablet, laptop PC?

Thanks.

[Taf]

I used freeware that did this when our twins were young. But none of it works on modern systems, phones, etc.

Installing it remotely might infer illegal activity against privacy laws.

[RichardCoulter]

Thanks. I want to use it more to restrict the times when access to the internet can be controlled in another home eg it goes off at 10pm until the following morning.

Restricting access to innapropriate content would be useful too.

[tweetiepooh]

Sort of can depend how the account on the device is linked to you. If it's setup as a child/dependant to your account some platforms will allow you to admin the account on the device and put limits on it. Once the account itself is "limited" you can set times, restrictions etc.
Likely to be harder if the device is already setup and they have admin access.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by tweetiepooh

Sort of can depend how the account on the device is linked to you. If it's setup as a child/dependant to your account some platforms will allow you to admin the account on the device and put limits on it. Once the account itself is "limited" you can set times, restrictions etc.
Likely to be harder if the device is already setup and they have admin access.

The account isn't connected to me at all and is in another property, that's the problem.

[pip08456]

If the account is not connected to you then why are you wanting to instal parental controls?

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by pip08456

If the account is not connected to you then why are you wanting to instal parental controls?

To stop the user staying up late messing about on the internet instead of sleeping and possibly looking at innapropriate sites.

[pip08456]

What has that got to do with you?

Richard, not legally, no - software can be installed remotely, but it usually needs the device user’s permission.

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

To stop the user staying up late messing about on the internet instead of sleeping and possibly looking at innapropriate sites.

Priceless.

Aisde from the obvious 'mind you own business', I presume you know that's illegal ?

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Paul

Priceless.

Aisde from the obvious 'mind you own business', I presume you know that's illegal ?

The user (my Godson) is behaving like an adult baby instead of preparing to study for his final year in biochemistry according to his father. I've been asked for help as his father (who pays all the bills) doesn't know anything about technology.

If I were to be able to do anything to help, it would have to be done remotely as I cannot leave home as i'm being shielded from the coronavirus.

---------- Post added at 00:16 ---------- Previous post was at 00:13 ----------

Originally Posted by Hugh

Richard, not legally, no - software can be installed remotely, but it usually needs the device user’s permission.

Thanks, so it's the device user as opposed to the bill payer.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

The user (my Godson) is behaving like an adult baby instead of preparing to study for his final year in biochemistry according to his father. I've been asked for help as his father (who pays all the bills) doesn't know anything about technology.

If I were to be able to do anything to help, it would have to be done remotely as I cannot leave home as i'm being shielded from the coronavirus.

---------- Post added at 00:16 ---------- Previous post was at 00:13 ----------



Thanks, so it's the device user as opposed to the bill payer.

No, the bill payer can do it but you cannot. Can you not talk him through how to do it himself? It's not rocket science.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by pip08456

No, the bill payer can do it but you cannot. Can you not talk him through how to do it himself? It's not rocket science.

He has a form of autism, so it's not that easy, especially over the phone (me having a cognitive impairmen doesn't help either).

[Maltloaf]

You could potentially do it remotely with screen sharing and time restricting the Mac address of the device at a given time. You would need his farther to log into the router using the routers IP address and you guide him by screen sharing.

---------- Post added at 14:09 ---------- Previous post was at 14:06 ----------

Or just unplug the router and lock it in the car if you want a quick fix.

[Kushan]

Use teamviewer to get access to the machine. The father will have to download that, run the .exe and give you the ID and password but that's all you'd need to do in order to be able to install anything you want. I've helped plenty of autistic people do this and they usually manage it fine.

Another option are the Microsoft Family settings. This is what I use with my son. His Microsoft account is part of Microsoft family safety and from that I can ban/restrict certain apps and websites, as well as limit his screen time or time with those apps.

If he needs more time, he just pushes a button and it sends me an email. It's fairly easy to use once it's set up.

He might have to create a new email (I don't know if you can add existing accounts to it or convert local user accounts to it) and a new user account on his computer, but realistically that's not a huge deal.