Family Router

[jon]

Hello,
Could anyone recommend a home router that has the following features:

• Device level URL and category filtering, e.g. adult content. I'd like filter out content on my sons device but not mine or my older children. If also like to add others like you tube or Facebook
• I have a raspberry pi setup with owncloud. Is there a router that supports something similar? I'd like to repurposed my pi. I'd like to install apps on our android/apple devices that automatically backs up photos and video onto an attached usb3 HDD. Ideally over the internet as well and be able to view images ideally over the internet, but on the LAN would be fine.
• I'm tech savvy so can install custom ROMs, extensions etc if they help with the above features.

I've looked at a few routers it's not clear in the reviews if parental controls are device specific on specs/reviews.

I'm looking at Asus netgear or Linksys 1900 routers. Or any recommended.

Thanks,
Jon

 

[sfx2000]

Hmm. mixed feelings about this, as I'm also a parent...

1) Technology is not a substitute for good parenting - simply put - we tell them to look both ways before crossing the street, don't accept rides from strangers, etc... these days with the internet, we need to do the same thing for the internet...

2) Kids will be kids - they're smart, and they will find a way around those controls - we had to learn it, they've grown up with it, and they're smarter about it as a result (opposing view is that as parents, we're the wiser eh?)

That being said - ASUS and Linksys have these as options - and I would strongly suggest backing it up at the DNS level, for example, OpenDNS, which has options as well, and they'll be fairly current...

best of luck - and I would suggest having "the talk" with them about things.. and as a parent, we should always be engaged, and they should know that we can check up on them any time...

 

[bilboSNB]

I concur however you don't want to make it easy.

Go for the ac68u its great and you can block sites at a device level using the in built trend micro function or using opendns filtering and forcing certain devices to use opendns while you use other dns servers. In addition you can force google safesearch , have a look round the wiki to get an idea of what you can do with RMerlins custom firmware. https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin/wiki

From the routers interface:
"
ASUS AiCloud 2.0 keeps you connected to your data wherever and whenever you have an Internet connection. It links your home network and online storage service and lets you access your data through the AiCloud mobile app on your iOS or Android mobile device or through a personalized web link in a web browser. Now all your data can go where you go.

• Enter AiCloud 2.0 https://all.dnsomatic.com
  To modify the ddns name, please click here.
• Find tutorial videos GO
• Find FAQs GO
• If you cannot use ASUS DDNS services, please go tohttp://iplookup.asus.com/nslookup.php to reach your internet IP address to use this service."

Cheers.

 

[System Error Message]

a family router , ive never known networking hardware to be family like or family related.

The best router for this kind of control based on features and ease of use is pfsense. ASUS though allows installing other software.
But pfsense and mikrotik routerboards have layer 7 firewall that can filter not only urls but filter programs. For example you could block messenger and skype communication without anyone knowing and schedule it so you could for example get your kids of skype by the silence that comes when the rules kick in. I suggest pfsense or asus depending on the functionality. Layer 7 can filter programs in all sorts of ways and even cheat in online gaming.

PFsense will do all that asus will do and more. One is installed on a PC and the other embedded.

 

[coxhaus]

I second you need to use a software based PC router or firewall. They will have the processing power you need.

 

[System Error Message]

or you can get both and use ASUS as an AP so you can still use some asus features like AICloud

 

[abailey]

I have had very good luck with the Zyxel USG40. It can do everything you want but there is a yearly fee for the content filter. That is a deal breaker for some.

 

[thiggins]

The main failing I have found with all "parental control" technologies is search. Simply enforcing Google or any other search engine's "safe search" is no guarantee that a search won't bring up images that you probably want not to be seen.

 

[Sg45]

Here is the biggest challenge I have faced. It's easy enough to filter content from little kids (10 and younger) as they have a tendency to just do what you let them do. The problem comes in at the 'tween and teen ages. Because this is when they not only have a PC of some type but also a cellular device (smartphone, tablet, etc.) It's an easy by-pass to switch off WiFi and use your cellular data when your kid wants to go where he shouldn't. Since you can't control the cell companies DNS system, you can't stop it from happening (unless you have some OS level hack installed somewhere).

I found that my twelve year old (like someone said, Digital Native) completely understood turning the WiFi connection off on his phone and even using it as a personal hotspot from his laptop (that part I have put a stop to).

The day will come when you can migrate parental controls between the WiFi and cellular connections at a device level but as far as I know, today you can't.

Oh yeah, and +1 on the notion of tech not replacing good parenting!

 

[sfx2000]

Because this is when they not only have a PC of some type but also a cellular device (smartphone, tablet, etc.) It's an easy by-pass to switch off WiFi and use your cellular data when your kid wants to go where he shouldn't. Since you can't control the cell companies DNS system, you can't stop it from happening (unless you have some OS level hack installed somewhere).

No kidding, pardon the pun - and don't forget to put gaming consoles on that list - many of them have WWW browsers embedded in, even with the handhelds.

Kids will be kids - and we, as parents, need to acknowledge and be aware.

There's a lot of good tips (and caveats) here, and if one does take a layered approach, it is doable to some degree, but if someone is bound and determined to get around the roadblocks, he or she will always find a way

sfx