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Parental Controls bypass?

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Evangelion

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 10, 2005
3,374
147
I noticed that my in-laws 13-year old kid spends all his time glued to their iMac. I know that his user-account has parental controls enabled, and his computer-time is limited. I talked with him about it, and he mentioned that "Those time-limits are useless, since I can easily bypass them". He wouldn't tell me how he does it, though.

So, how could he bypass the controls? I'm asking because I would like to be able to plug that hole (if possible), so he would do something else than sit by the computer all the time.

"Discussing" the matter with a frigging 13-year old who thinks he knows everything is next to useless.

Alternatively: is there a third-party parenting-app that would offer more robust features that the OS X built-in toold do?
 
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ppc750fx

macrumors 65816
Aug 20, 2008
1,308
4
Evangelion said:
I noticed that my in-laws 13-year old kid spends all his time glued to their iMac. I know that his user-account has parental controls enabled, and his computer-time is limited. I talked with him about it, and he mentioned that "Those time-limits are useless, since I can easily bypass them". He wouldn't tell me how he does it, though.

So, how could he bypass the controls? I'm asking because I would like to be able to plug that hole (if possible), so he would do something else than sit by the computer all the time.

"Discussing" the matter with a frigging 13-year old who thinks he knows everything is next to useless.

Alternatively: is there a third-party parenting-app that would offer more robust features that the OS X built-in toold do?
Click to expand...

Nope. There's not a single thing you can do to stop him from using the machine as he sees fit. Yes, you can make it more difficult, but as long as he's got physical access to the box it's essentially his.

Parental Controls works pretty well in my experience (certainly better than the third party solutions that I've used.) You can use LaunchAgents or LaunchDaemons to "refresh" his account (i.e. restore its settings back to a set of defaults every login/boot), and you can certainly harden the system a bit if you're willing to do some hacking -- but the reality of it is that as long as he can physically access the machine he can get root.

Probably not the answer you wanted to hear... sorry!
 
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Evangelion

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 10, 2005
3,374
147
ppc750fx said:
Nope. There's not a single thing you can do to stop him from using the machine as he sees fit. Yes, you can make it more difficult, but as long as he's got physical access to the box it's essentially his.

Parental Controls works pretty well in my experience (certainly better than the third party solutions that I've used.) You can use LaunchAgents or LaunchDaemons to "refresh" his account (i.e. restore its settings back to a set of defaults every login/boot), and you can certainly harden the system a bit if you're willing to do some hacking -- but the reality of it is that as long as he can physically access the machine he can get root.

Probably not the answer you wanted to hear... sorry!
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm aware that giving the user physical access to the machine means that knowledgeable hacker can bypass anything. But I know that he's not using any sort of physical hack (boot-CD's etc). He just does something that allows him to bypass the time-limits set by parental controls.

We are not really talking about an uber-hacker here :).
 
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ppc750fx

macrumors 65816
Aug 20, 2008
1,308
4
Ed91 said:
Also, if you want to stop him at particular times try either removing the fuse/power lead or remove his access to the network.
Click to expand...

This is probably your best bet. If you patch one hole, the next thing he's going to do is start searching for instructions on how to bypass the rest of the protections.
 
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Evangelion

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 10, 2005
3,374
147
Ed91 said:
It seems like an old article, but you may want to check it out..

http://www.applematters.com/article/microsoft-provides-easy-os-x-security-hack/

Also, if you want to stop him at particular times try either removing the fuse/power lead or remove his access to the network.
Click to expand...

That seems to be about bypassing app-limits and the "simple finder". He has no app-limits, we are dealing with time-limits here.

ppc750fx said:
This is probably your best bet. If you patch one hole, the next thing he's going to do is start searching for instructions on how to bypass the rest of the protections.
Click to expand...

As for the removing the powercord or disconnecting the internet.... I'm not sure how that would work. It's the family's shared iMac. It does have other users besides him, removing the power or cutting the internet would harm others as well.

That said, is there a way to disconnect internet for certain user only?
 
S

ScoobyMcDoo

macrumors 65816
Nov 26, 2007
1,188
37
Austin, TX
So, I have 14 year old twins. I don't have the problem you talk of very often, but when I do, I simply tell the child to get off the computer and go outside. That seems to work very well - you might tell your in-laws to try it.

I tried using the parental controls just for limiting what web sites they could visit - teenage boys do have raging hormones after all. But it seemed to be too restrictive, and I was constantly having to add exceptions - what a pita. So, I turned it off and started using opendns - been really happy with their services.
 
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Ed91

macrumors 6502
Dec 22, 2007
267
1
Well, I've had a little play with it, and wasn't able to circumvent the time out process in any way that I came up with. It seems to use fast user switching as opposed to fully logging the user out, which may also explain why a few people have had problems as I've read about people having problems with that service too.

The most obvious question I can ask is: Do you have the guest account enabled for logging in? Otherwise it'd probably be easier for him to just burn a linux Live CD and not bother to use his limited account at all..
 
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hodgeheg

macrumors regular
Dec 7, 2008
156
0
Do you have the machine adequately locked down besides the parental controls?

Here's hoping he isn't reading this forum too, but...

Firstly, if you can boot off an OS X CD you can reset the user to an administrative one, thus disabling the controls.

So to stop that you need to set a firmware password. This should also stop booting into single user mode (hold down command-S on boot) which if you know a bit you can also use to reset passwords.

Unfortunately, if you have a screwdriver you can reset the firmware password by changing the amount of RAM in the machine and then turning it on.


I don't know how to evade the time controls specifically (I've never tried), but removing all controls isn't that hard. Probably the only way you can be at all sure is to have controls in your router (some offer this). even then you're assuming there are no other unprotected networks available nearby that he can use instead.

Similarly without a firmware password, or with it reset, as someone mentioned it is trivial to boot from a linux live CD and then you simply aren't using the Mac's software at all. Another possibility is a second hard disk with a different install on it, in which case again all bets are off.

I take it also that there are no other accounts he can access that are unrestricted?

Do you have logging enabled? Can you see what he's been getting at/when?

Sorry this is a bit of a mishmash of thoughts!
 
VPrime

VPrime

macrumors 68000
Dec 19, 2008
1,722
86
London Ontario
Evangelion said:
We are not really talking about an uber-hacker here :).
Click to expand...
Underestimating him is your first mistake... When I was around that age I would bypass the schools controls, and other various things. Although you may think he doesnt have enough skill to be an "uber hacker" he clearly out smarted the current system right?
You are forgetting that he has the best tool available to any one who wants to learn how hack/crack/break some thing....... The google.

IMO, I think the parental controls on a computer are stupid and way to limiting.
 
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Evangelion

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 10, 2005
3,374
147
VPrime said:
Underestimating him is your first mistake... When I was around that age I would bypass the schools controls, and other various things. Although you may think he doesnt have enough skill to be an "uber hacker" he clearly out smarted the current system right?
Click to expand...

Well, it seems that his "bypass" is that when his time is up, and he's being locked out of the desktop, he just bashes the keyboard until the system gets confused.

Like I said; uber-hacker he is not.

You are forgetting that he has the best tool available to any one who wants to learn how hack/crack/break some thing....... The google.
Click to expand...

Well, I googled for this, and came up short, even though I would like to think that my Google-fu is better than average. besides, he does not really know how to use Google. My wife asked him to find some basic information from Google, and he was unable to do so. He doesn't really know that much about computers. Yes, he spends a lot of time at the computer, but he spends that time playing Runescape, not learning how the computer actually works.

As to relying on parenting... That's obviously the first thing to do. But they can't keep their eye on him 24x7, and constantly tell him to get off the computer.
 
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BenEndeem

macrumors 6502
Jul 25, 2008
301
0
England
Setup screen sharing in preferences on his account on the iMac (without telling him of course); chances are he won't find out because why would he be looking for something that isn't limiting him? Anyway, when you know it is near his limit, login to screen share with the iMac.

You'll find your answer that way; and see it with your own eyes :cool: .
 
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Evangelion

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 10, 2005
3,374
147
BenEndeem said:
Setup screen sharing in preferences on his account on the iMac (without telling him of course); chances are he won't find out because why would he be looking for something that isn't limiting him? Anyway, when you know it is near his limit, login to screen share with the iMac.

You'll find your answer that way; and see it with your own eyes :cool: .
Click to expand...

Well, I don't know when his limits are up. I think he has "X hours a day"-type setup, so knowing when the time is up is quite hard.

But your idea is intriguing and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter....
 
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bluewolfer

macrumors newbie
Mar 1, 2009
1
0
Here's a few situations I've found that work around the parental controls:

1) You can just quickly switch too a program e.g (sim city) and the Time-Limit will expire while you're on it.

2) You constantly keep switching the computer too sleep, and then back on.

3) Click on BlueTooth and click the Discoverable option show the check mark is not showing.

Also if you want you son too stop playing RuneScape simply don't allow access to port 4395 or something like that. But I've realized it also affects my connection to Skype.
 
JamesGorman

JamesGorman

macrumors 65816
Dec 31, 2008
1,123
1
Winnipeg
just let the kid play on the computer, i used to play on them all the time, maybe hes intrested in them. What does he do on there? is it at least educational? let the kid be maybe he/she will become a programmer or something later on. My parents use to get mad sometimes too so i just bought my own computer lol, now they really dont care since i worked for it.
 
alphaod

alphaod

macrumors Core
Feb 9, 2008
22,183
1,245
NYC
If you want to filter the Internet usage, you can always set times schedules on the router.

That would mean owning a router that support it of course and a password.

OR

Put the computer in a room with a dead bolt.
 
jsw

jsw

Moderator emeritus
Mar 16, 2004
22,910
44
Andover, MA
JamesGorman said:
What does he do on there? is it at least educational?
Click to expand...
I'm guessing that spending a lot of time on computers when you were young didn't help so much with reading comprehension, then, yeah? ;)

See above for the answers to your questions.
 
JamesGorman

JamesGorman

macrumors 65816
Dec 31, 2008
1,123
1
Winnipeg
jsw said:
I'm guessing that spending a lot of time on computers when you were young didn't help so much with reading comprehension, then, yeah? ;)

See above for the answers to your questions.
Click to expand...

i didnt read through the whole post. I know i should have but i was to lazy lol. oh well
 
horseyhannnah10

horseyhannnah10

macrumors newbie
Mar 9, 2009
2
0
KC
I Would Luv Luv Luv Luv Luv!!!!!!! If He Could Email Me About How He's Hacking The Parental Controls!!!!! My Mom Blocked My Fave Site Facebook My Only Link 2 The Outside Wrld!!!!!!!!!!! :( Im An Addict :D And Luvin It!!!! Pls Pls Pls Tell Him He Must Or He's Having His Mac Taken Away!!!! So Yah Thnx :eek: THAT WOULD CERTAINLY CATCH M ATTETION :mad:

ask him how 2 find out an admin password w/o asking parents or having friends of parents find out 4 u!! :confused: :( mad: :eek: :D :rolleyes:
 
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Evangelion

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Jan 10, 2005
3,374
147
JamesGorman said:
just let the kid play on the computer, i used to play on them all the time, maybe hes intrested in them. What does he do on there? is it at least educational?
Click to expand...

Not in the slightest. It's just utter waste of time.

let the kid be maybe he/she will become a programmer or something later on.
Click to expand...

You do not become programmer by playing useless games.

I admit, I used to spend quite a bit of time by the computer when I was a kid, and I ended up working with computers when I grew up. But I at least had some interest on how computers work. I learned of the hardware, I learned to build my own computers, I did some programming on my spare time etc. He? He sits there and plays Runescape.

I have tried to get him do something useful with the computer, like use Garageband (he plays guitar occasionally). His answer: "I did try it, it's crap and I'm not interested".
 
Tallest Skil

Tallest Skil

macrumors P6
Aug 13, 2006
16,044
4
1 Geostationary Tower Plaza
horseyhannnah10 said:
I Would Luv Luv Luv Luv Luv!!!!!!! If He Could Email Me About How He's Hacking The Parental Controls!!!!! My Mom Blocked My Fave Site Facebook My Only Link 2 The Outside Wrld!!!!!!!!!!! :( Im An Addict :D And Luvin It!!!! Pls Pls Pls Tell Him He Must Or He's Having His Mac Taken Away!!!! So Yah Thnx :eek: THAT WOULD CERTAINLY CATCH M ATTETION :mad:

ask him how 2 find out an admin password w/o asking parents or having friends of parents find out 4 u!! :confused: :( mad: :eek: :D :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Posts like this make me want to turn off emoticons...

You have the Internet, right? Use it. We're not telling you how to bypass parental controls.

They do it for a reason, you know. Woe upon you the day you get past them and find a little site called OurfayAnchay...:rolleyes:
 
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