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iPod touch Can i disable or restrict the wifi on the iTouch?

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TraceyS/FL

macrumors 601
Original poster
Jan 11, 2007
4,175
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North Central Florida
I was pondering what to get for the kids for Christmas - and realized that really, my oldest could use a "PDA" for a variety of things.

SOOO, gee, that refurb isn't that much more than the Nano i was pondering.

BUT, i use parental controls on her Mac - do i have any options like that on the iTouch? This just occurred to me last night as a gift option - so i haven't done any checking around at all. If it's been talked about - tell me and i'll go find it tonight! LOL!!

Thanks for any tips -
 
Yes the iTouch has parental controls for safari and most of the other default apps that access the web, including the app store itself. I'm not sure about locking out the wifi completely, but like I said there is parental controls for the apps themselves.
 
dornoforpyros said:
Yes the iTouch has parental controls for safari and most of the other default apps that access the web, including the app store itself. I'm not sure about locking out the wifi completely, but like I said there is parental controls for the apps themselves.
Click to expand...

Thank you!

I'll go dig up the manuals online then and read about what i can do. :D
 
pcortez said:
download the ipod touch user guide found on this link:
http://support.apple.com/manuals/#ipod

page 94 tells you exactly what you can restrict. while it doesn't seem like you can restrict wifi, you can completey turn off apps that use it.
Click to expand...

Thanks, i just had finished reading them.

What i'm curious on is if you install an app - then restrict that setting, does it go away? I'm not opposed to adding apps to it - but i'd like to be the one deciding to do that.

I think in her case, i'd need Safari to go away until it could be locked down with an access list. Not that she goes to "bad sites" - i just don't need her wasting MORE time online in the bathroom (we've been there with the laptop).

Decisions decisions...... maybe i'll get one for my birthday in a few weeks and can play and decide?! LOL!!

At least i'm not the only one wanting more controls - threads on Apple asking for more (and i have already sent my feedback requesting it). I just have the need for a device that can play videos for school, but need some organization.
 
Thanks to the rest of you that took the time to point me in the correct direction this morning. I just can't process this all this morning with my head pounding. I'll have to ponder who up here in no mans land might have a working demo unit i can go try.
 
On a more serious note: I haven't found any way to "lock out" wifi, nor seen any parental controls. A quick search on google brought up many similar experiences, nobody seems to know how to.

If you'd like, you can leave some feedback asking apple to provide some more parental controls:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html
 
I'm looking at my iPod right now, and there's no way to actually restrict WiFi.
Although, you can restrict almost anything:
- Explicit music
- Safari
- YouTube
- iTunes
- Installing Apps

To do this you go to settings> general> restrictions

Just better hope she doesn't jailbreak when 2.2 comes out or else she may find away to bypass the restrictions.
 
bjelder said:
On a more serious note: I haven't found any way to "lock out" wifi, nor seen any parental controls. A quick search on google brought up many similar experiences, nobody seems to know how to.

If you'd like, you can leave some feedback asking apple to provide some more parental controls:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipod.html
Click to expand...

Thanks - i made that request yesterday.
 
Where would the wifi be coming from? If it's coming from your home simply add a WEP key too the wifi and simply don't connect the iPod Touch too the wifi. Then there is no way she can access the internet unless she gets the WEP key which she shouldn't.

But if your neighbors have wifi that is unlocked it wont work...
 
OpenDNS is a fine resource. It is actually a complementary solution to the Mobicip solution. Our solution, which is also free, has the upside of still protecting your child's device when not at home. Our filter will work whether they are at home or, more importantly, out with their friends. We mainly wanted to develop something where it would work anywhere the child can access the internet.
 
TraceyS/FL said:
Thanks, i just had finished reading them.

What i'm curious on is if you install an app - then restrict that setting, does it go away? I'm not opposed to adding apps to it - but i'd like to be the one deciding to do that.

I think in her case, i'd need Safari to go away until it could be locked down with an access list. Not that she goes to "bad sites" - i just don't need her wasting MORE time online in the bathroom (we've been there with the laptop).

Decisions decisions...... maybe i'll get one for my birthday in a few weeks and can play and decide?! LOL!!

At least i'm not the only one wanting more controls - threads on Apple asking for more (and i have already sent my feedback requesting it). I just have the need for a device that can play videos for school, but need some organization.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, and I mean no offense when I say this, but you're coming off as a little controlling. What possible harm could your daughter do installing some tetris clone? There really is nothing racy or overly inappropriate on itunes; the worst you can download was that 'I Am Rich' app. (On second thought, that IS pretty scary. $1000 right there.) But if you don't trust her to stay within the limits you set, (and before I say this next part I'm assuming she's under driving age) what are you going to do when she starts driving around with friends?

I really mean no offense in all this, I'm just trying to show you this whole scenario from the teenage perspective.


I have a huge problem with Mobicip and other 'content filtering' services. OpenDNS by itself is a great service, which I would highly recommend even without the filtering. But, using a censoring device means one of two things is going on:

Either a) your child is old enough, but you don't trust them, which you need to overcome as quickly as possible because if you don't trust them they'll not only harbor resentment for it, but find creative ways around. Then there's the other scenario, b) where your child is too young and shouldn't be on the web without you by their side anyway.

One last time, before you respond, this is from the other side, through a 15 year old's eyes.
 
Hi Muncher,

I definitely understand where you are coming from. However, there are many parents, and surprisingly, kids (both older and younger than you) who ask for this type of solution. There are many dangers associated with the Internet, and while you may be responsible enough to use this type of device responsibly, there are many that are not. Our solution is simply a tool that parents have the option of installing on their child's device.

I am by no means preaching that this is a necessity, but the parents should have the opportunity if they so choose. I agree that communications and a talk about Internet safety are paramount to a responsible and safe experience. I think this is huge towards developing trust. Our solution is NOT a substitute. I agree with you wholeheartedly on that point. It's similar to a parent buying a car without an airbag; our solution can be that airbag.
 
geneucla said:
Hi Muncher,

I definitely understand where you are coming from. However, there are many parents, and surprisingly, kids (both older and younger than you) who ask for this type of solution. There are many dangers associated with the Internet, and while you may be responsible enough to use this type of device responsibly, there are many that are not. Our solution is simply a tool that parents have the option of installing on their child's device.

I am by no means preaching that this is a necessity, but the parents should have the opportunity if they so choose. I agree that communications and a talk about Internet safety are paramount to a responsible and safe experience. I think this is huge towards developing trust. Our solution is NOT a substitute. I agree with you wholeheartedly on that point. It's similar to a parent buying a car without an airbag; our solution can be that airbag.
Click to expand...

I agree that some kids aren't very responsible. I guess it just comes down to the parent's decision.

On the side, programming an app like yours must have been interesting. You couldn't have integrated with safari, as that's against the SDK rules. But other web browsers have been rejected before (like Opera mini). Then again, yours isn't just a web browser, it also includes functions safari specifically lacks. But email clients were rejected even though they had landscape typing... Huh. :p:D
 
I have a headache. I am not a technology person (have had IPOD in box so long I think 2 new models have come out!) I have read this thread a dozen times, but it is over my head. :rolleyes:

Okay. I tried to understand your conversation. I have a daughter who wants an itouch...she's 12. She has computer that she has to use in family room with parental controls set up.

Anyway, I can't see letting her have an itouch because it's internet access would go against the family rule of use in the family room since she uses her ipod in her room to listen to music.

She wants it for music, videos and to play games on. She has also mentioned the calender etc. If she can't access the internet, then she can't download movies, games etc? Am I understanding this correctly?

Can it be set up so that we can enable her access when we want to let her download stuff and then turn it off?

My inclination is to say 'no' she can't have it because she has shown she does not have the maturity not to post personal stuff on the internet :( . To me, the itouch seems like it has too much power to hand to a child who has had trouble on the internet.

Am I overthinking this or am I being prudent?
 
Hi Cheers,

You can still get the iPod touch for your daughter if she only wants it for music, videos, and to play games. These are all things that she can get without Safari through iTunes or the App Store. You just need to set the parental controls and disable Safari. This effectively hides the Safari application and she won't be able to surf the internet at all.

If you'd like for her to still be able to surf the internet, but with content filters in place, you would need to look for alternate applications. There aren't any so far for the iPod touch, but our Mobicip solution is currently under review by Apple.

Hope this helps answer your question.
 
cheer5678 said:
My inclination is to say 'no' she can't have it because she has shown she does not have the maturity not to post personal stuff on the internet :( . To me, the itouch seems like it has too much power to hand to a child who has had trouble on the internet.

Am I overthinking this or am I being prudent?
Click to expand...
I have a child that has also shown she isn't ready for the kind of freedom that the Touch would give her. We ended up going with the Nano for her - but i'm hoping to get the Touch for me "soon". I don't feel you are overthinking it at all - since i was there last month.

Did you see in the manual what you can turn off? I'm going to post a screen snapshot of it. You can still run and DL apps - but it will be thru iTunes instead of on the Touch. That is where you'd get the Games - and load movies either buying thru iTunes or loading your own ripped ones. Unless i'm totally missing something.... which i could be.... but i don't know anyone with one to borrow and test it all. I'll have to defer to the rest of the gurus on if you disable all the things listed - that you can still add apps via an iTunes sync.
Picture17-1.png



dukebound85 said:
^^ you can jailbreak it and simply hide the safari app in boss prefs

or you can block the ipod in your router settings so it cant access the net
Click to expand...
But that only works at home.

geneucla said:
OpenDNS is a fine resource. It is actually a complementary solution to the Mobicip solution. Our solution, which is also free, has the upside of still protecting your child's device when not at home. Our filter will work whether they are at home or, more importantly, out with their friends. We mainly wanted to develop something where it would work anywhere the child can access the internet.
Click to expand...
I missed this posting and will be taking a look at this. I have some friends that ARE going this route and will pass this on to them too. thanks!

Muncher said:
One last time, before you respond, this is from the other side, through a 15 year old's eyes.
Click to expand...
And, in this case, try to see it thru a parents eyes that it is a parental decision. There are a variety of reasons for it - and last time in this thread when i tried to explain them, i got 3 pages of bashing.

How about this, when YOU are the parent - you get to make the choices? Deal? :D

I had missed these other posts on the topic until now.

I think this post is all out of order too - sorry!
 
geneucla said:
Hi Cheers,

You can still get the iPod touch for your daughter if she only wants it for music, videos, and to play games. These are all things that she can get without Safari through iTunes or the App Store. You just need to set the parental controls and disable Safari. This effectively hides the Safari application and she won't be able to surf the internet at all.

If you'd like for her to still be able to surf the internet, but with content filters in place, you would need to look for alternate applications. There aren't any so far for the iPod touch, but our Mobicip solution is currently under review by Apple.

Hope this helps answer your question.
Click to expand...
I just watched your Demo - gee, i wish i'd know this was coming i might have adjusted my shopping :D

THANK YOU.

Here is hoping the process is a smooth one for inclusion to the store. I for one will also bee looking forward to the allowing of only going to a list of websites too.
 
Wow... Why get an iPod Touch if your not going to use the Wifi. How old is this kid and what are you trying to keep them from?

PS: Just read that they are 15. Is this a joke? What do you think you are protecting them from.
 
agreed....i can see not trusting them with boys or cars or other stuff but internet?? I mean come on...
 
My child is NOT 15 - not even close, neither is the person that posted to this today.

AND, please guys, show some respect for parents and their choices. THis thread got ugly once before, and i'd prefer it to stay nice and informative/helpful.

You parent yours, i'll parent mine. Deal?
 
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