Blocking open WiFi networks?

bgo544

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Nov 25, 2003
876
East Bay
I have various parental controls and time limits set up through our home wireless router. However, since COVID, I have noticed there is an open xfinity hotspot in our immediate area that requires no login credentials. This basically allows the 13-year-old to circumvent the time and content restrictions. Is there any way to block certain open wifi networks, or to allow a device to connect only to approved networks? Main device I'd like to control is Windows 10.
 

swiftaw

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Jan 31, 2009
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You can block a wifi network in the command prompt (as administrator):

netsh wlan add filter permission=block ssid="WiFi Network Name" networktype=infrastructure

However it is relatively easy to undo (although it may require administrator privileges).
 

bgo544

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Nov 25, 2003
876
East Bay
So, assuming the 13 yr old is male, he will be restricted to seeing all his pron on a 6" phone screen....
LOL. Not actually too worried about the pron. His phone has filters through Verizon, though I'm sure as a teenage boy he will find his way to viewing stuff.

I mainly want the controls for online gaming. He has been having anxiety due to Covid and the entire state being on fire and having to navigate online school, and online gaming with his friends is one of his few outlets. I just want to set a curfew on it so he gets sufficient sleep.

You can block a wifi network in the command prompt (as administrator):

netsh wlan add filter permission=block ssid="WiFi Network Name" networktype=infrastructure

However it is relatively easy to undo (although it may require administrator privileges).
Thanks, I'll give that a try.
 

cgori

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Oct 2, 2004
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SF, CA
LOL. Not actually too worried about the pron. His phone has filters through Verizon, though I'm sure as a teenage boy he will find his way to viewing stuff.

I mainly want the controls for online gaming. He has been having anxiety due to Covid and the entire state being on fire and having to navigate online school, and online gaming with his friends is one of his few outlets. I just want to set a curfew on it so he gets sufficient sleep.


Thanks, I'll give that a try.
FYI, that's basically what the link I gave you said, except they show how you can approve certain networks (whatever your router SSID is) and then block everything else (rather than blocking onesie/twosie).

Because he'll figure out how to wifi hotspot off that Verizon phone, for example :)
 

bgo544

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Nov 25, 2003
876
East Bay
Yeah, he already knows how to make a hotspot with the phone. But the Verizon controls prevent both wifi and data access during blocked time periods. Of course, he knows how to defeat that too - he can delete the Verizon app from his phone and it removes the wifi restrictions, at least. But, he now knows that deleting the app also results in me getting an email from Verizon that the app has been removed, which results in him losing the phone for a week. So I have him boxed in there, at least. :)
 

The Napkin

wise ass al kaprielian
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Jul 13, 2002
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right here
I mainly want the controls for online gaming. He has been having anxiety due to Covid and the entire state being on fire and having to navigate online school, and online gaming with his friends is one of his few outlets. I just want to set a curfew on it so he gets sufficient sleep.
What's he gaming on? Could you just physically take the ipad/xobx controller/whatever when it's curfew o'clock and give it back in the morning?
 

gtmtnbiker

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Jul 15, 2005
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However, since COVID, I have noticed there is an open xfinity hotspot in our immediate area that requires no login credentials.
Even though the xfinity hotspot is open, you still need to provide credentials to use it. I think on a PC, you login with your Comcast credentials on the webpage that pops up. On the phone/iPad, you need to have Comcast profile stored.
 

bgo544

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Nov 25, 2003
876
East Bay
Even though the xfinity hotspot is open, you still need to provide credentials to use it. I think on a PC, you login with your Comcast credentials on the webpage that pops up. On the phone/iPad, you need to have Comcast profile stored.
That used to be the case, but doesn't seem to be anymore. The first thing I did was to "forget" the network on the laptop, figuring he does not know our Comcast credentials, and so wouldn't be able to use the network. But this network seems to be completely open.
 

gtmtnbiker

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Jul 15, 2005
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That used to be the case, but doesn't seem to be anymore. The first thing I did was to "forget" the network on the laptop, figuring he does not know our Comcast credentials, and so wouldn't be able to use the network. But this network seems to be completely open.
I wonder if you have a secure profile installed on your laptop? If you have one, then you can get automatic login.
https://forums.xfinity.com/t5/Internet/ANSWERED-How-to-Connect-to-an-Xfinity-WiFi-Hotspot/ta-p/3059678
Not sure how to find and remove the profile from your laptop. On the phone, this is easy to locate.
 

Couperin47

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PP is apparently unaware that laptops are powered by batteries, also unless bgo lives in a trailer every bedroom has more than one power outlet. Then, of course there are these high tech things called extension cords. Undoubtedly easier to just sieze the kids phone and laptop shove him into his room and install a deadbolt on the door...you can just ignore the lifetime of mental and personality damage caused...that's going to be his problem...until you have to deal with the retaliatory elder abuse should he still be willing to even deal with you a few decades from now....
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Dec 4, 2005
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Portsmouth, NH
PP is apparently unaware that laptops are powered by batteries, also unless bgo lives in a trailer every bedroom has more than one power outlet. Then, of course there are these high tech things called extension cords.
Geez, you're right. Here I was thinking you could remove a battery from laptop so it had to be plugged in to sue it and there were things called plugs on one end that are larger than the hole needed to run the cord in so thus couldn't be pulled out of the lockbox. Silly me!

bgo, stop being such a jerk and let your kid stay up all night huh? he's 13, you're just going to scar him if you try to put down your "rules".