wifi time lock?

[tchpdx]

Has anyone ever set-up a "time-lock" of some sort on their home wifi? I'm trying to figure out a way to have the wifi shut down in my house at midnight to keep my kid off line after we all go to bed. I usually fall asleep before he does and don't want the hassle of getting up and taking all his gear.

To be honest - I haven't done much research. Thanks

[dynodonkeyaltabird]

how old is the kid? i say let him get his tube8 on...

[Sensisnow]

I've never tried it on a stock router, but if you're able to flash your router with some custom firmware (dd-wrt, tomato, etc.), it's super easy to lock down your wifi during any time period you'd like. It will also give you the ability to filter/block certain sites, throttle bandwidth to certain computers on your network, and a ton of other features.

[Cruiser]

Seems a bit low tech, but couldn't you just plug the router into one of those lamp timers that people use when they're out of town to turn the lights on and off?

[PNWbrit]

Don't know about the router (what type is it?) but I'm sure some of the popular parental control software packages have timer controls like this.

[stuckathuntermtn]

Seems a bit low tech, but couldn't you just plug the router into one of those lamp timers that people use when they're out of town to turn the lights on and off?

It would take your kid <30 seconds to find it, and plug the router into the wall.

[Cruiser]

Yeah, I didn't know if the router was in an office with a door that could be locked or something. But you're probably right. Kids are devious little bastards. Cut your router off and they'll probably just hack into one of your neighbors wireless networks and rock the p0rn that way...

[Chowda]

My old linksys router did this with stock firmware. I think it was in the mac filtering.

Make sure you don't have critical updates scheduled to occur during down time.

[tchpdx]

First off - sweet avatar. Born in the STL and a huge Cards fan. I will admit a man crush on AP.

My kid is 15 and while I give him plenty of room to have his own space - I see no reason for him to be bug-eyed and online at all hours. Self control is a beautiful thing, but sometimes it needs to be taught.

[tchpdx]

I'll check out the firmware ideas. I'm at work and don't have my router info - I'll post that later. I had thought about the lamp timer, but figured he'd jump through that hoop fairly easily. Thanks for the ideas.

[skiguide]

this thread reminds me of today's Dear AbbY:

DEAR ABBY: My 16-year-old son, "Derrick," recently stopped talking to me. Frustrated about not being able to open the lines of communication, I installed a keystroke recorder on our home computer. It enabled me to see what Derrick was writing in his e-mails. I know it was a violation of his privacy, but I was afraid and didn't know who else to ask what was going on.

I learned that Derrick has gotten his girlfriend pregnant. They are discussing various options, and he is thinking about running away from home.

How can I help my son through this, having gained this information in an underhanded way? If I reveal how I learned about this, I will lose his trust forever. But if I don't help him, I don't know what will happen. Please help me. -- SPY DAD IN TEXAS

[tchpdx]

Yeah - that would suck.

I'm not trying to get info as much as trying to put some checks and balances on his youthful lack of self control. I know I would have been online at all hours at his age if the internet had been available . . . it just isn't that healthy - physically or mentally.

He talks to me enough that I don't feel like I have to snoop that often. He is a great kid - just trying to enforce a curfew.

[Todds]

What about parental control software on his PC? I'd imagine they have a time lockout feature.
Do you have a cable modem and a separate wifi router? Does the cable modem have a time lock out?

If you turn off the wifi router he might plug a cable into the network and go wired.

[dumpy]

My old wireless router (a Linksys) and my current wireless router (Netgear) both support this with the stock firmware. I'm pretty sure in the Linsys you could attach a timeout to a specific mac address. Just browse through the web interface on your router, you should be able to find something. Make sure he doesn't know the router password and find away to prevent him from doing a "paper clip reset". Lockbox maybe? Locked room?

[/technical question answer]

Not sure if this is the right thing to do though, it seems a bit authoritarian and does not help the kid learn self restraint/responsibility. Seems like a good way to raise a die hard socialist. Maybe explain to him that if he doesn't start going to bed at a reasonable hour, you will be forced to do this. Just remember that theres a good chance your kid is better with computers than you.

[/parental advice]

Edit: if you live in any type of reasonably populated area, the kid will just hop on neighbor net.

[tchpdx]

Dumpy, you make some good points. I guess I look at like I look at the TV - sometimes it is just good to turn the shit off and let it rest. It isn't like I'm trying to micromanage the kid, I just want him to let his head and body get some solid rest.

He is solid on the computer - so it might all be a moot point. I do know that the neighbors all have a secured wireless.

Hope I'm not coming across like an overbearing helicopter parent - because that isn't my household.

[BeanDip4All]

this thread reminds me of today's Dear AbbY:

wait, don't leave us hanging... what was abby's advice...?!

edit- afterthought... what is with all you people who have neighbors with unlocked wifi?? is there no such thing as network security in the burbs?

[milton]

Create a separate login account for him, preferably w/out admin rights.

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/412/x...imes-and-days/

[dumpy]

Create a separate login account for him, preferably w/out admin rights.

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/412/x...imes-and-days/

That can be gotten around easily too. Throw in a bootable CD like an Ubuntu LiveCD and bammo your back on faceyspace in no time. (No real games though)


Anything technology can stop, technology can overcome.

[fez]

That can be gotten around easily too. Throw in a bootable CD like an Ubuntu LiveCD and bammo your back on faceyspace in no time. (No real games though)


Anything technology can stop, technology can overcome.

and that can be prevented by not allowing the machine to boot from anything but the hard drive. generally a bios setting.

[fez]

and password protect your bios too.

[dumpy]

and password protect your bios too.

Then he just needs to flash the bios or pull the battery for a while. Actually flashing the bios may not work, I think it depends on the machine. It's late, I'm tired and can't remember.

Ok so I think we've found the final, unbeatable solution:

Give the kids his own login (user, not admin), change all admin accout passwords so he has no clue, put a time lock on it, put CD/USB lower than HD in the boot order than hd, password protect the bios and use security bolts to hold the machine together to prevent the mobo's battery from being pulled.
Can anyone find any holes in this tactic?

Or just talk to the kid and set some limits.