Blocking 3G Web Access

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stephec

Legendary Member
Location
Bolton
The only problem with switching the data off is if he's amongst a group of friends and comments that he can't access the internet.

Is it likely that one of them could take a look at his phone and say, "your mobile data's switched off, here you go it's fixed now."
 

the_mikey

Legendary Member
Either impose a cap or data limit, or set the phone for GSM operation only, or use pay as you go, smartphones become a lot less smart without access to it's services though.

I have a sim only contract and once the data allowance is used up the phone grinds to a halt until you actively purchase more data.
 
You might find 3G watchdog useful.

You can set up a quota, and automatically disable data when it hits that quota. You could set up your son with a daily quota of a few megabytes, and when he has used that, the phone will automatically stop him browsing anymore until the next day. You can also leave MMS on, so he can get picture messages but nothing else.

I'm using the pro version that costs about £2, but I am pretty sure the free version does all this too.

Edit: oh, doesn't work for Android 5/Lollipop, but it works fine for KitKat.
 
If you were to switch of the data and wireless connection would he be able to switch them back on?

Or is it likely that one of his mates might do it for him?

This will always be an issue


I have an 87 year old mother in law who is loves her Kindle

However I disabled the internet....

(When she lived with us she was a liability as she takes everything at face value and feels it is impolite to respond to emails!

We ended up with so many issues with viruses, several credit card scams where she had confirmed her details and so on)


The sister in law has now decided that the internet and facebook are a good idea as we are "too controlling"

So as a result she has paid for a package and connected the kindle and PC

It never occurred to update the 5 year old PC with any form of anti virus ...........just connected it

Within a week the PC is riddled with viruses and the kindle has a range of books that she has purchased by mistake... including several rather "interesting" erotic novels that she wants removed as "pornography"



Apparently it is up to me to sort as I am "far better" with these things!
 
The other issue is that no matter how you try it will always be possible to bypass any restrictions by using public WiFI

Many have site restrictions, but many don't
 

DRM

Guru
Location
West Yorks
If you buy the phone sim free don't put in the mobile data settings, that way you can't connect to the Web, but would still work on WiFi and be able to make calls, send texts.
 

Arjimlad

Tights of Cydonia
Location
South Glos
I've put an app by CM Security called AppLock on my son's android phone which I have set to stop him accessing the settings, the internet, and google play without me putting in a code. He cannot delete the app because you need to go into settings to do that.

He has a Sony Xperia. I've got a Moto G and it's been excellent.
 
Switch off mobile data and then install something like Sophos Security App (Sophos is a very well known and respected security software and hardware provider in the IT world).

This free app will allow you to password protect the settings and also has a Web filtering category as per screenshot below... Without the password the settings can not be changed and the phone will be much more secure.

Screenshot_2014-12-24-14-00-17.png
 
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Moodyman

Legendary Member
All of the above is good advice...BUT...You can ask your phone provider to switch off 3G/data usage services.

That will override all of the phone's settings.

Was Telecoms employee for long time.
 
On O2 when I use up my monthly allowance it just stops! If you bought the lowest data allowance possible then "burned it" at the start of the contract each month by downloading a large file (they send a text telling you the date when it resets) that would do it. Cumbersome but it would be effective?
 
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PaulSB

PaulSB

Legendary Member
Lots of fantastic suggestions here, thank you all very much. I shall be sitting down to investigate the possibilities over the next couple of days. Will report back.

Tom's understanding is limited though we are unaware of how far it does go. I doubt he or his mates comprehend the idea of mobile browsing let alone how to switch it on. It would be luck rather than judgement.

Use of the phone will be calls, photos, simple games and music. For those perhaps unfamiliar with the issues surrounding Downs and other learning difficulties this is about inclusion. Tom sees lots of people taking photos, listening to music etc. having the Motorola is about being part of all this rather than needing full on mobile communications as the rest of the world does!!

The finance though is very important. Without going on a rant the disposable income of people in Tom's position is a disgrace to society. Even putting £5/10 a week on is out of his reach. While I could fund this and more I don't want to start something which one day would have to cease when I'm no longer financially able or alive to fund.

I knew there would be help here but I'm touched by the large number of suggestions. Many thanks.

Happy Christmas.
 
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PaulSB

PaulSB

Legendary Member
Once again thanks for all the suggestions. Initially I plumped for the simplest, to switch off mobile data and leave wi fi enabled with an 18+ block. This is the easiest for me to deal with and if unsuccessful I can look at other suggestions. While I have a Nexus 7 I've never needed to explore it in any depth and setting up the Moto G as taught me a lot about Android. One idea I had myself is by allowing Google to sync the account across different devices I can keep an unobtrusive eye on Tom's activity.

The phone has been a great hit; within an hour on Christmas Day Tom had BBC iPlayer downloaded, himself, and YouTube working - both things he will be familiar with from the shared house PC. The big surprise came last Monday night when he was seen to type "football results" into Google!!! This may seem a small thing to many, in our family it is enormous and totally unknown Tom could do this.

As an aside from what I've seen the Moto G is to be highly recommended though I suspect for most the extra £20 on the 4G version would be more than worthwhile.

Happy New Year all.
 
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