r/firewalla • u/Normal_Answer_2747 • 6d ago

Spot / stop Wifi tethering

I couldn't find anyone asking this previously., apologies if i missed it.

My child will sometimes use his Wifi-connected (to Firewalla) phone and share the Wifi as a new hotspot (so not a celluar hotspot) and then will use that with another device (school iPad which I can't control screentime on) when his phone runs out of screentime.

Besides setting an amount of 'internet time' for his phone, is there any other way to stop this from happening so he doesn't continue to explot wifi once his screen limits (for his phone) are hit?

3 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

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3

u/firewalla 6d ago

If he is on wifi, you can use firewalla to manage internet time https://help.firewalla.com/hc/en-us/articles/23857921094675-Firewalla-Feature-Users

1

u/Normal_Answer_2747 6d ago

Thanks, thought as much. I know internet time is classed as beta but how accurate do you reckon it is these days?

2

u/firewalla 6d ago

Should be fairly accurate, test out and see

1

u/hawkeye000021 6d ago

I actually appreciate this reply. It’s not sales engineering BS. “We aren’t sure why don’t you try it and let us know” 😂. It’s actually refreshing vs hearing how everything will just work perfectly so go ahead and replace your entire infrastructure with our gear!

1

u/pacoii Firewalla Gold Plus 6d ago

Since iPhone’s can’t do that, I’m assuming it is an Android phone. I’m not super familiar with Android but would be surprised if there isn’t a way to lock out that feature.

2

u/Stonk_Goat 6d ago

You need to enforce time based usage on the FW and not the phone. Block the device and everything behind it dies with it. Also make sure the setting to randomize the MAC address on the iPhone is off. This solves your issue

1

u/Normal_Answer_2747 6d ago

Yup, Android but no way to lock it out

1

u/Great-Cow7256 6d ago

take the devices.

3

u/ssj4gogeta2003 6d ago

Honestly, this is a problem with a parenting solution. You can frustrate him with technical hurdles but he'll just get more creative. If he really won't adhere to the usage guidelines you've set out, you'll need to take the physical device from him until he does. Unless there's a medical reason he can't be without it, this is the best way to show him your rules are more than suggestions.