Getting Started #
To use parental controls, a password for the eBlocker administrator has to be set. Only the administrator can access the eBlocker settings and enable or disable the parental controls for registered users.
You can set the administrator password in “eBlocker Settings” > “System” on the “Admin Password” tab.
Creating users #
Navigate to the menu “eBlocker Settings > Parental Controls”.
(Since the release of eBlocker OS 2.3.2 all online restrictions are set as part of the user attributes.
There are no separate profile settings any more.)
Adding a new user #
Settings > Parental Controls > Users
First create a new user by clicking on the New User button. Enter a name and select the key role of the new user. When adding a child you will be asked to enter their date of birth and age-appropriate recommendations will be automatically activated by default. After the New User Dialog is closed by clicking on save the User Details Settings page is opened.
User Detail Settings #
Settings > Parental Control > Users > User Details
All details marked with the pen icon can be altered by clicking on the pen.
In the first section of the User Details page you can change the basic user information. You can now define both the basic user data, such as date of birth, role and also an optional PIN up to 16 digits long for this user. If a device is protected by the eBlocker Parental Controls, this PIN must be entered when the user on the device is changed. The age displayed is calulated based on the birth date entered.
Assign all devices that are used by children, teenagers and guests to the relevant profile by clicking the Add Device button, this will open a corresponding dialog box, as seen below, for assigning a device to the user you are editing.
When all devices are assigned, click the OK button to close the Add Device dialog box.
You can use the Edit button on the User Detail Settings page to remove one or more devices assigned to the user.
Only a single user can be assigned to an individual device at any time. A user, on the other hand, can be assigned to several devices – e.g. all devices of a child. The device can still be used by others if they take over responsibility with their PIN.
Devices that have not been assigned to a user are not subject to parental controls and are listed on the Parental Controls page under ‘(other devices)’. Global protection is still possible for these devices.
Blocking Website Categories #
Settings > Parental Control > Users > User Details
To avoid having to enter every unwanted website individually, eBlocker provides you with predefined categories of web pages. Categories can be locked for each individual user.
To select specific categories for a profile, activate the “Access to web sites is not restricted.” slide switch and select the categories to be blocked. (Once activated, the slider text becomes “Access to the following categories is restricted, all other websites are allowed.” to clearly indicate the user has restriced access.)
If you move the mouse over the list of categories, a tooltip will inform you about the content of the categories. The individual categories are regularly updated during the automatic nightly eBlocker updates.
You are able to define categories as exceptions, e.g. for the fragFinn search engine.
Please click the Save button to save these User Settings.
Calls to websites and connection calls to apps that are subject to these restrictions are now blocked by eBlocker on all devices assigned to this profile. Instead of the desired website, a corresponding message appears in the browser.
Set access times #
If you want your children to keep some time free for real life friends, homework or other activities then you can grant them internet access only in certain time intervals. Just activate the second slide switch so times are restricted. You can add new access time slots here or change them by clicking the pencil symbol. Clicking the “-“ will result in the entry being immediately deleted. Please click the Save button to save these User Settings.
Once you define time limits, no Internet connections will be permitted from the assigned devices outside of the allowed times. The eBlocker will then display a corresponding message on the device.
Attention: If no time period is specified, Internet access is possible at any time.
Attention: With a click on the button “Configuration” the eBlocker administrator can access the settings of the eBlocker.
The restriction of Internet access applies to all apps and websites. Online games or applications that require a connection to a server may not start or display an error.
Parental Controls on the eBlocker Dashboard #
Once a user is assigned to a device, two new cards appear on the eBlocker Dashboard.
The “Online Time” card is used to keep an eye on defined periods of time and to start and stop the use of the Internet in case of time restrictions.
The “User” card shows the current user of the device and allows parents, for example, to take over or block a device.
If the two cards are not visible, you can click on the Dashboard icon in the upper right corner of the Dashboard at any time and display the cards on the Dashboard.
The device also has it’s own controlbar, which differs slightly from the normal controlbar. For devices protected with parental control profiles, it is no longer possible to access the eBlocker settings, pause the eBlocker for the device, or call the eBlocker help. Instead, the profile name and the times allowed for Internet access are displayed.
Website Access Control #
In order to refine website access for user devices, the administrator can create new categories of Blacklist (always blocked) or Whitelist (always allowed) websites for their own web use.
Website Blacklists #
Here you can see a list of categories of prohibited websites. (All other websites are allowed)
Our fixed categories are constantly maintained by us for you and are updated every working day.
Create a new category #
If you click on the New Category button, you can create your own category of prohibited websites.
Enter a name and a description for the category. Now enter your own domains in the list, which should be prohibited.
Once you click on the Save button, your list will be added to the list of prohibited categories and can then be assigned to a protection profile.
Delete categories #
If you want to delete categories, click on the Edit button in the overview of categories. Then select the categories you want to delete and click the Delete Categories button.
The categories we have created cannot be deleted.
Website Whitelists #
These categories of expressly permitted websites may be used in the Parental Controls Profiles to allow access to the relevant websites.
New categories can be added and existing categories deleted in same way as the Blacklist examples above.