Difference between revisions of "Get Around Parental Controls on the Internet"
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Parental controls often impose strict limitations on your browsing. Though your first choice should always be to talk to your parents about having the controls lifted, there are a few ways to bypass parental controls on phones and computers through the use of virtual private networks, administrator account access, and mobile factory resets. | Parental controls often impose strict limitations on your browsing. Though your first choice should always be to talk to your parents about having the controls lifted, there are a few ways to bypass parental controls on phones and computers through the use of virtual private networks, administrator account access, and mobile factory resets. | ||
| − | [[Category:Internet Security]] | + | [[Category: Internet Security]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
=== Doing a Reset on Mobile === | === Doing a Reset on Mobile === | ||
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#Update iTunes if necessary. If iTunes has an update available, it will display an alert when you open iTunes--click "Update Now" on this alert to update. | #Update iTunes if necessary. If iTunes has an update available, it will display an alert when you open iTunes--click "Update Now" on this alert to update. | ||
#Back up your files. A factory reset wipes your phone clean of information, so you need to copy that information to your computer or the Cloud in order to protect it. Plug your phone into a computer and initiate the back-up process; most phones and tablets back up automatically when connected to a computer. | #Back up your files. A factory reset wipes your phone clean of information, so you need to copy that information to your computer or the Cloud in order to protect it. Plug your phone into a computer and initiate the back-up process; most phones and tablets back up automatically when connected to a computer. | ||
| − | #*For an iPhone, you should open iTunes, right-click their device's icon in the Devices pane, and [[Back | + | #*For an iPhone, you should open iTunes, right-click their device's icon in the Devices pane, and [[Back Up Your iPhone|select "Back Up"]]. Make sure iCloud is turned off, or you won't be able to perform an iTunes back-up.<ref name="rf1">https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201252</ref> |
| − | #*For Android, you should open the Settings app, select "Personal", select "Backup and Reset", select the "back up my data" option, and press "Backup" underneath.<ref>https://www.androidpit.com/how-to-back-up-everything-on-android</ref> | + | #*For Android, you should open the Settings app, select "Personal", select "Backup and Reset", select the "back up my data" option, and press "Backup" underneath.<ref name="rf2">https://www.androidpit.com/how-to-back-up-everything-on-android</ref> |
#Double-check your back-up status. Make sure you've saved your files, photos, and contacts before proceeding! Look for the date of the last back-up in iTunes (iPhone)f or the Google Dashboard (Android ). | #Double-check your back-up status. Make sure you've saved your files, photos, and contacts before proceeding! Look for the date of the last back-up in iTunes (iPhone)f or the Google Dashboard (Android ). | ||
| − | #Reset your phone. Follow your phone's directions to ensure a safe reset. Select your phone under "Devices" in iTunes, click "Restore" in the summary panel, then click "Restore" on the resulting pop-up.<ref | + | #Reset your phone. Follow your phone's directions to ensure a safe reset. Select your phone under "Devices" in iTunes, click "Restore" in the summary panel, then click "Restore" on the resulting pop-up.<ref name="rf1" /> |
| − | #*For an Android phone, go to the "Backup and Reset" menu in Settings, tap "Factory data reset", press "Reset phone", enter your personal verification, and then select "Erase everything" when the option comes up.<ref>https://support.google.com/android-one/answer/6088915?hl=en</ref> | + | #*For an Android phone, go to the "Backup and Reset" menu in Settings, tap "Factory data reset", press "Reset phone", enter your personal verification, and then select "Erase everything" when the option comes up.<ref name="rf3">https://support.google.com/android-one/answer/6088915?hl=en</ref> |
| − | #Restore your files from the backup. Once the factory reset is complete, restore your settings by setting it up like you would a new phone. In iTunes, you can click the "Devices" tab under the "File" option, and select "Restore from backup"; find the backup you just made and select it as the restore point.<ref>https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht204184</ref> | + | #Restore your files from the backup. Once the factory reset is complete, restore your settings by setting it up like you would a new phone. In iTunes, you can click the "Devices" tab under the "File" option, and select "Restore from backup"; find the backup you just made and select it as the restore point.<ref name="rf4">https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht204184</ref> |
#*For Android, you can sign into their Google account to access their backed-up data. | #*For Android, you can sign into their Google account to access their backed-up data. | ||
#Confirm that you now have unrestricted browsing. After resetting, open your phone's browser and enter a previously-blocked site. You should now be able to access the site! | #Confirm that you now have unrestricted browsing. After resetting, open your phone's browser and enter a previously-blocked site. You should now be able to access the site! | ||
=== Using VPN Software === | === Using VPN Software === | ||
#Open a search engine of your choosing. Parental controls generally leave sites like Google and Bing accessible. | #Open a search engine of your choosing. Parental controls generally leave sites like Google and Bing accessible. | ||
| − | #Search "free VPN software". Virtual Private Network (VPN) software is designed to mask your computer’s location and can help you bypass parental controls. VPNs are commonly used for those who wish to browse the web more securely or privately.<ref>http://www.howtogeek.com/167418/5-ways-to-bypass-internet-censorship-and-filtering/</ref> | + | #Search "free VPN software". Virtual Private Network (VPN) software is designed to mask your computer’s location and can help you bypass parental controls. VPNs are commonly used for those who wish to browse the web more securely or privately.<ref name="rf5">http://www.howtogeek.com/167418/5-ways-to-bypass-internet-censorship-and-filtering/</ref> |
#*Look for VPN software with a free trial, like TunnelBear or VyperVpn. | #*Look for VPN software with a free trial, like TunnelBear or VyperVpn. | ||
#Download VPN software. Once you find unblocked VPN software with a free trial, download it from its site. | #Download VPN software. Once you find unblocked VPN software with a free trial, download it from its site. | ||
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=== Using Your PC's Admin Account on Windows 8 and 10 === | === Using Your PC's Admin Account on Windows 8 and 10 === | ||
#Open "Command Prompt". Open the Start menu, then click "All Apps", navigate to the "Windows System" folder, open it, and then right-click on "Command Prompt". Select the "More" tab in the drop-down menu, then click "Run as administrator". This should open the Command Prompt app, with which you will activate the Administrator account. | #Open "Command Prompt". Open the Start menu, then click "All Apps", navigate to the "Windows System" folder, open it, and then right-click on "Command Prompt". Select the "More" tab in the drop-down menu, then click "Run as administrator". This should open the Command Prompt app, with which you will activate the Administrator account. | ||
| − | #Activate the Administrator account. In the Command Prompt app, enter the following text without the quotations: "net user administrator /active:yes". When you're done, hit the {{keypress|Enter}} key to finalize your choice.<ref>http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/how-to-activate-administrator-account-in-safe-mode/2f4b7142-752d-40bd-8b1a-fb78671dd820?auth=1</ref> | + | #Activate the Administrator account. In the Command Prompt app, enter the following text without the quotations: "net user administrator /active:yes". When you're done, hit the {{keypress|Enter}} key to finalize your choice.<ref name="rf6">http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/how-to-activate-administrator-account-in-safe-mode/2f4b7142-752d-40bd-8b1a-fb78671dd820?auth=1</ref> |
#Restart your computer. In the Start menu, click "Power", then "Restart". Your computer will reboot to the login screen. | #Restart your computer. In the Start menu, click "Power", then "Restart". Your computer will reboot to the login screen. | ||
#Open the Administrator account. You should see two accounts: your default profile, and the Administrator account. Click on the Administrator account to open it. | #Open the Administrator account. You should see two accounts: your default profile, and the Administrator account. Click on the Administrator account to open it. | ||
#*By default, the Administrator account is unprotected. | #*By default, the Administrator account is unprotected. | ||
| − | #Disable the parental controls. Navigate to the Control Panel program by typing "Control Panel" into the search bar and clicking on the desktop app when it appears, open User Accounts from within the app, select "Parental Controls" from User Accounts, click on the default account, and switch the controls to "Parental control off".<ref>http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/how-do-i-switch-off-parental-control/25fd2b1a-58e3-4648-b6a7-90fff12027c2</ref> | + | #Disable the parental controls. Navigate to the Control Panel program by typing "Control Panel" into the search bar and clicking on the desktop app when it appears, open User Accounts from within the app, select "Parental Controls" from User Accounts, click on the default account, and switch the controls to "Parental control off".<ref name="rf7">http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/how-do-i-switch-off-parental-control/25fd2b1a-58e3-4648-b6a7-90fff12027c2</ref> |
#Confirm that you have unrestricted browsing. Try to visit a previously-blocked site. Once the parental controls are disabled, you should be able to browse without limitations. | #Confirm that you have unrestricted browsing. Try to visit a previously-blocked site. Once the parental controls are disabled, you should be able to browse without limitations. | ||
=== Using Your PC's Admin Account on Pre-Windows 8 Computers === | === Using Your PC's Admin Account on Pre-Windows 8 Computers === | ||
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#Run Safe Mode. Once the Advanced Boot Options screen appears, select the "safe mode" option with the {{keypress|Down}} key until you reach the "Safe Mode" option. Hit the {{keypress|Enter}} key to finalize. | #Run Safe Mode. Once the Advanced Boot Options screen appears, select the "safe mode" option with the {{keypress|Down}} key until you reach the "Safe Mode" option. Hit the {{keypress|Enter}} key to finalize. | ||
#Open the Administrator account. Upon boot-up, you should see two accounts: your default user, and an account labeled "Administrator". The Administrator account allows access to all system processes and is, by default, not password-protected. | #Open the Administrator account. Upon boot-up, you should see two accounts: your default user, and an account labeled "Administrator". The Administrator account allows access to all system processes and is, by default, not password-protected. | ||
| − | #Disable the parental controls. Navigate to the Control Panel program, open User Accounts from within the app, select "Parental Controls" from User Accounts, click on the default account, and switch the controls to "Parental control off".<ref | + | #Disable the parental controls. Navigate to the Control Panel program, open User Accounts from within the app, select "Parental Controls" from User Accounts, click on the default account, and switch the controls to "Parental control off".<ref name="rf7" /> |
#Confirm that you have unrestricted browsing. Try to visit a previously-blocked site. Once the parental controls are disabled, you should be able to browse without limitations. | #Confirm that you have unrestricted browsing. Try to visit a previously-blocked site. Once the parental controls are disabled, you should be able to browse without limitations. | ||
== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
