Forum Discussion

Newbee1's avatar
Newbee1
Tuning in
7 months ago
Solved

Child safe not blocking adult content

Has anyone had similar issues? Seems like child safe blocks all adult content on iOS 16 and below but not on newer iOS versions. 
For past two weeks I have been contacting VM and after every conversation we are back to square one, they have not been able to do anything to fix this issue.

 

  • GregorianChant's avatar
    GregorianChant
    7 months ago

    The latest versions of iOS include a feature called ‘Private Relay’ which is switched on by default. This ‘bounces’ your internet connection through a number of different servers, it’s similar to a VPN but not quite the same.

    The purpose is to ‘hide’ your internet browsing from your ISP and give a degree of anonymity. Alas, this has a side effect of blowing a massive hole in VM’s Websafe and Childsafe filtering, as it simply bypasses it.

    There is nothing, absolutely nothing VM can do to fix this! You can, on each device, disable this Private Relay feature  for your own WiFi network (the option is buried in the iCloud part of the settings app).

    But of course there is nothing stopping the phone /iPad user just turning it back on again.

  • Wakankaa's avatar
    Wakankaa
    Tuning in
    5 months ago

    I has raised the issue, and got Ombudsman involved - the outcome is that the children safety can only work PC not on IOS phones and any IPAD gadgets. This should have broadcast to parents last October 2023 but VM is just kept quiet. The worst issue is non of the children safety works, hence if you have the children turned on - it is not working, I reported in June - just realised few reported this in February this year. So unfortunate that the children safety feature that VM is just eye wash. I raise it Ombudsman and media, just called VM they said it be resolved by 11 October on the case I have raised. I think VM no longer fits for purpose to provide ISP level service and it us embrassing that can't even solve Internet filter technology or product that works backend. I had turn off my Internet last 2 weeks until VM resolve the issue, I am demanding a full refund past month's for failing to provide tge service they gave promised to us.

    • Pallet44886's avatar
      Pallet44886
      Joining in
      2 months ago

      I have also noticed this issue seems to still be occuring - have virgin media failed to resolve this still or should there be a fix in place? 

      • Client62's avatar
        Client62
        Alessandro Volta
        2 months ago

        Current mobiles & laptops (Apple/Windows/Android) all contain the tools to bypass VM's parental controls,
        often ( e.g. Apple Relay / MAC Randomisation ) ) these are enabled by default.

        It is a problem that VM / BT et al cannot solve.

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    7 months ago

    Safari Private Browsing is noted for overriding the standard DNS which would evade VM Child Safe,

    as would setting the mobile/laptop to use a Public DNS

    or as one parent found their kids had installed VPNs to evade Child Safe.

    • Newbee1's avatar
      Newbee1
      Tuning in
      7 months ago

      Never use to, no matter what kind of browser we use it would block all inappropriate websites but something has changed since the last iOS update.

       

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    7 months ago

    Folks need to grasp that Private Relay is a VPN designed to share your browser traffic with Apple.

    It does also break the VM Child safe and may prevent VM Connect app from working ( always progress )

  • GregorianChant's avatar
    GregorianChant
    On our wavelength
    7 months ago

    The latest versions of iOS include a feature called ‘Private Relay’ which is switched on by default. This ‘bounces’ your internet connection through a number of different servers, it’s similar to a VPN but not quite the same.

    The purpose is to ‘hide’ your internet browsing from your ISP and give a degree of anonymity. Alas, this has a side effect of blowing a massive hole in VM’s Websafe and Childsafe filtering, as it simply bypasses it.

    There is nothing, absolutely nothing VM can do to fix this! You can, on each device, disable this Private Relay feature  for your own WiFi network (the option is buried in the iCloud part of the settings app).

    But of course there is nothing stopping the phone /iPad user just turning it back on again.

    • Newbee1's avatar
      Newbee1
      Tuning in
      7 months ago

      Really appreciate your response.

      Just checked that private relay setting and it is turned off, must be something else.

      • Zach_R's avatar
        Zach_R
        Forum Team
        7 months ago

        Hi Newbee1,

        Thank you for your posts and welcome to our community forums. We're here to help.

        I'm sorry to hear that you're having some issues with child safe. To clarify, are you saying it's working on some devices of yours but not others?

        Thanks,