Parental Controls fixed with 10.5.1?

I got my first mac the same weekend Leopard was released. My wife and I were very happy to see the parental controls feature, at first. When we enabled it for our children's account everything appeared to be working, then we logged into our accounts. Dashboard was messed up, programs (specifically World of Warcraft) were being corrupted by blocking them on different accounts, etc etc.
Before I go back and re-enable parental controls I was wondering if anyone knew whether or not some of these issues were fixed in 10.5.1 (I know they were common problems from searching the forums). I really dont feel like re-enabling and then having to reinstall again to set things right.
Thanks in advance for the help.

I had a small touch of P.C. wierdness prior to the latest update, and since applied - all seems fine.
I did review the update details, but not the security side. Although it was not listed as an item of address, it may very well have been touched by something else not seen.
Beavis2084

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Parental controls interferes with iTunes Store access

My daughter's account is set up to use Parental Controls. Under Tiger, she had no problems getting to the iTunes Store. Under Leopard, we get an "unknown error" (with a "-4" in it somewhere), every time.
If I turn off the parental controls for her account, she can get to the iTunes Store. If I turn them back on, she can't.
(On a related note, toggling Parental Controls seems to lose all of your settings... That is, the workaround to my iTunes Store problem might be to disable Parental Controls when she wants to access the store). That's a pain, though, because all of the "allow" / "don't allow" settings that I've established are lost, every time.)
She's got access to iTunes (and iTunes Helper, whatever that is), so it's not like I've prevented her from using iTunes. Again, worked fine under Tiger.
Is there a permanent fix to this?

Same problem.
Here is a workaround that works for me: I go to the iTunes Music Store and enter a search term in the search box, "The Monkees," for example. The search takes me to the Search Results screen. From there, if I click on an Artist or Album link, to "escape" out of the Search Results screen, the navigation path at the top has the home icon, music, genre, etc. buttons available. If I click on the home button, I get the long wait followed by an error. But I can click on the next level below, Music, and get pretty much everywhere in the music store.
And I've also temporarily turned off parental controls to debug this and lost all the allow / deny settings... very annoying.
The most difficult thing about trying to solve the parental control problems is that it is not always clear what is causing the problem. For example, amazon.com works fine when allowed, but once you go into secure mode most parts of the site fail to load properly, no matter what you add to the allow list in parental controls. Something about parental controls "fails to establish a secure connection." Turning off parental controls fixes the problems, but then you have no parental controls.

Parental controls bug with 10.6.4 and Safari 5?

When Safari is locked in Parental Controls it only opens approved sites. If a user tries to go to a non-approved site a dialog appears allowing an admin to add the site. If the admin authorizes ongoing use, the site should be added to the Safari bookmarks bar.
That's not working any more. The site is not added. THe Admin has to drag the url to the bookmarks bar and reauthenticate. If the admin does not do this the authorization will not stick.
Anyone else see this?

Hi Carolyn. Is there any special reason repairing permissions would work for this? I stopped doing that years ago since I never had it fix anything. (OS X Permissions have deep and seemingly intractable problems, but the repair function doesn't seem to help.)
Thanks for the OpenDNS tip. I have used them in the past. Their new family filter is a good feature, but it's just a packaged version of their standard filtering (and it will have the same problem with local address drift as their standard feature - OpenDNS fails when your public IP address changes, you need to run a DNS updater). I need finer grained control than OpenDNS offers.
Apple seems to break Parental Controls with abandon. Sometimes I think the engineers hate PC.

Mac OS 10.6.8 Parental Controls interfere with Firefox by preventing access to websites and plug ins

Mac OS 10.6.8 iMac, running FireFox 15 in grade school computer lab. When Parental controls are enabled in system preferences Firefox does not work properly. Can't use Google to search from the search bar at the top, can't access plug ins, there are even a few websites that can't be used. An example is digitalpassport.org from Common Sense media. Students can't access to log into their accounts. Parental Controls have been running on these macs for over a year with no issues. I thought it was the latest Firefox version giving us a problem but I updated to Firefox 16 today and the problem persists. If I turn off parental controls, Firefox works perfectly. I was not previously limiting applications, just blocking youtube and facebook. I tried limiting applications and then allowing all of them but that didn't help. What am I missing? Also, I can't access Mozilla support pages either when Parental Controls are enabled.

Check the PLUGIN UPDATES! Shockwave and Java were outdated and needed re-installation on mine! Took a couple of efforts with restarts but it is obvious that it solved my problems! Firefox Mozilla Toolbar 'Help' > 'Firefox Help' > lower right side of page displays link to Plugin Update review....

Parental Control accounts with Simple Finder won't log out

Since upgrading to Snow Leopard, my children cannot logout. The accounts use Simple Finder and have Parental Controls set. To log out, we must Force Quit Finder. How do I fix this? Also, empty Trash does not empty the trash.

enable full finder. go to home/library/preferences and delete the files com.apple.dock.plist and com.apple.finder.plist. then control-option click on finder in the dock and choose 'relaunch'. then start Activity Monitor ((it's in /Applications/Utilities) and force-quit Dock. switch back to simple finder and see if it works better now.

Parental Control options with routers

Hi - I'm curious about which routers I can use with parental controls. From what I understand Linksys uses a web-based company (Cerberus?). Do I need a particular type of router or will any work? I need an 8-port and wireless would be good but not necessary. Thanks for any info.
nickblix

I believe Linksys has Parental Control on a simplified version. Unlike before, as I noticed it, the old router models would have the Internet Access Policy option.If you’d like to know more about Parental Controls, click on the following links:Getting to know Parental controlshttp://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/ukp.aspx?vw=1&docid=85fd15dec47b4d06bc459e0854881781_21458.xml&pid=80&respid=0&snid=1&dispid=0&cpage=searchSetting up parental controls to block specific websites http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/ukp.aspx?vw=1&docid=3f929507766a432aa28c3aeca9e19833_Setting_up_parental_controls_to_block_specific_websites_.xml&pid=80&respid=0&snid=1&dispid=0&cpage=searchConfiguring the Parental Controls feature through Linksys Smart Wi-Fi App http://kb.linksys.com/Linksys/ukp.aspx?vw=1&docid=31a6ce5823a44320a6d09260eb6214e7_Configuring_Parental_Controls_on_Cisco_Connect_Cloud_through.xml&pid=80&respid=0&snid=1&dispid=0&cpage=search

Parental Controls Broken After Updating an Application

I'm using Parental Controls (remotely) under 10.5.4 to manage what applications can be opened in a small lab. This works well until I need to update an application on the lab computers. I'll use Firefox as an example, but this happens with all applications.
- I have a version of Firefox on all lab computers (3.0) and Firefox is allowed under parental controls. Everything works.
- I update Firefox to 3.0.1. (In this case, I simply overwrote the older version of firefox, but I get this problem when updating applications with installers.)
- If I remotely look at the Parental Controls settings for the lab computer, I can see that Firefox is still allowed (checked)
- Now, on the lab computer, I log into the managed account and try to open Firefox, I get a warning about the application not being on the allowed list.
- I log out of the lab computer, and again, access the parental controls setting remotely. Now Firefox is Not Allowed (unchecked).
- I check the box to allow Firefox
- Now when I log into the managed account, the new version of Firefox opens.
Some fixex / workarounds I have tried:
- After updating Firefox, I remotely accessed the parental controls settings and first disallowed (unchecked) Firefox, close parental controls, reopened it, and then allowed (checked) Firefox. When logged into the managed account, opening Firefox produced the not allowed error. When I return to the Parental Controls settings, Firefox is now Not Allowed (unchecked). Checking the box to allow Firefox fix the error.
- I've tried restarting after updating Firefox and it did not work.
My guess:
I assume that Leopard keeps a list of applications and versions installed on the computer. Parental Controls allows a specific combination and any update will break the parental controls. To allow this updated application to be opened, its old entry in the list must be updated to reflect the new version. The only way I have figured out how to do this, is to try and open the updated application and fail. Then I can finally allow the updated version.
Does anyone know of an automated or scritable way to do this. I have tried working with lsregister, but have not had any success. I need a way to force Leopard to reload / refresh its list of installed applications, with having a user logged into the console.
For a different solution, does if you can send a UNIX command to machine sitting on it login screen, that will cause the machine to login as a local console user. I could then send "open /path/to/updated app" and a logout to force the application list to be refreshed.
Many Thanks in advance for any help.

Hi! Did you ever receive any feedback on this issue?
I am interested since I have noticed the exact same frustration with Parental Controls since updating to 10.5.
While a very good idea, I think the parental controls, especially with respect to permissions about applications is utterly useless at the moment. It is completely stupid that I have to reset the permissions for applications each and every time I update an application. I have three children who use the computer and I don't want them using every bit of software on the eMac. They are naturally curious and will click on programs that can do damage without realizing is.
I have also turned off any parental controls regarding web browsing but my children still hit many sites that are blocked by Parental Controls. I do have a linux gateway that does the filtering quicker and better.
If anyone at Apple is listening ... please spend some time to fix this for the next update.
Thank you.

Re: Parental Control not Working

FROM A VERY ANNOYED NEW CUSTOMER. THIS IS MY LAST RESORT BEFORE I CANCEL WHAT APPEARS TO BE A RUBBISH 'PARENTAL CONTROL' SERVICE...
Brand new BT Infinity 2 Service installed on Wed 28th Jan. On Fri 30th Jan set router up... logged into bt.com/mybt... first screen showed 'Do you want Parental Controls' clicked 'Yes please'. Responding rotating circle stating 'ACTIVATING'. After a few seconds get standard error message saying 'Sorry, we haven't been able to activate your BT Parental Controls.'
I reported this on Fri 29th Jan... and now it's Thur 5th Feb and still no resolution. After numerous phone calls to BT Broadband Help and 'Parental Controls' support, with 5 promises that staff will call me back by a specified time/date (5 of 7 failed to do so)... and now escalated to level 3 issue... it is still not working.
Reading e-mails on this forum... looks like the service is fundamentally faulty.
Please advise how you can fix this within 24hrs MAX... or we will cancel our contract on basis BT have failed to provide the services contracted.
Many thanks for all assistance you can render.
Solved!
Go to Solution.

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Parental Controls not working in Mavericks

Browsed related posts & didn’t find an answer.
“Kids” iMac is a 24” mid 2007. Was running Snow Leopard with Parental Controls enabled and working 100% for 3 years.
I never disturbed it because it was working fine for them.
Recently had to upgrade it to Mavericks to run TurboTax (my wife’s account is also on that machine).
Now the Parental Controls don’t work. Timer doesn’t work & all logs are blank. When asking for website permission, it never remembers after I allow it.
I am really frustrated with this.
My iMac is a 24” 2009, also running Mavericks. I made a dummy managed account, and it functions properly.
I’ve gone through the usual steps: turned Parental Controls off/on, restarted, repaired permissions, etc.
I did make a dummy account on the kids’ machine as well, and it worked one time, but just the one time.
Is there a fix, or an update or anything?
Thanks in advance

I upgraded my Mac Pro from Mavericks to Yosemite and am having lots of problems with the Parental Controls settings with Yosemite. By far, it was been the worst Parental Controls experience I have ever had.
I have had to turn off the time limit hours for my kids accounts, as that just aggravates the time limiting features on the OS.
The general time limits for say 1.5 hours a day seem to work, except when I try to extend the time. When I extend the time, the OS seems to accept the modification, but as soon as the account is up and running, it logs them out immediately, and I have to do it again.
I also had to grant access to run all applications on the machine, as I couldn't just grant access to say the Arduino IDE, and have all of it's sub programs be granted automatically. When I dump the settings in XML format, it seems like those sub programs are on the Ok list, but the OS keeps putting up alerts if I want to allow access or not, and it's just too painful to actually use anymore.
It would be nice to get some comments from Apple that they are aware of the issues people are running into, and they are trying to fix them. Everyday there's some other quirk we're running into where I need to turn off some setting I used to have on for my kids.

Setting parental controls via profile manager

So I've got Lion Server running on an older mac mini. I've setup up accounts on the server for my kids. (they're my guinea pigs!) We have 2 other macs in the house both running Mavericks. I'm able to do a networkin login into the kids' accounts from those client machines with no problem. I'm also storing their home folders on the server and creating "mobile" accounts (I think that's the terminology) on the client machines. I've installed the Trust certificate from the server onto those client machines. I've also installed the group certificate on the client machiens. (most of the profile manager settings I have for the kids are handled in a group called "kids")
Here's the problem: if I try to enforce parental controls on the kids' accounts (such as limiting the time they can be on them, etc) it doesn't work. In fact, after the settings get pushed to the client machines, they (the client machines) often will lock-up or start acting really flaky. A reboot "fixes" that, but the parental controls still won't work.
I've tried this literally dozens of times with the same result. Other changes in profile manager, such as restricting access to certain apps, DOES seem to work. It's mainly just the settings related to parental controls that seem to be the problem.
Am I doing something wrong? Is this stuff supposed to work? Thanks for any help, this is incredibly frustrating!

Unfortunatley I never got this resolved. In fact, it turns out that this is really a bug in how the parental controls work with a "managed" account. All of the other settings that can be managed on OSX server seemed to work just fine in my testing, but the parental controls do not. Or more specifically, the curfew (time limit) settings definitely don't work. It's hard to believe, but apparently this is a use-case Apple never considered. (if you do some googling for parental controls and OSX server you'll find we're not alone)
I don't recall exactly, but if you're trying to determine if changes got pushed to the clients there is something in the profile manager (web UI) that shows "completed tasks" or "active tasks" (or something like that) which should show what was pushed and if it was succssfully received by the client.
Anyway, after all that effort I ended up not using the profile management feature in OSX server at all. My kids accounts are now just plain 'old local accounts. I came to the conclusion (as many others have) that OSX server, at least in a home setting, just isn't worth the effort. It's too bad because if it all worked properly it could be really useful. If you still want to mess around with OSX server you might want to check out some nice youtube videos by a guy named Todd Olthof. He has a bunch of videos on OSX server that are actually geared completely towards the home user.
Good luck!

HT1904 parental controls and shared libraries

We're slowly migrating towards having all our music and movies in iTunes.
One item that's crutial to this migration is proper parental controls, especially with shared libraries. They seem to work well on the kids iTouch devices and hide the content that's higher than their allowed rating level.
However, on my daughter's computer (Vista SP2 with iTunes 11.0.2), the shared libraries with content higher than her allowed rating are visible and can be started, even when the parental controls are enabled.
What am I doing wrong?
Thanks,
Eric

It seems that the parental controls only apply to iTunes store, not the iTunes library?
Correct; parental controls do indeed only apply to iTunes Store purchases.
The only reasonable workaround I can think of that the kids can't easily get around to have separate iTunes libraries, one for the adults in the house and one from the kids.

Parental controls: Can I change weekend days?

Where I live, the weekend days are Thursday and Friday.

I would go with Ian on comments about Parental Controls, but with a large part of the World with these days as weekends, it might be useful to send feedback to Apple and suggest a way to use these days as alternatives.

Has Apple come up with a fix for Parental Controls?

I've browsed around on this forum quite a bit but haven't seen any real fix for the fact that Parental Controls does not work as advertised (come to think of it, it doesn't work at all). Is there a fix??
I'm using a new iMac with 10.5.2 (clean install). PC has never worked, even when we first started using the machine.
I have 3 young kids, each with his own account. All the accounts are set to 30 minute time limits per day. I have customized the Web Content tab to include some sites that are not objectionable but too advanced for my kids.
Today one of my boys was logged in for at least an hour and a half. I check his Today's Activity log. Nothing there! I look at the Web site he's accessing. It's one of the three that I had specifically blocked! They're only in grade school but the kids have figured out that as long as they don't log off they can stay on the computer all day. This happens on all three accounts consistently. Sheesh, Apple, thanks for making me look like a real doofus in front of my kids!
So, is Apple sending out kitchen timers to all of us Leopard users now, so we can at least have a reliable method for controlling our kids' online time?
If there is a REAL fix out there, I'd love to hear about it?
<Edited by Moderator>

Apple doesn't come up with High data usage solutions for cell providers.
It is up to the cell provider.

With Parental Controls on, Wacom Tablet pressure sensativity will not work.

I run several high-end Mac Art and Photo-based labs and have run into an issue with Leopard's Parental Controls and Wacom Tablets - when I choose to limit the programs that my users (students) can use, Wacom Tablets will lose functionality under those logins - and it seems only to be pressure-sensitive functions. I've tried several combinations of allowing all programs except utilities, with utilities, etc - no dice - I actually have to turn off "limit programs" and that is the only point that it'll actually let me use all the Wacom's functionality under those managed users - is there a way to fix this?

..."I've allowed all Utilities, Applications, etc and no matter what, as soon as I turn on the "only allowed selected programs" option, it won't work."...
I'm not sure, but it is possible that allowing / disallowing based on the pre-defined categories may not work because the software that Wacom uses on my system is in an atypical location, and has an atypical structure - it actually has one application contained inside another. It may be necessary to approve the apps explicitly.
Perhaps try either:
i) Opening "/Library" > "Application Support" > "Tablet" and explicitly dragging any apps present there into the "Parental Controls" pref pane in the panel where the programmes are listed. On my system, the app is called "PenTabletDriver.app"...
or
ii) Logging in to the managed account (with application restrictions in place), and trying to launch the "PenTabletDriver.app" programme. If this generates the "application is not allowed" message, it should be possible to "always allow" with "admin" authentication to white-list it at that stage...

With parental controls on, (OS X 10.5.8) Firefox will not submit a password correctly

in a lab of 10.5.8 computers, generic local login student account when using firefox to access carnegie online learning site will not submit the school code correctly. When typed in (actually no matter what you type in, correct code or not), the last two characters are changed to Pr. As in coupeville becomes coupevilPr and it is rejected. Works OK with admin or managed privileges. Works OK with OS 10.4 parental controls. Firefox 3.6.13.

I've found a fix - it's all explained in this article.
If the page gets deleted: the fix is to add 127.0.0.1 port 10010 as HTTP & SSL proxy (SOCKS5) in FF. This uses the Parental Controls proxy server (which provides filtering).
Link: [http://faq.mathletics.com/questions.php?questionid=77 here].

Parental Controls fixed with 10.5.1?

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