Restricting Wi-Fi access

I wonder if we can clarify something here, are people saying that it is not possible to switch off the WiFi at all on the Ipod Touch itself? or are people saying you can switch off WiFi & all connectivity if you want to, but if your kids wanted to turn it back on they could??

The latter. If they know how, switching WiFi back on is trivial.

Sorry to bear bad news. If you feel this is important to you (and it seems to me like you do) you might want to submit feedback to Apple at http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipodtouch.html. You won't get an answer back, but feedback is read and sometimes good things come of it.

Oh, and I agree that it would be a good thing to ask your neighbors to protect their wireless networks. Running an open WiFi network is a very bad idea. What happens if someone uses it to do illegal downloads?

Best of luck.

newcomlr wrote:
Trust me I put in more effort than you'll ever know on many other fronts. I'm looking for an easy way to establish control in this one area. If you've raised three, you should understand the concept of picking your battles. If I can use technology to solve this issue, I want to. If there is not a way to block access, I'll collect iPods at bedtime. I've done it before with cell phones.

Thanks for the misplaced lecture.

Not misplaced. I made suggestions as did others. For better or worse, there's no easy answer for this at this point.
I'd send Apple feedback if you feel like putting in the effort:
http://www.apple.com/feedback

I have raised three, and if I didn't want them on the 'net, they'd not be on the net - regardless of what I had to do.

newcomlr wrote:
That's my back-up plan. I don't know which house the wifi names belong to, so I thought I'd type up an anonymous flyer saying "If one of these is your wifi name, neighbor kids are hacking your network, using your bandwidth, and iolating Federal copyright laws from your IP address."

1. Just connect to this open wireless network, and listen to what
is circulating on it:<pre>
Terminal > ifconfig en1
# gives you back your IP adress within this neighbour
# wireless network, let's say my IPaddress
Terminal > tcpdump -i en1 -A not host my IPaddress</pre>

From what you'll see you'll pretty quickly be able to determinate
which bank is using your neighbour, which kind of web
servers he is connecting to, which messages he is typing....
You may even get his accounts and passwords 😟.



2. Explain your unfortunate neighbour that using an unprotected wireless
network is exposing whatever he does to all his neighbours. Explain him that
his access may be used for illegal purposes and may cause hime really
serious problems because he will be held responsible for what is
made on his network.
If your neighbour is clever, he should thank you for this information.



3. Explain the rules to your children, explain them they may expose their private life to the whole neighbourhood. Show them the messages they posted on MSN during the previous night.
If they test the limits once more, then conclude: they aren't mature enough to use the web with the level of risk involved. Confiscate the iPod touch for a serious amout of time: let's say one month.
Try once more to trust them if you see a clear understanding,
and not a simple "one more parent's silly rule" 😟.



4. Post a request on http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipodtouch.html
I'll do it too, because I faced the same problem, and the 4 steps exposed
here are the one I followed with what I may consider as a good success.
<pre>--------
As long as you'll see students making graphics with pen on paper,
you'll see the missing keystone of the software empire.
--
dan</pre>

Why not just tell your neighbour:
a) his WiFi is unprotected
b) your kids are using it (+ you've told them not to!)
c) he should put a password on it to be sure (WPA2 is best)

He might be quite pleased you told him! (and it solves your problem.)

I wonder if we can clarify something here, are people saying that it is not possible to switch off the WiFi at all on the Ipod Touch itself? or are people saying you can switch off WiFi & all connectivity if you want to, but if your kids wanted to turn it back on they could??

newcomlr wrote:
Get a couple of teenagers kids for a few years and then respond. I have better things to do than spend an hour arguing over where the iPods are every freaking night.

My post comes from raising three kids.
Two girls, one boy.
Yep, you have to put in some effort.
Seems you're looking for an easy way out. Life ain't like that...

I've read your posts and frankly don't know why you gave your kids internet enabled devices. But that was your decision.

On to your question - you can disable WiFi and your kids can easily turn it back on. There is no security around Settings on the touch - tap Settings > WiFi and you can easily turn it on or off.

As to detecting which neighbor has the open WiFi, walking around with a touch running a WiFi detection app is a great way to discover where the offender is located. Find the strongest signal and knock.

Take their ipods from them.


You can set restrictions.

http://manuals.info.apple.com/enUS/iPod_touch_3.1_UserGuide.pdf

You can do this all from the ipod. Just go into settings>General>Restrictions.

Other than asking your neighbors to put on a password (which they should do anyway) no.
Parental Controls don't help here.
OTOH, you could take their iPods at night.

"I don't want to have to gather up iPods every night either."


You mean, this is too much of an inconvenience for you?