Internet Help

What are Parental Controls and why are they important?

Unlimited Internet access can create increased concern about the types of information to which your children are exposed. Qwest Parental Controls is an optional add-on enhanced service for your Qwest® Advanced Networking Modem: 2Wire® 2700/2701HG (also referred to as your wireless gateway) that combines two full-featured services:

• Internet Access Control – helps limit the amount of time your children spend online
• Content Screening – helps protect them from Web content that might be considered harmful or objectionable

How do I set up, view and manage my Parental Controls settings?

Once you’ve subscribed to the Qwest® Parental Controls service, your Qwest® Advanced Networking Modem: 2Wire® 2700/2701HG home page displays two setup boxes in the right column. These boxes allow you to set up Internet Access Controls and Content Screening for the computers on your wireless network.

• You can access all functions of the Parental Controls enhanced service from the Parental Controls tab at the top of the wireless modem home page.
• From this tab, you can view and edit settings at any time from any computer on your home network.
• If you have a password set for your wireless modem, you must enter it before you can modify your Parental Controls settings.

Why should I set a system password?

A system password protects your Qwest® Advanced Networking Modem: 2Wire® 2700/2701HG settings from being changed accidentally or without your approval. We recommend you set a system password to ensure you are the only one who changes your settings.

How do I set or change my Qwest® Advanced Networking Modem: 2Wire® 2700/2701HG system password?

Follow these instructions (PDF).

When will I be asked to enter my password?

You must enter your password any time you attempt to access a configuration page to edit settings on the Qwest® Advanced Networking Modem: 2Wire® 2700/2701HG home page. For example, the system password is required if you try to change the broadband connection settings or upgrade the software.

What if I forget my password?

When you set up your system password, you may enter a password hint.

• A hint is a word, phrase, or question that reminds you of the system password. On the password entry page, select the "I forgot my password" link.
• When you select this link, another page opens that shows your hint and allows you to enter your password.
• Your hint should be descriptive enough to help you remember your password and something that is meaningful only to you. For example, your hint might be "Name of first pet" (Password: Spot123). Your hint should not be "My last name" if your password is "Smith" as it would be easy for someone to figure out your password from the hint.

If after your hint is shown, you still can't remember your password, select the "I still can't remember my password" link to obtain a temporary password.

• You must call the support telephone number on the screen and provide the special code number that is generated by your Qwest® Advanced Networking Modem: 2Wire® 2700/2701HG.
• The support representative uses this special code number to generate a temporary password.
• Once you’ve entered the temporary password, you can change your password and enter an appropriate hint.

What is Internet Access Control?

The Internet Access Control service allows you to:

• Create access schedules for each computer on your wireless gateway network
• Limit Internet access by time of day and day of the week
• Control use of types of applications, such as Web browsing

How do I set up Internet Access Control?

After subscribing to Qwest Parental Controls, follow these instructions (PDF).

What are Default Settings in my Internet Access Control device list?

Default Settings is a Parental Controls profile that is applied automatically to each computer that is added to your wireless network after Parental Controls are enabled. It’s a safeguard to ensure that any new computer that attaches to your network has the access rights you decide.

• If you configure the Default Settings before you attach devices (computers) to your network, the devices will adopt the default profile, which you can then modify to unique settings.
• If your child's friend visits your house and brings his or her own computer, your wireless gateway network assigns the Parental Controls default settings to that computer, as well.

How do I edit my Internet Access Control Settings?

For each computer on the network, you can block access to all Internet applications or specific types of applications (i.e., Instant Messaging or Web browsing). Follow these instructions (PDF).

How do I set the Internet Access Control schedules for each category?

To view the schedule for the different category restrictions from the View Internet Access Controls Settings, follow these instructions (PDF).

How do I allow access to a category at all times or by designated schedule?

Once you restrict Internet access, you can make application categories always accessible or only according to a schedule configured by you. Follow these instructions (PDF).

Why won't my settings take effect once I've set my Internet Access Control schedules?

Your settings will not take effect until you select the Save button, from the options in the lower right area. If you do not select the Save button, your settings will not be saved.

In the Internet Access Controls application, why does it say "Partially Allowed," "Not Allowed" or "All Allowed" next to each category on each computer?

Each category has one of three designations based on the user-determined settings:

What Internet applications can I restrict?

For each computer on your network, you can set restriction schedules that block:

Note: Qwest Internet Access Control uses the best available technology to block all types of instant messaging applications when appropriately configured. Updated Instant Messaging software, that is capable of sophisticated firewall spoofing, is frequently released. Qwest cannot guarantee that all instant messaging traffic will be blocked. This feature is supported only on certain versions of the Qwest® Advanced Networking Modem: 2Wire® 2700/2701HG software.

What are Restriction Categories?

These categories provide an easy way to restrict different types of Internet access for each computer on your wireless gateway network. Users can tailor each restriction category on each computer on their network to allow, partially allow or not allow each of these activities.

Qwest Internet Access Controls service includes three restriction categories:

• Web browsing
• Instant messaging
• All other applications

How do I set a password to protect my Internet Access Control settings?

Secure your Internet Access Controls settings with a wireless gateway system password on your Qwest® Advanced Networking Modem: 2Wire® 2700/2701HG. Once set, the wireless gateway system password protects all wireless gateway settings.

If you’ve set a system password for your wireless gateway network, you will be prompted to enter the system password before you can edit any wireless gateway settings. Once you enter the system password successfully, you can access the “Edit Internet Access Control Settings” page.

What is Content Screening?

The Content Screening application allows you to control the content your designated computers can access on the Internet. Define two different Screening Groups customization settings for different levels of access to the Internet. For example, one group could be set with maximum restrictions for computers primarily used by younger children, while the other group could be set with fewer restrictions for teenagers. 

How do I set up Screening Groups?

A simple, three-step process will set up each Screening Group. Follow these instructions (PDF).

How do I block or allow specific Web sites, regardless of their category rating?

After you have blocked categories of content, parents may choose to add specific Web sites to a "Blocked List" or an "Approved List". Follow these instructions (PDF).

How are Web sites rated and filtered in the Parental Controls / Content Screening enhanced service?

SurfControl® is the third party that provides the categorization database used by the Qwest Parental Controls/Content Screening. To ensure the best categorization, SurfControl focuses on Web sites that are responsible for more than 90 percent of the world's Web traffic.

Using a combination of automated software and human reviews, SurfControl provides the most accurate rating database in the industry.

• This is a practical way to build the rating database, but it does mean a number of the Internet's more than two billion Web sites currently are not rated.
• All of these sites are either new or obscure and unlikely to be accessed as part of typical Web searching and browsing.

Parents with concerns about content on these smaller Web sites may choose to enable the "Block unrated Web sites" feature within the Content Screening enhanced service. This will prevent access to any site that is not found in the Content Screening database.

• Parents who discover a site that is not rated and feel should be, are encouraged to notify SurfControl, providing the unrated URL.
• To submit a site for review, access the SurfControl Web site.
  The specific link is http://mtas.surfcontrol.com/mtas/SubmitASite.asp.

Where can I find more information about Content Screening categories?

SurfControl® is the third party that provides the categorization database used by the Qwest Content Screening service.

• To ensure the best possible categorization, SurfControl focuses on the Web sites that are responsible for more than 90 percent of the world's Web traffic.
• Using a combination of automated software and human reviews, SurfControl provides the most accurate rating database in the industry.

More information about the categories used can be found on the SurfControl Web site.

How can I notify you of a Web site that should be included in Content Screening?

If you discover a site that is not rated and that you feel should be, you’re encouraged to notify SurfControl®, providing the unrated URL. To submit a site for review, access the SurfControl Web site, or go directly to http://mtas.surfcontrol.com/mtas/SubmitASite.asp.

 

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