WiFi usage and I-Pod

[AACJ]

Okay, so I saw Austins thread on Wifi and I started to think of a situation I have that maybe you tech savy people can help me with. I have a FiOS router and I believe my daughter has acquired an I-Pod that can piggyback off the wifi in the house. She is only 13 and I do NOT let her use any computers anywhere that we can't see what she is doing. We even check the history after she is on the laptop. So I beleive she is on the I-Pod surfing the net at night in her room after the time she is allowed to be on her cell phone. We have usage restrictions as all good parents should. She says she isn't on it but....well....

When I link into the FiOS router, I see one IP wireless address that is not associated with any of the computers or known users of our wifi. The IP is 192.168.1.15 and I googled I-Pod and that IP but it comes up with nothing conclusive. Are there any other ways to find out if she is on the net with her I-Pod? I am going to lock out that IP if I can't find out what else it is, then if she comes to me and asks for the password, I will know what she is up to. And/or does anyone know what the IP address of an I-Pod actually is?

[plpenn]

I am a rock when it comes to computer things but I think you should be able to look at the ipod's directory or "about" under settings (kinda like a phone) and get the ip address... maybe?

[devorenm]

Provided you have dynamic IP assignment turned on (which most people do) the iPod will just take whatever IP address the router gives it. You could assign static IPs on your network but that is kind of a hassle - I would just enable WEP and not give her the password. You shouldn't be running an unsecured network anyway...!

[AACJ]

Well, it's not unsecured. I just kept the default password which is on the bottom of the router. She knows it's there. If push comes to shove, I will just change the password.

[Mike H]

My wireless route SSID has a nondescript name, and the password is at least 8 letter and number combination, and I do not broadcast the network SSID. Each device I want to connect to the network must be manually configured.

I suggest change your password regardless.
My daughter is 13 also, I make her turn the phone off at 9:30

You can also access safari from the phone and look at the browsing history, but I do not think it gives a time stamp.

[Legion]

Changing the password seems like the easiest way to fix her little red wagon.

Don't tell her you've done it, either. That way when you hear the angry howls from her room you'll get a laugh.

[BrianL]

Change the password and hope your neighbors have secured theirs.

[morganjg]

See if your router will give you the MAC address that goes along with the IP address you are questioning. Most do list the MAC address that was given access. Then you can gather the MAC address from the iPod she has and compare. Changing the password is an option, but it will require re-configuring all of your wireless devices. If you can ensure that the iPod is the MAC address, you should be able to just deny the device access within the router. That might be a better option.

[DissonantEscapist]

Depending on your router's feature set, once you have the MAC address, you might be able to shut off access to that device after a given time, as well.

[fields]

Depending on your router's feature set, once you have the MAC address, you might be able to shut off access to that device after a given time, as well.

+ 1

If you are unsure what a MAC is its a unique id for a device, whenever the ipod trys to connect it will also be sending out the MAC, with the IP that may change over time and will not solve your issue for this particular device, blocking the MAC would also be safer than the SSID password as she may find that out via other means (I would have when I was 13)

[oc_in_fw]

Well, it's not unsecured. I just kept the default password which is on the bottom of the router. She knows it's there. If push comes to shove, I will just change the password.

Change the password now- and make it a difficult one. Seriously, if someone was sitting in front of your house surfing child porn on your wireless connection, the cops will be knocking on your door.

[fields]

Change the password now- and make it a difficult one. Seriously, if someone was sitting in front of your house surfing child porn on your wireless connection, the cops will be knocking on your door.

I agree, jut be aware however if you have access to a computer that is connected to a secured wireless network its not generally very difficult to recover the ssid password, thats all. Also, many new wireless routers have the convenience to sync without knowing the password by pressing the button on the router and then easily syncing with it...

[Edcculus]

I'm not sure about the iPod, but on the iPhone, there are "parental" settings for lack of better terms. You can control wifi settings, whether apps can be downloaded etc. Under Settings > General, you will see a section called "restrictions". You could disable Safari, Youtube and any other problematic app that access the internet.

[global_dev]

your router likely has a device specific no access during a specific time, or url, or keyword... set that up... or I think this is the best solution

set up a dhcp server and redirect untrusted MACs to upside net like this http://www.ex-parrot.com/~pete/upside-down-ternet.html

her neck is gonna hurt and she is gonna be confused.

[Luc]

If you can get your hands on the iPod when she gets in, go in the Settings - WiFi - Press the blue arrow to the right where it's connected to your network and you will see her IP address. As someone mentioned, the IP will change if the turns the WiFi off/on or if she walks out of the house with it (loose signal and the iPod will have to negotiate for an IP when she walks in). So, unless you check the same night, that's useless.

Most WiFi routers come with the option of coding a MAC address and put restriction hours on those. This is a much more advanced setting than changing the password but if you can lock the WiFi based on her MAC address, regardless of her IP, it won't work. IP change, MAC never change.

[HydroWVU]

If you can't get the MAC address off of the router, you can always get the ipod and find it there. It should be under Settings/General/About
and It's shown as the Wi-Fi Address (btw.. here is an example of a MAC address 01-23-45-67-89-ab)

The follow the above advice to lock out that mac address.

[Go West Young Man]

iPod's have wifi?

[commanderkeen]

iPod's have wifi?

The iPod Touch is like an iPhone without cellular capability.

+1 to either blocking the MAC or changing the router password. (And if the password is admin or something like that you should change it anyways.)

[HLS]

Make it rule that the Ipod is put in your room at bedtime. No passwords. No snooping.

[commanderkeen]

I must be old school.. how about telling her no and enforcing it? ask her if she saw the video of the guy shooting his kids laptop.

How about letting the parent do the parenting and give him advice on what he is asking instead of on his parenting skills. I must be old school but what they do within the confines of their own house is their business as long as it's not illegal. Just my 2c, no intonation implied.