Complete Guide to Blocking Inappropriate Sites for Minors with PosteMobile

Online browsing can expose young children to harmful or age-inappropriate content. The categories of inappropriate content identified by the Communications Guarantee Authority include:

• Adult content
• Gambling/betting
• Weapons
• Violence
• Hate and discrimination
• Promotion of harmful health practices
• Anonymizer
• Cults

This guide is for those who have an active PosteMobile SIM or a home browsing offer from the Poste Italiane Group and want to protect minors from online risks.

There are several solutions to block access to this content, including comprehensive parental control tools and more specific solutions such as DNS servers and browser extensions.

Prerequisites

• Hardware:
• A PC with Windows 11 or Windows 10 operating system
• A Microsoft account for the parent
• Software:
• Default Edge browser

How to block inappropriate content sites on Windows

Follow these steps to block sites with inappropriate content on Windows 11 or Windows 10 using Microsoft's parental control.

• Right-click the Start button (flag icon in the bottom left corner of the screen) and select "Settings" from the menu.
• Go to "Account" > "Family & other users" (or "Family").
• Press the "Add a family member" button.
• If the child's account already has a Microsoft account, enter it in the appropriate field and choose "Member" followed by "Invite". If they do not have one, click on "Create an account for a child" and follow the instructions.
• The invited user must open the email received in their Live/Outlook mailbox and confirm by clicking the "Join the family group" button.
• Go back to the Windows "Settings" > "Account" > "Family & other users" menu using the parent account, expand the child's account box and click on "Allow access" and "Allow".
• To manage settings related to sites to be filtered, click on "Open Family Settings" in Windows settings or log in to the Microsoft Family Safety online management panel.
• Select the child's account, go to the "Web Safety" tab and activate the "Web Protection" switch.
• Alternatively, click on the item related to Edge and activate the "Filter inappropriate websites and searches" switch.
• Activate "Activity report" to monitor and view the child's activities.

VERIFICATION AND TROUBLESHOOTING: How to test if it works and what to do if it fails

After setting up the block for sites with inappropriate content, it is important to verify that the system is working correctly and know how to intervene in case of problems.

Block verification

• Access test: Try to access a site known for inappropriate content. If the block is active, the site should not be accessible.
• Activity monitoring: Use the Microsoft Family Safety online management panel to check activity reports and verify that attempts to access blocked sites are recorded.

Troubleshooting

• Block not active: If the block does not work, make sure the child's account is correctly configured as a standard user and not as an administrator. Also check that web protection is activated in the management panel.
• Unblocked browsers: If other browsers besides Edge are accessible, make sure the filter for inappropriate websites and searches is activated for Edge in the management panel.
• Connection problems: If the block does not work on all devices, check that the secure DNS server is correctly configured on the modem or on each device individually.

Block deactivation

• Temporary deactivation: If necessary, you can temporarily deactivate the block by accessing the Microsoft Family Safety online management panel and deactivating the Web Protection switch.
• Permanent deactivation: To completely remove the block, delete the child's account from the family group in the management panel.

Educational summary and call to action

You have discovered how to configure parental control on Windows, use secure DNS servers, set filters on browsers and mobile devices.

Now that you know the necessary steps, it's time to put them into practice. Follow the step-by-step instructions provided for each device and environment, making sure to customize the settings based on your family's specific needs.

• Start with the device most used by minors.
• Verify the effectiveness of the settings made.
• Regularly monitor your children's online activity.
• Act promptly if necessary.

Online security is an ongoing process. Stay updated on new threats and available solutions to ensure a safe digital environment for your loved ones.