12/08/2025
Parents, your router is one of the most powerful tools you have for managing your kids’ screen time and protecting your home network. Most people never touch it.
If your router was installed in the last five years, there is a good chance it already has an app that lets you control the devices connected to it. In our office we use an Eero mesh system, which lets us see every device on the network in real time and cut off internet access with a single tap. Many routers from providers like Telus and Rogers can do the same through their own apps, so you may not need to buy any new equipment at all.
This is not just a parenting win, it is basic cybersecurity hygiene. At a minimum you should be able to:
- See a list of every device that regularly connects to your home network
- Get alerts when a new device joins
- Block unknown or suspicious devices on the spot
If someone compromises your Wi-Fi, you can immediately see the device, record its IP and MAC address, and cut it off. If someone in the house connects a “burner” phone or unknown device, you will see that too instead of being in the dark.
The good news is these tools are now fairly user friendly and do not require deep technical skills.
Check out the screenshots below to see what this looks like on a sample network. If you want help turning these protections on at your place, send us a message and we can walk you through it.
