Whole House Monitoring

One of the most effective ways to monitor student activity is to monitor your ENTIRE home network traffic. This is typically done through the home router, management software or a DNS (the internet trafficking process) service which allows you to monitor your entire internet connection.

IMPORTANT - limit their access to cellular data (most popular work around for monitoring), look for connections to neighboring homes, and the use of alternate devices (a secondary device used to specifically avoid tracking).

We have 4 suggested methods for this below (in order of preference):

Parental Controls on the Home Router - BEST - Description: Certain Netgear routers (we suggest the Netgear AC1750) include their own system (OpenDNS) as well as Disney Circle. This is a hardware device for your home that tracks ALL traffic going through your home internet connection allowing for control, reporting and web filtering.

  • URL - Amazon or Best Buy

  • Pros - one-time cost; tracks time online and per app; push notifications; internet pause (including bed time); tracks all home traffic, great web filtering, reputation and reporting

  • Cons - cost is normally under $120 (one-time and very reasonable);

Home Monitoring System - Disney Circle - BETTER - Description: Disney Circle is a hardware device for your home that tracks ALL traffic going through your home internet connection allowing for control, reporting and web filtering.

          • URL - https://meetcircle.com/

          • Pros - one-time cost; tracks time online and per app; push notifications; internet pause (including bed time); tracks all home traffic, great web filtering, reputation and reporting

          • Cons - cost is $99 (one-time and very reasonable)

Monitor the Internet Traffic - OpenDNS - GOOD - Description: OpenDNS is an online service that tracks ALL traffic going through your home internet connection allowing for both reporting (cost of $19.95 per year for reporting) and web filtering.

    • URL - http://www.opendns.com

    • Pros - service is FREE, tracks all home traffic, great web filtering, reputation and reporting

    • Cons - only as good as how often you check; and cost for reporting


Monitor using WiFi Router - miscellaneous manufacturers -Good- Description: Individual WiFi Routers may allow a service that tracks ALL traffic going through your home internet connection allowing for web filtering.

  • Manufacturer - depends on your device (normal are Netgear, Linksys, Belkin and D-Link)

  • Pros - service is normally FREE, tracks all home traffic, some web filtering, and some reporting

  • Cons - capabilities specific to the hardware manufacturer