Category Archives: Make Tech Easier

“Can I block site XYZ at the house?”

12/16/2015 Tom Rule

SCROLL DOWN FOR ADDITIONAL IDEAS, posted March 2020

The iPad Guy has had several parents ask if such-and-such a site can blocked at home for the iPads.

That is indeed doable, but only on the network at the house. It is not something the school can do for you.

You need a wireless router that includes a feature that is usually called “parental controls” or similar. [Here’s an Amazon Link]. Usually the network cable that comes from the wall plugs into a cable modem [or other box provided by your service provider], and then the wireless router plugs into the network jack on that box.

You’ll have some configuring to do – the routers all work somewhat differently. I suggest doing a Web Search for your router model plus “how setup parental controls”. [LIKE THIS, for example].

As an example, here is a detailed document that steps you through setting up Parental Controls on a TP-Link Archer router: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1155/

Some families would find it useful – especially if there is a home business involved – to have TWO wireless networks available – one for family, one for business, for example. Some wireless routers have that capability – some others can have a “guest” network that you can password protect that could be used for that purpose as well.

A last word about costs:

These kind of features are NOT found on the less expensive routers. You will probably pay over $100 for that feature set.

…and please use a good quality surge protector on the router – NOT a $10 one. You are protecting a critical part of your network, so it is worth spending more to make sure the thing KEEPS working!

Here is another option:

Another options is to use OpenDNS [ https://signup.opendns.com/homefree/ ] on your network. Start with the free account, and then upgrade to the paid one if necessary.

Here is why this looks promising:

With over 50 customizable filtering categories, OpenDNS Web content filtering keeps parents in control of what websites children visit at home.
OpenDNS blocks phishing websites that try to steal your identity and login information by pretending to be a legitimate website. Surf the Web with confidence.

This will require changing some network settings to use them for DNS [think of it as an internet phonebook]. Do a web search for your router model and how set DNS” – you can often find detailed directions there.

Make Tech Easier, Students

Java applet problems

09/23/2015 Tom Rule

If you are on a webpage that is running a Java applet and the thing isn’t running [or just won’t work right!], these instructions from http://www.math.ucsd.edu/~crypto/fixjava.html may help.

How to Fix Java Applet Security Errors

Security Errors When Loading Java Applets

Did you get errors like the following when you tried to run a Java applet in the web browser?

Your Java version is out-of-date.
Application Blocked
Application Blocked by Security Settings
Your security settings have blocked an application from running with an out-of-date or expired version of Java.
Your security settings have blocked an untrusted application from running.

For security reasons, recent versions of Java may block unsigned Java applets from automatically running by default.

Solution #1

If you are allowed to install/upgrade software on your computer, please install the latest Java upgrade first, relaunch the web browser, and try again.

Solution #2

If you are unable to install/upgrade to the latest Java version, and you trust the unsigned Java applet to be safe, you can workaround this problem by adding an “exception site” or temporarily lowering the security level of the currently installed Java:

For Microsoft Windows:

Click on the Windows “Start” menu in the lower-left corner of the screen –>
“Control Panel” –>
“Programs” –>
“Java”.
In the “Java Control Panel” window that appears –>
Click the “Security” tab.
If there is a “Exception Site List” section in this window, click on the “Edit Site List…” button –>
Click the “Add” button –>
Type in the web server location for the Java applet like “http://www.math.ucsd.edu/” –>
Click the “OK” button –>
Click the “OK” button.
If there is no “Exception Site List” section in this window –>
Slide the “Security Level” indicator from “High” down to “Medium” –>
Click the “Apply” button –>
Click the “OK” button.
Close ALL of the open windows. You must completely QUIT the web browser or this workaround will fail.
Re-launch the web browser.
Go to the Java applet.
When the “Security Warning” window asking “Do you want to run this application?” appears, if there is a “I accept the risk and want to run this app.” option, checkmark it ON first then –>
Click the “Run” button.
The Java applet should load OK now. You may need to click on it to start it.
When you are done using the Java applet, you should change the Java “Security Level” back to “High” if you had lowered it down to “Medium” earlier.

For Mac OS X:

Click on the “Apple” menu in the upper-left corner of the screen –>
“System Preferences…” –> “Java”.
In the “Java Control Panel” window that appears –>
Click the “Security” tab.
If there is a “Exception Site List” section in this window:
click on the “Edit Site List…” button –>
Click the “Add” button –>
Type in the web server location for the Java applet like “http://www.math.ucsd.edu/” –>
Click the “OK” button –>
Click the “OK” button.
If there is no “Exception Site List” section in this window –>
Slide the “Security Level” indicator from “High” down to “Medium” –>
Click the “Apply” button –>
Click the “OK” button.
Close ALL of the open windows. You must completely QUIT the web browser or this workaround will fail.
Re-launch the web browser.
Go to the Java applet.
When the “Security Warning” window asking “Do you want to run this application?” appears, if there is a “I accept the risk and want to run this app.” option, checkmark it ON first then –> Click the “Run” button.
The Java applet should load OK now. You may need to click on it to start it.
When you are done using the Java applet, you should change the Java “Security Level” back to “High” if you had lowered it down to “Medium” earlier.

Apps, iPads, Make Tech Easier, More, Student, Students

Kindle App – how to use

09/11/2015 Tom Rule

Here is some info from the web
on using the Kindle app.

To download titles your device must be connected to a wireless or data network, but you do not need to connect your device to a wireless or data network to view titles that you have already downloaded.

View all content in your Kindle library:

Tap the Menu icon and then tap All Items.

Switch between content stored in the cloud and on the device:

While in a content library, tap the Cloud and Device option at the bottom of the screen.

Check for recent content:

Tap the Menu icon and then tap Sync.

Remove content from your device:

While in a content library, press and hold an item, and then select the Remove from Device option. This does NOT delete the document from your account – it can be downloaded again later.

Sort content on your home screen:

Sort by content type:
Tap the Menu icon to sort content by All Items, Books, Newsstand, Docs, or Collections.
Filter by title, author, or recent:
Tap the Sort icon to sort titles by Recent, Title, or Author.

Change the display of your content:

Display title covers in a grid: Tap the Grid icon.
Display the title covers in a list: Tap the List icon.

CLICK HERE to learn more, including how to

change font/size/etc.
Add bookmarks
Change locations in the book
Explore the book with X-ray [may not work with all documents]
Add highlights
Add notes
Look up words in a dictionary

MDS Tech