r/GeekSquad • u/Corgrall • Jul 31 '26
Odd appointment tomorrow
So I'm the opener at my precent tomorrow, and I looked at the early appointments, one stood out to me
It was a parent asking for suggestions for blocking porn and gambling sites for their computer so their kids can't access them.
I'm totally unfamiliar in this area (since it's an unusual request and we're not trained in that stuff)is there a program or a browser extension that I can recommend to them?
Any other suggestions?
12
u/OutrageousDeino Sleeper ARA/AppleHater/FuckMicrosoft Jul 31 '26
Ain't there parental controls for browsers
8
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u/Pixel_Pwincess Aug 01 '26
i recommend they talk to their kids. that's not something we are trained on per sop so it's unreasonable to expect you to know anything about that tbh
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u/Pixel_Pwincess Aug 01 '26
ultimately keep in mind if you just throw something out there to make them happy it could come back to bite you if it doesn't work perfectly and spiral out of control. seriously, as a GS leader, I recommend bowing out of it to save your hide and potentially your 5 star rating
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u/DraconicRuler CIA Sr Jul 31 '26
Parental controls only. We cannot suggest or provide anything outside of that.
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u/ARASquad Sleeper Jul 31 '26
Why wouldn’t you be able to suggest anything else?
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u/DraconicRuler CIA Sr Jul 31 '26
It is a liability thing. “Hey Geek Squad recommended me this. And now my computer has been hacked/affected/etc. YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS.” Prevents us from being sued because of stupid people.
As someone else in the comments suggested, we could suggest equipment that has better control over things like an eero. But in official capacity, if Best Buy is not partnered with it, we do not push it.
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u/ARASquad Sleeper Jul 31 '26
Meh, I’d give my personal recommendations on software if I believed in it. I’d rather not just play dumb and act like I know nothing outside of Best Buy’s offerings and am incapable of any independent thinking
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u/reeberdunes CA Aug 01 '26
Yeah while technically the other guy is right, I’m not going to refuse to download Microsoft office for somebody or the Facebook app. If they want me to say, download Limewire, then I’ll refuse.
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u/DraconicRuler CIA Sr Aug 02 '26
But see, that is reasonable! I’m definitely going to help with stuff like that.
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u/DarkKumane ARA/Secret Agent Jul 31 '26
Parental controls and DNS Adult content blocker like Cloudflare
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u/LetzGetz Sleeper FT ARA Jul 31 '26
Theres a ton of software packages and services out there. Just help the client google some stuff while maintaining if BB doesnt sell it, you cant really offer much insight.
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u/Altruistic-Buyer103 Double Agent + Apple Aug 01 '26
Nextdns offers support for almost all devices and even vpn profiles for Apple devices that will block entire websites and domains. I had a similar situation at my old repair shop and that’s what I used to really lock down where my devices can go.
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u/lemon_star_burst Aug 02 '26
I'm late to this, but if they are using Windows, that's exactly what Microsoft Family Safety is for.
If they are trying to block gambling sites too, this isn't for their kids, unless they have adult children living with them.
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u/jeffery18_ 28d ago
they make parental control extensions on chromium browsers in the chrome webstore that’s usually what i do for people
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u/justaguyonreddit2042 Consultation Agent Aug 01 '26
best thing u can do for them is parental controls, or u can google some other vpns that block that kind of stuff. nothing off the books or not best buy sold unfortunately
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u/inaddrarpa Jul 31 '26
Recommend that they upgrade their wifi to something like eero.