Ask Rick: can I restrict my son's internet use?

Our youngest son is in his first year of the A Level syllabus and is adamant that he requires Internet access for his studies. The only issue with this is that he gets distracted and ends up playing computer games when he should be studying. Is there anyway to control his Internet access? A challenging task when your son is bigger than you! George Gray, by email

In the past I would have suggested one of the many PC programs that block or limit access to the web but that’s impractical now with so many different Internet connected devices. The solution is to manage access through your wireless router, and you will be able to keep an eye on who is online through the router’s setup menu. Many recent models have a facility called MAC filtering, which lets you create rules, such as timed access, for specified devices. Many models also let you block access by keywords or web domain. You will have to consult your user menu to see what is available and how to set it up.