Device Names

[JMLC]

Hello

i’ve just downloaded the app in an attempt to gain control of my kids devices, and limit their internet time.

Can someone tell me how I identify which device is which as they all come up as Unknown Device.

im not techie at all and it’s driving me bonkers!!

thanks in advance

[Keith_Beddoe]

@JMLC 

Welcome to this user forum for BT Retail phone and broadband customers.

Its not going to be possible to do that, as the names of the devices will not show because the device MAC address is totally random, and will change every time they connect, because the default for most wireless devices use MAC randomisation, sometimes called Private addressing.

[licquorice]

You're wasting your time. You'll never defeat the kids with technology. Their devices will have MAC randomisation  and will thus appear as a different device each time the MAC address changes.

[JMLC]

Thank you? How do people them know which devices to group together? 
is it normal that the majority of devices are unknown?

[Keith_Beddoe]

@JMLC 

I am afraid that since the addition of MAC randomisation on most devices, its no longer possible to control access using the app, as it relies on the MAC address of a device, matching the real one which is assigned to it by its internal hardware. That "real" one would normally result in the app showing the name of the device.

Apart from blocking wireless access to all devices at a specific time period, there is no way around it. That is of course assuming all devices are connected via wireless.

One thing that affects all devices, are the BT Parental controls, as they are network based, and can be set to restrict access to certain domains during specified time periods. I think you can also add specific sites.

https://www.bt.com/help/security/how-to-keep-your-family-safe-online-with-bt-parental-controls-an

These are not 100% fool proof, but if you also activate BT WebProtect, you do get some extra protection.

https://www.bt.com/help/security/learn-about-bt-web-protect

[Keith_Beddoe]

@JMLC 

Some info from an older thread (reactivated) which may be of interest.

https://community.bt.com/t5/Broadband-Extras-Apps-from-BT/Private-Address-MAC-Randomisation-IOS14-Ap...