Can my Wi-Fi Lifeguard router protect devices against VPNs?
The Safe Surfer Wi-Fi Lifeguard router attempts to block VPN apps in two different ways:
Blocking VPN app networking through our DNS filtering, which helps block a variety of VPNs.
An optional feature called VPN detection, which attempts to see whether it can find and kill VPN connections. This is turned on by default within the local control panel (accessed by visiting 192.168.8.1 in a web browser while connected to the Safe Surfer Wi-Fi).
These two steps help block a fair amount of VPNs. Unfortunately, some VPN apps have advanced networking features that can bypass these prevention steps. To help stop this, you can take the following steps for each kind of device:
On Android devices, we can block VPN apps themselves with the Safe Surfer app. We need the Safe Surfer app to activate advanced device features that let us block VPN apps entirely. You can find out how to do this by clicking this link. You can use the Android app and have the device connected to the Lifeguard Wi-Fi at the same time, but the protection itself will go through the app.
On iPhone and iPad devices, we suggest going through our instructions by clicking this link. You can skip the part regarding the disallowing of deleting apps if you're not already using the Safe Surfer app on the applicable device.
On Windows devices, we suggest changing the user account settings (in addition to blocking the Commonly abused domains and Microsoft Store categories on the Blocking menu). You can find out how to do this by clicking this link.
On Mac devices, we suggest changing the user account settings (in addition to blocking the Commonly abused domains category on the Blocking menu). You can find out how to do this by clicking this link.
To see information on how we block an anti-censorship tool called Tor Browser, click this link.
Blocking VPN app networking through our DNS filtering, which helps block a variety of VPNs.
An optional feature called VPN detection, which attempts to see whether it can find and kill VPN connections. This is turned on by default within the local control panel (accessed by visiting 192.168.8.1 in a web browser while connected to the Safe Surfer Wi-Fi).
These two steps help block a fair amount of VPNs. Unfortunately, some VPN apps have advanced networking features that can bypass these prevention steps. To help stop this, you can take the following steps for each kind of device:
Android
On Android devices, we can block VPN apps themselves with the Safe Surfer app. We need the Safe Surfer app to activate advanced device features that let us block VPN apps entirely. You can find out how to do this by clicking this link. You can use the Android app and have the device connected to the Lifeguard Wi-Fi at the same time, but the protection itself will go through the app.
iPhone and iPad
On iPhone and iPad devices, we suggest going through our instructions by clicking this link. You can skip the part regarding the disallowing of deleting apps if you're not already using the Safe Surfer app on the applicable device.
Windows
On Windows devices, we suggest changing the user account settings (in addition to blocking the Commonly abused domains and Microsoft Store categories on the Blocking menu). You can find out how to do this by clicking this link.
Mac
On Mac devices, we suggest changing the user account settings (in addition to blocking the Commonly abused domains category on the Blocking menu). You can find out how to do this by clicking this link.
To see information on how we block an anti-censorship tool called Tor Browser, click this link.
Updated on: 26/04/2024
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