VPN Technology for 'Child Safe' Internet

How does VPN technology work and how can it protect young people?


VPN technology is a configuration available in all new mobile phones, laptops. PCs and even Wi-Fi routers that enables forwarding all Internet traffic first to a remote server called ‘VPN Server’.

This technology is usually used by Enterprises to let their employees connect to their corporate servers securely and also enables a way for them to monitor everything from a single VPN server.

Most of today's children have the ability via their device to access any network which provides free access to the world wide web. This presents a whole host of risks and demonstrates how vulnerable today's children can actually be when given the opportunity to open many different doors to the internet without any protection.

How it works; Normal Internet Access

Friendly WiFi Internet Flow

Problems accessing the Internet without a VPN

The first problem is that it is the wi-fi router which assigns you the public IP address or in other words publishes your ‘location’. Every single entity in the path of communications knows your almost exact location. You can check this by navigating to any site like http://ipstack.com and see the amount of detail available to all third party websites and all networks in between.

Secondly, at every stage, the entities know which websites and applications you are accessing. If communications are unencrypted, they can also read it, watch it, listen to it, whatever the case may be. They can also keep a log of the activity and apply ‘policies’ as well. Common policies are to block some applications like some games or torrents or WhatsApp / Skype calling etc.

Internet access with VPN

When you connect VPN, it establishes a secure tunnel between you and the VPN servers. Nobody in between sees which websites or applications are being accessed. You are issued your public IP address by the VPN server instead of your wi-fi router.

Benefits of Internet access via a VPN include:

  • Hiding your location
  • Protection from snooping or un-trustworthy wifi hotspots
  • Stopping false alarms in online banking and other applications
  • Protection from eavesdroppers
  • Child protection features

    If you are interested in finding out more about VPN, Friendly WiFi Partners ‘SafeLabs’ have created a ‘Child Safe’ simple to use method allowing families to connect safely to the internet. They have launched a ‘Child Safe’ VPN service, which is easily applied to any device (PC, Laptop, mobile or tablet) giving parents and their children peace of mind that when browsing the internet they are protected from accessing inappropriate material. Read more.

    Friendly WiFi VPN Tunnel

  • Written by Friendly WiFi on June 14, 2019 09:04

    Friendly WiFi – Why it is important for schools

    Our partners at Friendly WiFi discuss the topic of public WiFi accessibility


    Technology is a vital part of education in schools today from primary right through to secondary and beyond. We are in an age where the foundation of teaching is via some form of technology and a way to interact with students of all ages. Let’s face it, phones, tablets, laptops, gaming, shopping, etc – all the things our kids love to use and do is based around a piece of new age technology so of course they expect no less in their learning journey.


    Parents at home are focussed on protecting their kids online from exposure, information and images that they wouldn’t wish them to see and there are many sites providing information that enables them to do their best to stop this happening. At home is an easier scenario to deal with for parents. What about when our kids leave the safety of the home. When they are out and about with their friends after school or our young son or daughter is bored at a family meal. A phone or tablet is not far from their reach and is usually in their hand! The same is when our kids are in school. Phones are used in many lessons for research to drive learning and obviously used by kids in their breaks. Many lessons are in computer rooms or sat at PC’s where talks are set and the internet is accessible.

    Great for learning but what about the risk of exposure to indecent images and inappropriate material. By being in school this risk doesn’t automatically disappear, and parents are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers. Many solutions are put in place to protect data and cyber-attacks but the one area that can be easily forgot is a simple filtering solution. This will ensure that the indecent images and inappropriate material is blocked meaning our kids can’t be exposed and ensures that any visitors can’t also access such material. Important – yes of course it is. This type of material can be harmful to kids and their mental health and wellbeing is of paramount importance. It is also a safety net to stop online predators hanging around schools to access this type of material by jumping on their WiFi.

    Figures taken from the Safeguarding Essentials - E-safety Checklist 2017/17 suggest that 20% of schools are still failing to implement adequate filtering and monitoring on their school network*

    Friendly WifiHow can Friendly WiFi help?
    The Friendly WiFi certification ensures that these filters are in place and this is checked annually giving peace of mind each year. The colourful symbol can be displayed physically in the school to show all visitors and students that the WiFi service is safe and that they are protected. By displaying the symbol online, it is also very visual to anyone wishing to use the service where it clearly shows that the WiFi service blocks inappropriate material. A great message for parents and provides them with peace of mind, brilliant for the school to show how seriously they take online safe and an essential and a certification which is so important in this every changing and challenging technology driven world.

    Download a Friendly WiFi guide for teachers and parents

    This downloadable document gives guidance on helping students understand how Friendly WiFi can protect them and is also a useful tool to share with parents about the scheme. Join free and download now



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    Subsidised memberships available

    Here are Safeguarding Essentials, we are delighted to have teamed up with Friendly WiFi to offer subsidised membership to those most in need, with up to 100% discount available to qualifying schools.

    Our subsidised memberships are allocated based on current Ofsted rating or school status.

    Friendly WiFi are also offering their certification service at an exclusive cost to all Safeguarding Essentials members

    Discover your discount now!


    *The statistics quoted are taken from the Safeguarding Essentials interactive online e-safety checklist, which is available to all Safeguarding Essentials members. The 9 point checklist gives you an outline of the necessary action or procedure that needs to take place in your school, with references to additional information and support if you need them. Find out more

    Written by Friendly WiFi on September 27, 2018 11:21

    Friendly WiFi


    What is Friendly WiFi?

    Friendly WiFi is the world’s first safe certification standard for WiFi that shows users that they are being protected online from exposure to child sex abuse images and inappropriate adult content. The scheme was initiated by UK government and industry in a move to increase online safety measures for WiFi services, especially where children and young adults can be present.


    For schools it is essential to have some form of safeguarding for their students and visitors when they access the WiFi available and by evidencing that their WiFi includes the correct filters, schools can become Friendly WiFi certified. Friendly WiFi status shows they are protected and that the school is taking responsibility for the online safety and health of their students whilst providing a safe browsing environment for all users.

    To find out more, download a Friendly WiFi leaflet here


    Exclusive Offer

    Friendly WiFi are offering exclusive discounts to schools who wish to become Friendly WiFi certified. Primary schools can register for just £25, while secondary schools cost just £50. Click here to apply

    Written by Friendly WiFi on October 18, 2018 09:55


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