What just happened with legacy Parental Control?

[ejt3]

Earlier this week, the Parental Control feature vanished from Total Security’s options in my System Tray. This appeared to be the result of an automatic update to the application, bringing it to version 21.1.15.500. Last year, a similar update required fully uninstalling Total Security, manually tinkering with some files, and reinstalling the previous version.

I didn’t have a chance to go through this process again with the current update, but was alarmed to note that applications I had opted to block with Parental Control either could not open, or prompted the warning that they would soon be forced off. And just now I looked in the System Tray and I see that Parental Control is back. Interestingly, the force close warning has been modified to include a countdown timer.

Has the feature been restored to the current version of the software, or am I looking at something that was not intended? This is of high importance to me, as my child’s activity on the Internet is easily monitored, whereas unfettered access to my applications and file system presents countless risks, and Microsoft’s built-in controls are woefully lacking. In fact, so far as I can tell, everyone’s are, except for Kaspersky’s.

Are these controls to stay in the system after all? And if so, how can I prevent them from applying blocks and displaying warnings while they are switched off?

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Hello @ejt3 
Welcome!

• Are you referring to the original Kaspersky Parental Control or Kaspersky Safe Kids? 
• The original Kaspersky Parental Control was superseded by Kaspersky Safe Kids. 
• Kaspersky Parental Control is available only with Kaspersky Total Security (KTS) 2020  version
• KTS has updated to versions 21.1 & 21.2
• Kaspersky Safe Kids 1.0.5, is up to patch F

(ioo), the issues you’ve encountered are due to Kaspersky’s automatic upgrade of KTS from v20 to v21.1🤔

1. Log a case with Kaspersky Technical Support, include a detailed history, images & video, KSK Report, the URL for this Community topic, if they help define the issue, fill in the template as in image 2; support may request other data, they will guide you 

 

• After submitting the case, you’ll receive an automated email with an INC+12digits reference number, then, normally, within 5 business days, a Kaspersky Technical Support human will be in touch, also by email, you may continue to engage with the Kaspersky Technical Team via email or by updating the INC in their MyKaspersky account.
• Please share the outcome with the Community when it’s available? 

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳+🐋

[ejt3]

Thank you for the quick reply. I don’t use Safe Kids. With Parental Control it is easy enough to just keep a whitelist of domains. The really important feature is its ability to forbid use of specific applications. Among other things this prevents my child from perusing bookmarks and web history. I simply designate a browser for him and block the others. It means I can set him loose on my Steam account without worrying that he will play games that have microtransactions or open chat.

I am baffled that this functionality has somehow been restored, because I see no sign of it in the patch notes and yesterday it was gone. I’m reluctant to contact Technical Support on this, because if it’s a mistake I don’t want it fixed.

[Igor Kurzin]

Hi @ejt3 , 

To get back Parental Control, please do the following: 

1. Disable Self-Defense in Kaspersky
2. Exit Kaspersky 
3. Press Win+R → type “regedit” → Enter
4. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\KasperskyLab\AVP21.x*\environment (*x = 1 or 2)
5. Find the SuggestSafeKids key
6. Double click on its value and change from 1 to 0.
7. Run Kaspersky
8. Enable Self-Defense
9. Enjoy Parental Control

Regards,

Igor