Bug - Still able to access Whatsapp after removing from 'Add App Exclusion'

[Desmobdjjjj]

Initially, I wanted to allow my kids to have access to WhatsApp even though the phone is locked under KSK. Hence I added WhatsApp into the Exclusion list of apps where those in the Exclusion will still be able to access.

 

After adding it into the list, whatapp was working fine even when the overall phone screen time has reached. This is functioning as expected.

 

However, when I subsequently wanted to stop this feature and return back to normal, I removed WhatsApp from the Exclusion list but even after removing, my child's WhatsApp can still be accessed and there was no blocking. Somehow, there seems to be a bug where the moment I added it once into the Exclusion list and even though I removed it from the list subsequently, the app is still able to be accessed.

I could only address the issue by fully deleting my child's profile and add a totally new profile from scratch in order to continue having KSK block WhatsApp as per the normal screentime.

Can someone see if there is an issue?

 

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Initially, I wanted to allow my kids to have access to WhatsApp even though the phone is locked under KSK. Hence I added WhatsApp into the Exclusion list of apps where those in the Exclusion will still be able to access.  After adding it into the list, whatapp was working fine even when the overall phone screen time has reached. This is functioning as expected.

However, when I subsequently wanted to stop this feature and return back to normal, I removed WhatsApp from the Exclusion list but even after removing, my child's WhatsApp can still be accessed and there was no blocking. Somehow, there seems to be a bug where the moment I added it once into the Exclusion list and even though I removed it from the list subsequently, the app is still able to be accessed. I could only address the issue by fully deleting my child's profile and add a totally new profile from scratch in order to continue having KSK block WhatsApp as per the normal screen time. Can someone see if there is an issue?

Hello @Desmobdjjjj, 

Welcome!

We’re happy to test, however, before doing so, please share with us: 

1. Phone name & version? 
2. KSK version, open KSK, select Additional, select About? Note: may vary depending on OS.
3. After removing WhatsApp from the Exclusion list, was the child’s phone shutdown, powered off & then restarted? 
4. Before deleting & creating a new KSK child profile, was WhatsApp deleted from the child’s phone? 
5. Which type of device do you use to monitor / manage KSK for the children → Windows, Android, iOS, MAC? 
6. Is KSK Premium or Free? 

Please let us know? 

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳 +🐋

[Desmobdjjjj]

Hi, thanks for the prompt response. Attached are the answers to your queries.

 

We’re happy to test, however, before doing so, please share with us: 

1. Phone name & version?                          My phone:Samsung Galaxy S21+. My kids phone, Samsung A10 and Redmi 8A Pro.
2. KSK version, open KSK, select Additional, select About? Note: may vary depending on OS.        KSK version 1.61.0.8
3. After removing WhatsApp from the Exclusion list, was the child’s phone shutdown, powered off & then restarted?                                                  No. Did not restart nor power off and on. For your info, for the rest of the features eg. Increase in screen time, the child phone is unlocked literally within seconds once I extend the time on the parent phone without having to restart, etc.
4. Before deleting & creating a new KSK child profile, was WhatsApp deleted from the child’s phone?                           No. WhatsApp was never deleted from child's phone.
5. Which type of device do you use to monitor / manage KSK for the children → Windows, Android, iOS, MAC?                 I use my mobile phone to manage KSK.
6. Is KSK Premium or Free?              Currently using the trial version first and if good, will be subscribing to Premium.

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Hello @Desmobdjjjj,

You’re most welcome☺ !

Thank you for the information👌 !

Please share the OS version of:

1. Samsung A10? 
2. Redmi 8A Pro? 

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳 +🐋

[Desmobdjjjj]

Not able to check on the Samsung version as do not have the phone with me.

 

For Redmi, the Android OS is 11RP1A.200720.011.

 

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Hello @Desmobdjjjj, 

Thank you👌 . 

1. For the Redmi, please also share the MIUI ?

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳 +🐋

[Desmobdjjjj]

Hi, the Redmi Note 8 Pro MUI is MUI Global 12.5.1 (RGGMIXM). Interestingly, I have 2 of the exact same phones Redmi Note 8 Pro and same model and versions.

 

However, I tried doing the same to insert the 'TraceTogether' app into the Exclusion list for both phones and then remove it shortly after. For both phones, the screen block is set to 0.  However, for 1 of the phones, even after removing from the Exclusion List, the 'TraceTogether' app is still able to open whereas the other phone is not able to and working as it was intended to work.

 

I thought maybe wait for a while long for the network to update but the case was still the same. Seems like the issue is not specific to a particular app or phone but just happening randomly.

 

Not sure what is the problem. The only way around this for now is that I do not purposely add in any app into the Exclusion list just in case the glitch happens and even if I choose to remove the app later and limit the access for the child, I would not be able to 100% be assured that the particular app will still be locked even if I remove from the Exclusion list.

 

For now, I would only add in the apps into the Exclusion list only when I am absolutely sure that I want the kid to have access even if the screen time is met, eg. Message app, calculator, dictionary, school apps, etc. so that I do not run into am issue whereby I choose to reverse the situation but yet it can be accessed on my child's phone.

[Flood and Flood's wife]

Hello @Desmobdjjjj, 

Thank you for posting back & the information👌 !

That’s fine, if you’ve come to a conclusion, we don’t need to spend time testing. 

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳 +🐋

[Flood and Flood's wife]

However, I tried doing the same to insert the 'TraceTogether' app into the Exclusion list for both phones and then remove it shortly after. For both phones, the screen block is set to 0.  However, for 1 of the phones, even after removing from the Exclusion List, the 'TraceTogether' app is still able to open whereas the other phone is not able to and working as it was intended to work.

Hello @Desmobdjjjj, 

• Our test of TraceTogether, (1) left as if device is blocked, TraceTogether is not available, changed to (2)  Available on blocked device - KSK works as designed: 

Link

• We also tested Whatsapp, same result, KSK works as designed - no video, too much private information to censor. 

IF KSK is working intermittently, the issue is either the installation, the method or ? 

Thank you🙏

Flood🐳 +🐋

[Desmobdjjjj]

Thanks for the confirmation. Guess it is somewhat a little glitch. Case considered closed as 99% of the time it can work.

 

Yesterday, I also encountered 2 issues.

 

1. I set my kid's Redmi Note 8 Pro phone screen time to 1 hour. In the app exclusion list, I included YouTube as allowed.  However, when one hour was up, surprisingly, v she could still continue watching YouTube which based on the below setting, youtube should have stopped once the screen time is reached. There was also no notification to mention that her screentime was up. What I did was then remove YouTube from the exclusion list and immediately YouTube was locked. I then went to check the usage amount and it was more than 1 hour but no trigger to lock the phone yet. Then few mins later, the trigger and notification then appeared and the phone was locked. So am I right to say that if somehow the usage timing has exceeded the allowed screentime but yet if there is no notification, it will mean that there is a glitch and that the phone is still working? And how do I address the glitch? Is it by adjusting the screen time do as to trigger the system?

 

2. On my kid's laptop, I set 3 hours screentime. However, after only about 1 hour 20 mins of usage, the locked screen popped up. I then extended the screentime by 2 hours and it immediately unlocked. I after that, I tried a few times and the settings on screentime is consistent even with My Kaspersky seeing from the website but it doesn't match the allowed screentime on the laptop itself. Even the allowed screentime showing on the laptop say 3 hours allowed but the actual usage was only 1 hour plus and it was locked. In the end, I resolved it by deleting and reinstalling the profile from the laptop and the screentime issue was resolved and the timing matched after that. I have installed on another 2 laptops as well and so far the other 2 didn't have an issue. Guess it's a glitch again.