Common questions about filtering, kosher phones, and device setup. Don't see yours here? Text us at 516-247-1907 and we'll help.
We help families and institutions in the Far Rockaway and Five Towns communities set up filters for various devices. We handle filter installation, device consulting, and guidance for schools and shuls, all as a local TAG affiliate. You can start here to see how it works.
Text us at 516-247-1907. That's the fastest way to get a response. You can also call during open hours, or leave us a message at that number and we'll get back to you.
Our office is at 728 Empire Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 11691, serving the Far Rockaway and Five Towns communities. See our hours and location for details on visiting.
Yes. There are two costs: one for the filter session, where we set everything up, and one for the actual third-party filter itself. Costs vary by device and filter type. See our pricing page for details, and text us with any questions.
Filtering screens out inappropriate content before it reaches your device. It lets you and your family use technology for the things you need while keeping out what you don't want coming in.
Generally, no. A properly configured filter shows little or no change to everyday browsing speeds for most people. If you ever notice a difference after setup, text us and we'll take a look.
Yes. Filters can be set up with different levels for different family members, so a parent's device and a child's device can have very different settings.
A network filter protects everything connecting through your home WiFi. A device filter travels with a specific phone, tablet, or computer wherever it goes. Many families use both. See our WiFi filtering page for more on protecting your home network.
A device-level filter keeps working on cellular data and other WiFi networks. A network filter only covers your home internet, which is why device filtering matters for phones and travel.
A kosher phone is a device set up to allow calls, texts, and approved functions while blocking internet browsing and apps that aren't needed. Options range from basic flip phones to filtered smartphones.
In many cases, yes. We can talk through whether your current device can be filtered or whether a different option would serve you better. You can also see our page of flip phones that we can make kosher.
There are several options depending on the type of smartphone and the customer's need. MB Smart offers filter options for smartphones that allow approved apps and calling while restricting browsing. We can review the current options with you and match one to your needs.
Yes. Computers and laptops can be filtered at the device level. See our Windows filtering page for one example.
Tablets and iPads can be filtered too. We'll walk you through the right setup based on who's using the device and for what. See iPhone, iPad, and Mac filtering for details.
There's no single right answer. It depends on your family and the device's purpose. We're happy to talk through what other families in the community have found works.
Start with the filter in place from day one rather than adding it later. We can help you choose a device and settings that fit your family's standards.
A device-level filter stays active wherever your child goes. For home networks you don't control, device filtering is what keeps protection in place.
Hotel and public WiFi are usually unfiltered. A device filter keeps working on those networks, which is why we recommend device-level filtering for anyone who travels.
Yes. We partner with local schools and houses of worship on filtering installations, group events, and community outreach. See our pricing page for school and shul pricing, then text us to discuss what your institution needs.
Start with your filter company's support, since they handle the filter directly. When their support isn't available, you can text us and we'll help where we can.
A basic flip phone usually comes with a browser and apps. When we filter them, we remove the browser and limit the apps depending on the model phone. If a flip phone meets your needs for calls and texts, it can be one of the simplest kosher options.
Yes. A flip phone can still send and receive texts. The option to remove texting is also available for most models.
A filtered flip phone is limited to talk and text. A smartphone can have categories of the internet blocked, whether or not you choose to have a browser at all. The smartphone is far more customizable.
MB Smart offers filtering for smartphones. The exact setup and available features can differ between iPhone and Android, so text us and we'll confirm the current details for the device you have.
Techloq is one of the filter vendors we work with, based out of the UK. It filters content and offers management tools for parents and administrators. Their support number is (845) 580-4553, available 5am to 7pm.
A content filter screens what comes through the browser and apps. An app blocker controls which apps can be installed or opened. ScreenTime, for example, is more of an app blocker than a filter. Many setups combine both so you can manage browsing and apps together.
Yes. Most filtered smartphone setups let you allow approved apps while blocking the rest, so you can keep the tools you need without opening the door to everything.
Yes. Many setups let you keep email working while blocking general web browsing, so you stay reachable without opening the door to everything else. Text us and we'll set it up the way you want.
Some filters are able to block some content within WhatsApp. Text us for more information.
Some filters offer image filtering that screens or blocks images. Capabilities vary by filter, so we can talk through which option matches what you're looking for.
It's a filter applied at your home internet connection, so every device on your WiFi is covered without installing anything on each one. It's a strong safety net, though TAG encourages every device to be filtered, not just phones. See WiFi router filters for more.
Yes. Smart TVs, streaming devices, gaming consoles, and other connected devices can often be addressed through a home network filter or by limiting the device itself. Text us about the specific device and we'll go over your options.
Yes, a network-level filter covers everything on your WiFi. Keep in mind it won't follow a phone onto cellular data or another network, which is where device filtering comes in.
Often a combination: a home network filter as the base layer, plus device filters set to different levels for parents and children. We can help you map this out based on your devices.
Yes. Filters can be set with stricter levels for children and lighter levels for adults, all under one household setup.
A whitelist filter blocks everything by default and only allows sites and apps you specifically approve. It's the most restrictive approach and works well when you want tight control.
This approach allows most content but blocks specific categories or sites you don't want. It's less restrictive than a whitelist and suits people who want broad access with targeted blocking.
That depends on how you use your devices and how much access you want. A whitelist offers the tightest control; category filtering offers more openness. Text us and we'll help you decide.
Usually, yes. Most filters have a process to request access to a specific site. Depending on the setup, that request may go through the filter company or an administrator.
We, or the filter company, are able to make changes to the filter after setup. Accounts are usually protected with a PIN to prevent unauthorized tampering with settings.
The filters we work with focus on blocking content rather than monitoring it, so reporting is limited or unavailable. If you want monitoring, you may be able to use a separate third-party tool. Just make sure it's compatible with your setup, and text us if you'd like to talk it through.
Good filters are designed to resist casual tampering and removal, and many can alert an administrator if someone tries. No filter is completely tamper-proof, and the specifics vary by product, so text us and we'll explain how a given option handles this.
That's a big part of what filtering does. It blocks inappropriate content before it loads, which helps prevent stumbling onto something unwanted through a search, link, or ad.
It shouldn't, when set up correctly. Filters can be configured to allow the work and school tools you rely on while still blocking what you don't want.
In most cases, yes. Note that devices enrolled in a work profile or MDM cannot be filtered, as it conflicts with our own MDM. For a personal device, a filter can be set up to keep work tools accessible while restricting personal browsing.
It varies by device and filter type. A single device is usually quick, while a full household setup takes a bit longer.
Filters can be adjusted as your family or needs change.
Filtering is about protecting your household, not exposing it. We treat your information with care. Each filter company also has its own privacy policy, which you can look up with those specific vendors. See our own privacy policy as well.
Some filters can screen or block images so that inappropriate pictures don't load in search results or on webpages. Image filtering capabilities differ from one filter to the next, so text us and we'll go over which options include it and how well it works for your needs. You can see how it works on the Techloq and MB Smart pages.
Yes, and each filter has its own approach to YouTube. In general you can filter it by category, allow it but require single videos to be approved, or block it entirely. See how Techloq, GenTech, and MB Smart each handle it for the specifics.
Yes. YouTube can be filtered by category, so you can lean toward things like Education and How To while blocking categories you don't want. The exact category list depends on the filter.
Yes, on the filters that support it. Some also offer a clean homepage with no suggested videos, and the ability to block or allow specific channels. See the Techloq, GenTech, and MB Smart pages for what each one includes.
Not quite. Video isn't screened clip by clip the way images are. GenTech and Techloq can block video by category, while MB Smart doesn't offer video blocking. So with video the choice is generally whether to allow or block it, rather than screening within it.
Yes. Several filters offer image filtering. Depending on the filter, an entire image can be covered when it falls into a chosen level, or only the skin in an image can be masked while the rest still shows. You can see how this looks on the Techloq and MB Smart pages.
Whole-image blocking covers an entire picture when it matches a level you've set, so it's fully hidden. Skin blocking is more selective: it covers only the skin in an image and leaves the rest, like clothing and background, visible. Which one fits depends on how strict you want to be.
Some filters include a text filter that watches for a built-in list of trigger words, such as foul language, and blocks the content when those words appear. The list is maintained by the filter and isn't something you edit yourself. See the Techloq and MB Smart pages for more.
Social media covers apps built around sharing, messaging, and feeds. Common examples include Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter (X), Reddit, and Discord, and many others. Filters can block these as a category or individually, depending on the setup.
In many cases, yes. Filters can treat categories separately, so you can block social media apps while keeping the messaging tools you rely on. Because messaging and social media overlap in some apps, text us and we'll set it up to match what you want.
Yes. Most filtered smartphone setups let you allow approved apps while blocking the rest, so you keep the tools you need without opening everything up.
In many cases, yes. Blocking the app store prevents new apps from being installed, which helps keep a device locked to the apps you've approved. How this works depends on the filter and the device, so text us and we'll set it up for your situation.
Filters group content into categories you can allow or block, such as General Internet, Shopping, Sports, Games, News, Media and Entertainment, Social Media, and Mature Content. The exact categories vary by filter. See the MB Smart page for a full example.
Some filters can block or limit content inside WhatsApp, such as Channels, status, profile pictures, and GIFs. What's possible differs by filter and by whether you're on iPhone or Android. See the MB Smart page for a detailed breakdown.
WhatsApp image control is limited, and each filter handles it differently. Generally, media in Channels and profile pictures can be blurred, but images inside regular chats cannot be blocked. Because it varies, text us with your device and filter and we'll confirm what's possible.
Yes. On a filtered smartphone, email can stay on while general web browsing is blocked, so you remain reachable without the open web. Text us and we'll configure it the way you want.
Yes. Games can be blocked as a category on a filtered device, and specific gaming apps can be blocked individually. Gaming consoles themselves can't hold a filter, but they can often be limited at the network level. See our WiFi router filters page for more.
Yes. Each device can be set to its own level, so children's devices can be stricter than a parent's, all within one household setup. We'll help you map out what makes sense for each person.
We focus on the community-standard filters we know and trust, and we set them up properly for your household. We don't install general consumer parental-control tools such as NetNanny, Covenant Eyes, Qustodio, Kindle Parental Controls, or Norton Family. These are built for a different purpose and don't meet the standard we hold for the families and institutions we serve. If you're currently using one of these and aren't sure whether it's enough, text us and we're happy to talk it through.
Some devices can't hold a filter installed directly on them. These include gaming systems like Xbox and PlayStation, exercise equipment like Peloton, smart home and other connected devices like smart fridges and toasters, smartwatches, and smart TVs. The good news is that many of these can still be limited at the network level: a WiFi router filter can block or reduce content reaching them, even when the device itself can't be filtered. Text us about a specific device and we'll go over your options.
Text us and we'll answer it. No pressure, no rush.