Block Devices and Pause Internet Access

This article describes how to use the Block Device feature to prevent unauthorized devices or users from accessing your network, and the Pause Internet feature to control access from your home network to the Internet.

Block Device

The Block Device feature allows you to  block a device from accessing your current network and prevents the device from accessing internal LAN and internet traffic. You typically use Block Device to prevent access to a device that is unrecognized or may be using your Wi-Fi without your consent.  The device is blocked until you unblock it.

You can use this feature only on a Home network where you are both the owner and administrator of the network.   

The Block Device feature is supported on the Fing Agent, the Fing Web App, and the Desktop App (Premium).  It is not supported on a mobile device or the free desktop app.  However, you must use a Fing mobile app to control this functionality on the Fing Agent.

Note: Both the Fing Agent and the Desktop need to be running 24/7 for the block to remain effective.

Pause/Restrict Internet Access

The Pause feature allows you to prevent a device on your home network from accessing the Internet. 

When you use Pause on a device, the device cannot access the Internet but can still access other home resources.   For example, you can prevent your child's computer from accessing the internet but the child can still connect to internal devices, such as a printer.

The Pause Internet feature is supported on the Fingbox and the Desktop App (Premium Subscription).  It is not supported on a mobile device or the free desktop app.  However, you must use the Fing mobile app to control the functionality on the Fingbox.

Note: You cannot use Block and Pause on the same device at the same time.

Block a Device using the Fing Mobile App or App Controlled Agent, Monitoring Unit, or Fingbox

Use these steps to block a device using the Fing mobile App on iOS or Android. This procedure also includes how to access the Fingbox.

1. On your mobile phone, from the home screen or dashboard, click the circular icon with three dots at the top right of the page. The My Networks page is displayed.
2. Click the network with the Fingbox icon beside it.
3. Click on the Devices widget under Devices.
4. Select the Device you want to block.
5. Select the Block Device button at the bottom of the Device Detail window to block the selected device.

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After the device has been blocked, the Block button turns red and is renamed Unblock device. 

Unblock a Device Using Fingbox with the Fing Mobile App or App Controlled Agent, Monitoring Unit or Fingbox

To unblock a device click the red Unblock device button. 

After you unblock a device, you will immediately receive an alert if a new device joins your network. You will receive alerts on your Fing Mobile App, where you will get the option to allow or block the device from your network.

Block a device Using the Fing Desktop

To block a device with a Fing Desktop Premium subscription, do this:

Make sure the Context for your network is set to Home.  If prompted on the Fing Dashboard, select Assign Context, and click the Home button to confirm that your network is private.

1. From the Dashboard Overview, click the Devices tab in the left sidebar or click the blue See all devices button in the Connected Devices widget. The Devices page is displayed.
2. Click the device you wish to block. The Device details page is displayed.
3. Under the section Improve security to the right of the page, click the Block button

Note: The first time you use the feature, you will be prompted to review and agree with the Terms & Conditions before proceeding. You will be asked to confirm blocking the device indefinitely.  Click I Agree when prompted.   

Note: By clicking I agree, you are taking responsibility for any actions performed on your private/home network.

After the device is blocked, the status in at the top right of the page will change to Blocked. In the Devices page, a red hand icon is displayed next to the blocked device under the Status column.

Unblock a Device (Desktop Premium)

Under the Improve Security label to the right of the page, you will see that the Pause button is disabled and the Block button is labelled Unblock. Click Unblock.

Alternatively, unblock a device by clicking the Resume button, and when prompted, confirm that you want to unblock the device.  This will restore access to the network for the device.

Block or Pause a Device Using Fing Web App

To block a device using the Fing Web App, do this.

1. From the Fing Dashboard home page, select Devices from the Navigation Bar or the Devices Card to view a list of network devices.
2. Select the device you want to block or limit internet access to. The device detail window is displayed.
3. On the upper right side of the window, select the Block Network Access button to block a device or the Limit Network Access button to limit or restrict the time a device can access the netork. 

If you are limiting access, you are prompted to enter the amount of time you wish to limit access.  In the example above, access is limited to 2 hours.

Pause a Device using Fingbox with the Fing Mobile App

This example shows how to to Pause a device using Fingbox  with the Fing Mobile App on iOS or Android.  This procedure also shows how to access your Fingbox.

1. Make sure the Context for your network is set to Home.  To verify or set the Context, from the Fing dashboard, select the See Devices bar at the bottom of the screen.
2. Select Network from the menu at the top of the screen.  Then select Edit to display the network options--Home, Office, Rental, Public.
3. Click the Home button to specify a private network.
4. On your mobile phone, from the Dashboard or Home screen,  click the circular icon with three dots at the top right of the page
5. This will open the My Networks page.
6. Click the network with the Fingbox icon beside it.
7. Click on the Devices widget under Devices.
8. Select the Device you want to restrict Internet access to.
9. Select Pause Internet button at the bottom of the Device Detail window to block the selected device.
10. Select the duration for which you wish to pause Internet access.

Unpause or Resume Internet Access using the Fing Mobile App

When the network access is paused, the Pause Internet circular icon is red and labeled as Resume Internet. Click the red Resume Internet icon to resume Internet access for the device.

A new network scan will be scheduled to run when the time expires. This will update the list of your devices. Under normal usage, the timing is sharp. However, depending on the status of the PC (power-safe mode, sleep-mode), it may take a few additional minutes to run.

Pause Internet Using Desktop Premium

1. Under the Improve Security section to the right of the page, you will see that the Block button is disabled and the Pause button is labelled Resume.
2. Click Resume

Scheduling Internet Access and Downtime 

In addition to a single downtime instance, you can schedule regular internet downtimes, for example, parental control of internet devices.

You can stop a user's device from accessing the Internet during specific times or days, such as homework time for your child.  For example, this feature allows parents to implement parental control on children's internet usage.

Schedule Internet Downtime Using Fingbox with the Fing Mobile App

1. Open the Fing Mobile App.
2. Click Overview on the bottom toolbar
3. Click the Online Users widget. Alternatively, click the blue See devices button and click the People tab.
4. Scroll down and click the blue Create new schedule button. If you have any Scheduled Internet Pauses scheduled, they will be displayed here.
5. Select the type of schedule: Bedtime, Homework, Generic
6. Select the days and times you want to pause the user's Internet.
7. Click the user you wish to restrict.
8. Click Save.

Schedule Internet Downtime Using the Fing Desktop App

1. From Overview, click the Users widget. Alternatively, click the Online Devices widget and then click the People tab.
2. Scroll down to Schedule Internet downtime and click the blue Create new schedule button
3. Select the type of schedule: Bedtime, Homework, Generic and click OK
4. This will bring you to the Edit page. Here, select the days and times you wish to pause the user's/device's access to the Internet. You can also name the schedule.
5. Click the user you wish to restrict from accessing the Internet on these days and times
6. Click Save

Troubleshooting Block and Pause

This topic describes some basic system messages and recommended actions.

Click Troubleshooting Block and Pause, FAQ, and Technical Referenceto learn more about troubleshooting the Block and Pause functionalities as well as detailed technical information.

Message: The network context is missing

Action:  To set the context, click the Network tab in the left sidebar and click the blue highlighted text next to Context. You will be shown options to assign a network context to: Home, Office, Rental and Public.

Message: Your Network is not private

Action: The Context is not set as Home. To set the context to Home, click the Network tab in the left sidebar and select Assign Context. The network options are displayed. Select Home to assign context and set your network as private.

Message:  Terms & Conditions agreement is missing

The Terms & Conditions agreement must be included.  

Message:  Approval Pending

Access to the Block and Pause feature is under review by Fing for this Network. The Fing Support team will contact you before proceeding.

Message:  Approval Denied

Fing has denied access to the Block and Pause feature for this Network. Contact the Fing Support team if you think you own this Network.

Action:  Contact the Fing Support team if you think you own this Network.  You can contact the Support team for further instruction by clicking your name at the bottom left of the screen. Then click Help.

Additional Resources

How to block a device: Video

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