Net Nanny for Android FAQs
1. Which versions of Android does Net Nanny support?
Net Nanny For Android is currently compatible with Android versions 2.2 (Froyo) and greater. A version of Net Nanny for iOS is also available.
2. How do I get customer service support for Net Nanny for Android?
Net Nanny for Android customer service is available via email at support@netnanny.com.
3. Will Net Nanny work on any Android phone or tablet?
Net Nanny for Android is compatible with all versions of Android 2.2 (Froyo) and greater and requires an ARMv7 CPU. Most devices that run Android version 2.2 or greater will generally meet the hardware (CPU) requirement also. If you experience a compatibility issue with your device please notify us at support@netnanny.com.
You can check the version of Android on most devices by selecting Settings > About Phone/Device > Software Information. If your version of Android is below 2.2, you may be able to update it by choosing "Software Updates" (often also in the "About Phone/Device" section), then selecting "Check Now" to force the device to immediately check for updates.
To check your CPU, download the app Quick System Info from the Android Market: http://bit.ly/Ac2gms.
4. How much disk space will Net Nanny use on my Android device?
The Net Nanny for Android app currently uses approximately 40 MB of space on the mobile device it is protecting.
5. How do I make changes to Net Nanny settings once its installed?
After the initial installation, you can make changes to the settings for your protected Android device(s) from any web browser. You do not need to have the protected device in your hand to view or change its settings. Simply login to the Administration Console (at http://admin.netnanny.com or go to the Net Nanny website and select "Login" from the top right corner of the page. Log in using the email and password created when you purchased your Net Nanny for Android account.
6. Can I prevent my child from accessing a specific website with Net Nanny for Android?
Yes. You can block specific websites by using the Custom Category feature from within the Administrative Console (to log in, see question 5 above). Click on the "Overrides" tab, and then select "Custom Categories." To block a website, select the "Objectionable Websites" custom category that has already been created for you. Enter the URL(s) for the website(s) you would like to block in the box under the heading titled "Websites" and click Save. The URLs in the list for this category will now be blocked for all users. If you would like to block (or allow) URLs for specific users, create a new custom category and assign that category to the specific users to be blocked (or allowed). For instructions on how to create new custom categories, see "What is a custom category and why might I use one?"
7. Can I block Facebook and YouTube with Net Nanny for Android?
Net Nanny for Android will filter and block any content that is viewed via the Net Nanny for Android web browser. Furthermore, a rule can be created to block entire sites such as YouTube or Facebook (see question 6 above). However, Net Nanny does not currently block the installation of applications on a mobile device and cannot filter the content delivered through any applications outside of the Net Nanny for Android web browser. Net Nanny for Android permits application inventories and application blocking for just this purpose.
8. Cant my kids just install or use another mobile browser to get around Net Nanny?
Once installed, Net Nanny for Android will block all other Internet browsers from launching. If a user attempts to launch a browser other than the Net Nanny browser, they will receive a message stating, "Net Nanny has blocked this application," and they will be given the option to launch the Net Nanny browser instead. This protection applies to all browsers installed before and after the installation of Net Nanny for Android.
9. What will prevent a user from uninstalling the Net Nanny for Android application?
Net Nanny for Android has built-in removal prevention. Removal of the Net Nanny app or any other app is username/password protected and requires a Net Nanny Administrator password before allowing the application to be uninstalled. The Administrator password is the one you used when creating your Net Nanny for Android account. An Administrator username/password is also required to access other areas within Net Nanny, which could potentially allow a user to uninstall or disable Net Nanny, such as Application Management or Running Processes.
10. What is the difference between the free trial and the paid version of Net Nanny for Android?
The Net Nanny for Android app can be installed for free from various mobile software markets or from our website. The free trial version of the software is fully-featured and will operate for 14 days. During the installation process you can select to purchase Net Nanny for Android. You can also purchase at any time during the trial by clicking on the "Buy Now" button in the top right corner of the Administration Console. Finally, you can purchase Net Nanny for Android directly from our website.
11. When I make a change to the settings for Net Nanny in the Administration Console, how long before it is applied to the phone or tablet that the software is protecting?
Changes made in the Administration Console to the settings of Net Nanny for Android are applied within a minute to the device — if the device is connected to Internet. If a device is not connected to the Internet, the changes are immediately applied the next time the device connects to the Internet.
12. What is a "User" and why do I need to create Users?
Net Nanny for Android associates settings with a "User." Users do not necessarily need to represent a single person, and can be named anything that will help you recognize the settings for the person or group you wish to protect. Net Nanny for Android allows you to create as many "Users" as you like. Each User can have custom settings for allowed/blocked/warned websites and categories of websites and many other customizations. Users are inactive until you "Link" or associate them with a device that has the Net Nanny for Android software installed. This is done on the "Devices" tab of the Administration Console.
13. I created a User and applied settings to the User but it is not being applied on the mobile device. What could be wrong?
A new Users settings will not be applied to a mobile device until that User is associated (or "linked") with a device that has the Net Nanny for Android software installed. To link a User, login to the Administration Console and select the "Devices" tab. Click on the device you would like to associate with the User. Click the "Registered User" dropdown menu and select the User you would like to associate with that device, then click Save. That Users settings will automatically be applied to the device within 60 seconds (if the device is connected to the Internet). If the device is not connected to the internet, the changes are applied the next time the device connects.
14. What is a custom category and why might I use one?
Custom categories are powerful advanced features that allow an Administrator to customize the way Net Nanny filters web pages. They can be used to create "whitelists" and "blacklists" for the entire family, or just for specific users. You can even assign different actions to different Users for the same custom category. Creating and managing custom categories is fast and easy. To block certain URLs for specific Users, create a new custom category and assign that category to the specific users you would like to block. First click on the "Overrides" tab, then select the "Custom Categories " sub-tab. Click on the "Create Category" button and enter a Name and description (optional) for the category. As an example, you might select "Our Kids Blocked Sites" for the name and "Sites we dont want our kids to visit" for the description. Uncheck the box that says "All Users" and choose "Select Users." Then select the users you would like this category to apply to and press "Save." By default, the new category action is set to "Allow"; change this setting by selecting the User and changing the action for this new category to "Block." These same steps can be performed for Allow and Warn actions.
15. What happens when a category is set to "warn"?
The "Warn" action allows the user a chance to avoid a potentially objectionable site. If a category is set to Warn, when a user browses to a page that contains content of that category, a warning page similar to the Net Nanny block page will be displayed, notifying the user that the page they are about to visit contains content that is potentially objectionable. The user can then choose to ignore the warning and proceed to the page or press "Back" in order to return to the previous page. This category is useful for parents who wish to allow their children a little more leeway on the internet, while giving them the opportunity to make responsible decisions.
16. What does "masking" do in the Profanity category?
Profanity Masking will replace profanity or vulgar words on a web page with a string of characters such as "###." This will allow the page to load, but prevents the user from seeing the profanity. Note that many pages that contain profanity also contain other mature content that may still cause the page to be blocked by Net Nanny.
17. Will Net Nanny For Android work on WiFi, 3G & 4G?
Yes. Net Nanny For Android will filter web pages over WiFi , 3G, 4G and EDGE networks.
18. Will Net Nanny For Android work on the Kindle Fire?
Yes. Net Nanny For Android is compatible with the Kindle Fire (note: not currently compatible with Kindle Fire HD or Kindle Fire 2). However, if you obtained Net Nanny For Android from a source other than the Amazon marketplace, you must first enable the "Allow installation of applications from unknown sources" setting. To do this, select "Device" from the settings menu, then turn on "Allow Installation of Applications From Unknown Sources." Once Net Nanny is installed, you can return this setting to the Off position. Note that when you obtain Net Nanny for Kindle from a source other than the Amazon Marketplace, Amazon intentionally displays the icon in the carousel in low-resolution format. This has no impact on the functionality of Net Nanny or your Kindle device. It is perfectly acceptable to install applications that were obtained outside of the Amazon Marketplace.
19. How do I uninstall Net Nanny for Android?
Net Nanny for Android has multiple levels of password protection to prevent an unauthorized user from uninstalling the software. To uninstall the Net Nanny for Android on your mobile device, you must first remove Net Nanny as a Device Administrator in Android System Settings. Once Net Nanny has been removed as a Device Administrator go to “Settings,” then “Applications” then “Manage Applications,” choose “Net Nanny” from the list of installed applications and then select “Uninstall.” This process will prompt you for the Net Nanny Administrator password before the software can be removed from your mobile device.
20. How do I get the Adobe® Flash® Player to work in Net Nanny for Android?
Adobe® Flash® Player support for Net Nanny is new, and is not enabled by default. In order for the Flash Player to work you must complete the following steps.
- Ensure that the Adobe Flash Player is installed on your device (available from free the Google Play Store)
- Open your Net Nanny browser and enter about:config into the address bar
- After entering the above into the address bar the advanced browser settings for Net Nanny will open
- In the search settings enter plugin.disable
- Tap the Toggle button so that the setting shows false
- In the search settings type dom.ipc.plugins.enabled
- Tap the toggle button so the setting shows false
Reboot your Android device for the changes to take effect.
Note: Plugin support, which is required for Flash, is not available on devices running Android 3.x (Honeycomb). Therefore Flash will not work on these devices.