When I was younger and still living at home, we had one computer that hooked up to the internet. And yes, it was a dial-up connection that we had to pay long distant rates on because we lived in a rural area. To say that my parents didn’t have to worry about us online would be a safe bet. Sadly, I can’t make that same statement now that my children are on their devices and have access to the internet everywhere. Now I have to be able to monitor their usage, protect them from dangerous sites, and even be able to disconnect them completely from the internet in order to make sure they are using it wisely. Thankfully, I can set internet restrictions easily with the Gryphon router.
Gryphon
We started Gryphon because we believe there is a better way to keep our kids safe online in today’s connected world. I have two daughters and having Gryphons in our home has made a difference. We can’t be everywhere, but we know that when our girls are online, Gryphon is keeping them from the most inappropriate parts of the Internet. Screen time management is now the number one problem with parenting today and we hope Gryphon can play a part in helping you manage that in your home.
We at Gryphon also believe that home network security needs to evolve. The current network is an open door that allows any traffic to come in with no regards to who or what may be trying to come in. With so many connected devices, having an open door policy with our network is like living in a high crime neighborhood and having your front door AND windows open. We believe there is no better place to put a lock on than your WiFi router. It’s the only appliance in your home that every piece of data flows through. It’s just sensible to have a layer of defense at the network level. We at Gryphon are committed to transforming the connected home to a secure home – and do it in a way that’s easy to use and provide the coverage and throughput that is now essential for our connected lives.
My Thoughts:
If you have children in your home, and they have electronic devices..they have access to the internet. Most of the video games, tablets, cell phones, and almost all entertainment devices require a connection to the internet and this is where Gryphon closes the gap. Gryphon understands you are not able to monitor everything going on around your home. And yes, you want to trust your children; but you need to be able to verify and make sure they are only visiting approved sites. Gryphon makes it easy to set up restrictions to keep them safe and to encourage them to be accountable for their personal viewing.
My Favorite Features:
- Screen Time Management
- Remote Real Time Request & Approval
- Content Filtering with CrowdRanking™
- Network Security for the Entire Home with ESET Technology
- Software and Protection Updates
Setting up the router is really simple. It is a plug and play installation meaning you plug the device into the internet connection in your home and to a power source. Then install the app on your smartphone or tablet, scan the QR code on the bottom of your device, and you are good to start setting up the system for your home and all visiting users.
Once you have the router set up, you simply connect any of your devices to the system using the Gryphon app as needed. Believe me, it sounds far more complicated than it is! Being technology challenged, I was able to set it up without calling one of the teens or my husband! Oh, if you need a little help, just pop over to Gryphon’s website as they have how-to videos available on their website.
Just like different bedtimes for different ages of children, the access to the internet may need to be customized. I mean, you don’t want to stop your husband from reading the news and watching sports..well and then maybe.. just kidding! With the setting app you can customize limitations per each device. Don’t want the internet available during school hours or homework time? You can set time limits both for when it can be used and for how long. And should something come up or change, your child can request an exception through their device and you will be able to approve it even if not at home.
Another safety feature on the Gryphon is the ability to view the browsing history of any device. Even if the user has deleted it off their device. Again, as parents we have to “Trust but verify” often with our children in order to help them become responsible.
The Gryphon router covers most homes. It has about a 3,000 square foot range so most homes do not require a booster in order to get service on different levels. And being able to “pause” the internet does grab the attention of those that otherwise seem to always be looking down at their device. And knowing that lights out also includes devices is comforting to me as a parent.
There is so much awesome stuff online, and when used responsibly, the internet opens the world to us with just a click. But there is also a lot of things we do not want our children stumbling on just because they misspelled a word in an URL. Part of using the internet is learning how to be mindful of not only the amount of time spent online, but the information viewed.
The Gryphon is a must have smart home device that allows you to monitor and block internet activity for all devices in your home. You can even turn off the internet on devices, all from your phone. Now you can set the times and usage especially during dinner time, homework time, etc.. No more asking (ok nagging) your family to put down their devices!
One of these would be the perfect gift for any busy parent, and for a limited time it will be on sale for $199 on Amazon.
Make sure to follow Gryphon on social media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
We’ve added Gryphon to our 2018 MEGA Merry Christmas Gift Guide! Check it out here!
