Raising kids in such a high-tech environment is not the easiest thing in the world. One massive concern is a child being exposed to content way above their age range.

The rise of software such as Qustodia is a direct result of that, keeping children safe online and helping parents monitor what they’re watching. 

But none of that is much good if a parental control app can be easily sidestepped by the person it’s supposed to be monitoring.

Can A VPN Bypass Qustodio?

A VPN can bypass Qustodio. Qustodio will no longer filter web pages when you connect to a VPN. Qustodio may block VPN websites, but if a kid already has a VPN installed on their device or downloads one from the Google Chrome Web Store, they’ll be able to connect to it, bypass Qustodio and browse any website they wish.

The most effective way that people (mostly kids) get around Qustodio is by using a free VPN.

If you’re a concerned guardian, check every app that is installed on the device and make sure that none of them are VPNs.

Something else to watch for is that some of the newest smartphones, such as the Google Pixel 7, come with a free built-in VPN.

Most VPNs on the Chrome Web Store can bypass Qustodio, so anytime someone wants to go on YouTube or chat on discord, they only have to visit the Chrome Web Store, which is conveniently unblocked by default, and download a free VPN.

What kids don’t realize—or just don’t care about—is that free VPNs are never truly free. The cost, of course, is their privacy, which they give up in exchange for free VPN services.

What Qustodio Works On And How If Filters The Web

Qustodio doesn’t work on Brave, Opera, and Tor browsers but it does filter content on Safari, Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Thus it doesn’t work on some browsers, the software is designed to block them altogether.

The web filtering process is based on the settings input when Qustodio is first set up. Qustodio is designed to automatically block all VPN sites. In other words, if your child is on the internet and Qustodio is active, they won’t be able to access a VPN site.

However, if Qustodio is off, your child can access and download the necessary VPN software. While using a VPN, every single aspect of Qustodio disappears while web browsing. It was just like it had never been installed in the first place.

Related Article: Can A VPN Cause Roaming Charges? (Explained!)

How VPNs Bypass Qustodio

Since most parental controls are all about geo-restriction methods, that makes other VPNs their kryptonite. VPNs function by rerouting your connection and hiding your IP Address, along with your location. 

Since you are essentially hidden, there is nothing for Qustodio to monitor. It’s as if you aren’t even on the computer.  A VPN will work to bypass Qustodio on any device as well, including PCs, Macs, Smartphones, Tablets, Gaming Consoles, and Routers. 

The worst thing is, it’s so simple to pull off. 

  • Find a free or subscription service VPN
  • Download and install the VPN
  • Open the new VPN
  • Log in or create an account
  • Connect to whichever server that’s available

Once you’re connected, that’s it. You can browse the web freely without any disturbance or interference from Qustodio or any other parental control app for that matter.

Since most kids under 16 aren’t out making money, free VPNs are usually what they go for and it works like a charm.

All Things Considered

Now that you know a VPN can easily bypass Qustodio, it may make you reconsider everything you’re doing on your network. There are other options out there, especially ones with a more mobile focus. 

However, so long as free VPNs are easy to access and download, the vulnerabilities will remain.