D-Link D-Fend bundles parental controls and internet security into a router

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 12 March 2019

D-Link wants to help parents lock down their home networks with the D-Fend, a new Wi-Fi router featuring comprehensive parental controls and integrated security software.

"The new D-Link D-Fend Wi-Fi router is one of our most significant products released to date," said D-Link ANZ MD Graeme Reardon. "With a unique set of parental controls, parents can now set profiles for each child to manage the content available to them, as well as have the control to pause internet access whenever they wish.

"As a father of young children myself, being able to simply hit pause on my phone to bring an end to their latest video game or their YouTubing to get them to the dinner table on time is fantastic."

A suite of parental controls - managed by an app available on iOS and Android - allow you to block access to content categories, set internet curfews, and disconnect the internet on a device-by-device basis. This is however probably a better solution for devices such a laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles - kids with smartphones could simply disconnect from Wi-Fi and drop back to 4G to avoid any restrictions. (If you're looking for smartphone-centric solutions, read about parental controls for iPhone here, and parental controls for Samsung Galaxy smartphones here.)

If you have a Google Assistant or Alexa enabled device, you can configure the D-Fend to work with these. For example, you can ask the relevant assistant to turn internet access on or off for a certain device or user. Just make sure your kids don't catch wind of this.

The other part of the D-Fend story is integrated internet protection, facilitated by McAfee. D-Link says that the device will automatically protect every device connected to your network using the McAfee Smart Home Platform. The D-Fend includes a five-year subscription to this service (valued at $600) and a two-year subscription to McAfee Live Safe internet security software for computers, tablets, and smartphones.

The D-Link D-Fend Wi-Fi Router is available now through Australian retailers priced at $499.95.

Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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