Apple to address bug enabling access to blocked websites in Safari parental controls

Apple is addressing a bug found in the parental control tool of the Safari browser that allows users to bypass restrictions on websites not suitable for minors by inputting specific characters in the address bar. The tool, named ‘Time of Use’, is Apple’s native parental control feature that helps manage time and access limits to websites and applications for minors to safely navigate the internet.

This solution is intended to block access to websites with inappropriate content for children and teenagers, such as violent or pornographic material. The restriction is supposed to apply to the Safari browser, but a recent investigation by The Wall Street Journal revealed that it can be circumvented by entering a specific set of characters in the address bar, allowing access to blocked websites.

Apple has acknowledged the issue and stated that they are currently working on a fix for this bug, which will be included in the next software update. The company has confirmed that the bug affects the web technology protocol and has been active since 2021, impacting iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers. However, it has not been widely exploited during this time.