Parental controls for internet use
Keep your family safe online with customisable parental controls from Virgin Media. Whether it's blocking unsuitable websites with Essential Security or pausing WiFi through the Virgin Media Connect app, you don't need to pay extra to keep kids safe at home.
And for total peace of mind, you can upgrade to Advanced Security.
Virgin Media Essential Security
Virgin Media Essential Security comes as standard on all Virgin Media broadband packages.
Essential Security slots straight into your home life, so you and the kids can enjoy all the stuff you love on the internet in a safer, healthier way. No more scam websites or unsuitable content – just head to your My Virgin Media account to customise what to block and when.
Essential Security is always on guard, warning you before your devices are exposed to anything malicious. So your family can browse to the max, knowing we’ve got your backs. The best bit? It’s built into your home’s WiFi network, at no extra cost – and it’s automatically activated when you join us, so you don’t need to lift a finger.
Essential Security’s parental controls lets the account holder block sites that they consider inappropriate for their children, for added web safety and online security. You can manage the parental control settings for your family in the Account Settings section of My Virgin Media. Parental controls are easily customisable by clicking on the Categories, Websites or Set timer filters, so that you can control the level of protection. By turning on and opting in to parental controls, Virgin Media will block the following unsuitable site categories automatically:
- Pornography
- Violence
- Crime
- Hate
- Drugs
- Hacking
- Suicide and self-harm
- Address hiding
These categories will remain blocked until you turn parental controls off. If parental controls are turned off, the settings are saved until parental controls are turned on again. Only the main account holder can turn parental controls on or off.
Virgin Media Connect app
The Connect app is the control unit for your WiFi that lets you optimise your WiFi to your needs. You can see all your connected devices and pause WiFi to individual ones whenever you like – perfect for when it’s the kids’ bedtime.
Find out more about the Connect app here.
Virgin Media Advanced Security
Although Essential Security protects all your devices connected via our WiFi Hub, Virgin Media Advanced Security, protects the device it’s installed on – wherever you are in the world. Advanced Security is powered by F-Secure, our award winning security partner.
Keep kids safe online and help them find a healthy balance with flexible family tools, including customisable blocks on stuff they don’t need to see. If you’re not sure where to start, you can always select pre-defined rules depending on the age of your child. Plus, you can protect family time by hitting pause on digital content by putting time limits on kids’ devices.
Advanced Security is powered by F-Secure – our award winning security partner. Browse, bank and buy worry-free with watertight antivirus checking and instant alerts against phishing websites, so you’re warned long before anyone can steal your identity, passwords or bank details.
Sign up today and get Advanced Security on all your devices for three months at no extra cost – then download it on all your online devices to get going. We won’t ask for any payment info – so you don’t need to worry about sneaky auto-renewals or unexpected bills.
For the best protection, we recommend using both Virgin Media Essential Security and Advanced Security.
Go to the Virgin Media Advanced Security help page to find out more and register for Advanced Security to start your 3-month trial today.
Switched On Families
Modern life is busy, and you may not always be present when your child is using the internet. That’s why we’ve put together an interactive guide to give families honest and useful advice on keeping safe online, called Switched On Families. Stay informed and make sure your tribe is benefitting from all the good stuff the web has to offer, with none of the risk.
Internet Matters
Virgin Media and other major broadband providers have launched Internet Matters, a not-for-profit organisation that offers expert advice and practical online security tips to keep families safe; while supporting broadband parental controls.
Reporting online threats
If you find terrorist information, photos or videos while online, please report it through the dedicated government site. You can also report threats anonymously if you’d prefer.
Popular Links
The legal stuff
*Monthly price of Virgin Media’s main services and O2 Airtime Plan will increase each April from April 2025 by the Retail Price Index rate of inflation announced in February each year plus 3.9%. Doesn’t apply to any add-ons you may have selected, out-of-bundle charges or admin costs, which may increase separately. See www.virginmedia.com/prices and www.o2.co.uk/prices for details.
Virgin Media £50 bill credit: This offer is available to new Virgin Media customers ordering M500 broadband only online. This bill credit will be applied to your first bill. Any that’s left over will be applied to your following bills until it’s all used. This offer runs between 31 October and 11.59pm on 6 November 2024.
Virgin Media £75 bill credit: This offer is available to new Virgin Media customers ordering Gig1 broadband only online. This bill credit will be applied to your first bill. Any that’s left over will be applied to your following bills until it’s all used. This offer runs between 31 October and 11.59pm on 6 November 2024.
Virgin Media M500 Fibre Broadband: New customers only with existing O2 contract. Minimum term applies to your broadband service, check basket for details. M500 Fibre Broadband (average download speed 516Mbps). 18-month minimum term product: £32.99* a month for 18 months, then £72* a month thereafter. Offer ends 04/11/24. Monthly price will increase each April by Retail Index Price +3.9% Broadband only. If you cancel your service during your minimum term an early disconnection fee will apply. If you upgrade any aspect of the service, standard pricing will apply to that upgrade. Virgin Media reserves the right to withdraw or amend the pricing if you change any part of your package. Virgin Media reserves the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Offer may not be used in conjunction with any other offer unless stated by Virgin Media. Eligible Virgin Fibre areas only. Virgin TV 360 and, for the time being, home phone is not available in new network expansion areas. Subject to survey, network capacity and a credit check. No set-up fee for self-install, Technician installation costs £30.
Virgin Media M500 Fibre Broadband (Speed Boost to Gig1) ‘Save £126’: achieved by £7 per month saving over 18 months compared to current price for Gig1 (Broadband Only) for non-O2 customers.
No setup fee
This promotion means you won’t pay the usual setup fee of £35. No setup fee is available on all bundles, broadband & phone, and broadband only packages. If you can set up using a Self-Install pack, but choose to use an engineer for the installation, you’ll still be charged £30 for this service.
These prices are for new customers only.
Virgin Media services are only available in eligible Virgin Media network areas. Virgin TV 360 and, for the time being, home phone are not available in new network expansion areas.
All of the products on this page are subject to survey, network capacity and a credit check.
Each service has a minimum contract length that’s shown in your basket.
If you take a bundle with both Virgin Media and O2, you’ll have separate contracts and bills – one for Virgin Media, and another for O2.
- Offers are subject to eligibility and availability.
- Read the terms on the Priority app or at o2.co.uk/terms
Get fast, reliable WiFi gliding through every room or money back
Eligible Virgin Fibre areas only. WiFi Guarantee available with M50 broadband or faster. £8p/m extra or included with Gig1, Gig2 or Volt. At least 30Mbps download speeds in every room or £100 one-off credit. Up to 3 WiFi Pods if needed. Exclusions & legal stuff apply.
†To verify, see: /legal/awards. Best Broadband Experience Award: GWS network award based on national tests Dec ’23-May ’24 comparing major UK providers’ average scores in respect of speed, reliability, latency, packet loss & video streaming. User speed depends on broadband package choice. Virgin Fibre areas only. Best Combined Connectivity Experience: based on GWS test results Dec '23-May '24 comparing data connectivity performance of major UK mobile operators and their associated ISP partners to form a combined score across both mobile network and WiFi experience. Best in Test: based on umlaut Fixed Broadband Benchmark 2023 comparing major UK ISPs on download speed, upload speed, latency and stability. Uswitch Most Popular Broadband Provider: based on Uswitch consumer research Dec 2022 - Jan 2023 conducted by Opinium comparing broadband sales volumes and overall customer satisfaction of major UK ISP operators, split equally to form a combined score.