A portable hardware device such as a USB memory stick is used to provide parental locking functionality to a computer. When the device is coupled to the computer, the computer is unlocked and allowed to operate normally. When the device is not coupled to the computer, the computer is locked, and some or all of the computing functionality is blocked. This enables parents to lock and unlock a child's computer with a key. A detecting module detects the coupling and uncoupling of devices to the computer. When a device is coupled to the computer, an identifying module identifies the device by reading its unique identifier, and determining whether the coupled device is the one being used as the key. If so, the computer is unlocked, and allowed to operate. If not, a blocking module blocks at least some capabilities of the computer.

Methods and systems are disclosed herein for a media guidance application that provides advanced parental control features. As described herein, these advanced parental control features may allow parents to establish parental controls in a dynamic and individualized manner. Moreover, the media guidance application may relieve a first user (e.g., a parent) of the burden of continually monitoring the statistical analysis (e.g., a ratio) of the programming choices of a second user (e.g., a child) by establishing one or more threshold analyses (e.g., a threshold ratio) that the media guidance application may automatically compare to the statistical analysis of the programming choices of the second user.