COMPARISON of PARENTAL CONTROL TOOLS Resource for Parents and Educators ! Criteria Used for the Evaluation

COMPARISON OF PARENTAL CONTROL TOOLS Resource for parents and educators ! Criteria used for the evaluation

Usability • Installation and configuration procedures should be kept simple and explained in plain language. • The software should: - be easy to learn, - follow consistent concepts, - conform with user expectations about how it works, have an appealing design, - provide a good overview on all features. • Blocking • Dialogue with the user should be easy to understand and when directed at children should use child sensitive language. ! Effectiveness • Most tools are usually not very effective in filtering harmful web content. In any case, adult content is not the only threat to children. It is important that such tools also be much more effective with regard to content about violence, racism, self-harm, and, also on user generated content (social networks, blogs, forums, etc.). • Although not distributed anymore, the AOL filtering tool was satisfactorily effective. Thus, it may serve as a best practice example for other software producers. • The database containing the black list should be updated at least with every update of the tool. ! Functionality • After the installation process is completed, default filtering should be in operation even when the user did not perform or finish a configuration. should be transparent to users. • If the creation of user profiles within the filtering tool is linked with the Windows user profile system, parents should be clearly warned (with an alert in a pop-up window or similar) about the need to set-up a separate Windows profile and make the admin account password protected. Even better, if there is only one Windows profile, the parent should be guided in the creation of the other profiles". • Tools should clearly indicate what kind of filtering is performed on social networks. Is the access to Facebook or similar websites blocked? Is the content filtered? Are interactions with other users filtered or blocked? • It should be possible, by default or as an option, to force the child/teenager to search the web using the safe mode of the three main search engines (Google Safe Search, Bing Safe Search or Yahoo! Safe Search). • When a page is blocked, the child/teenager should be able to ask the parent to override the blocking when they feel that the blocked content is not harmful. • Blocking applications: To keep it simple, parents should be provided with a list of applications installed on the computer, for example, in the Windows control panel, instead of having to locate the .exe file on the hard disk. • Blocking personal data (name, address, phone number) being provided by the child/teenager should be implemented in all tools such as MSN and Skype, and also work on websites (blogs, Facebook, webmail). • Very often, blocking categories are based on blocking content in the workplace (i.e. “sports”, “finance”, etc.). Tool providers should consider youth needs when creating the databases for black lists and white lists and provide explanations on what these refer to (to make it more transparent for parents). • The reporting of the online activities of the child/teenager and the blocked content should be simple, concise, and provide the essential pertinent information. Sometimes, information provided appears to be designed for business use and not for home or private users. ! ! !1 ! ! • Communication between children and parents is the most important issue in youth protection, therefore, the child should always be aware of the monitoring of his/her online activities. ! Security • Harmful content should not be accessible through Google Cache or Google Translator. • Creation of a password for administration (and uninstallation) should be compulsory. • The tools should work and be compatible with the most popular browsers, or, alternatively, block the download and installation of other browsers. • The tools should be resistant to some simple hacking or by-passing actions: - Uninstalling the software without a password, - Changing date and time of the computer to override time limits of Internet usage, - Renaming a blocked application, - Closing the software through the Task Manager. ! Note: All scores are the averages of ratings for different age groups from the European Commission Benchmarking of Parental Control Tools SIP-Bench III for all age groups, apart from Netfilter and Qustodio Parental Control 2015 which are estimates set out by Interaxion.

!2 Qustodio Parental Control 2015

Description: Impressive parental control system includes almost everything parents could want. Children’s online activity is tracked across multiple devices. Configuration and monitoring can be handled remotely while parents receive email notifications of breaches of conduct. Sites associated with 29 different categories can be blocked while real-time analysis evaluates uncategorised websites upon access. The browser-independent filter effectively deals with secure proxies by blocking access and even filtering any traffic through them. Safe Search is forced on major search engines. Time scheduler limits Internet use for each child, as well as device use and use of apps. Social networking activity is cleverly monitored through an Evaluation* app that the child must install to access the sites, which tracks the child’s posts, pictures and comments on various Overall Evaluation 2,8 sites, although only the identity of friends talked to is Functionality 3,5 reported and not the content of these chats. The Android Effectiveness 2,8 version boasts impressive features like location tracking, call blocking and a panic button. Parents can opt to Usability 3,0 receive daily or weekly reports on their child’s online Security 4,0 activity which breaks it down by categories. * All scores are out of a maximum of 4

Qustodio is among the very best in the market and so only suffers from a few weaknesses. Firstly, the iOS support is very limited in scope. It can filter content and enforce Safe Technical information Search but only if the Qustodio browser is used by the Devices PC/ Mac/ Mobile devices (incl. Kindle) child. There is no tracking of usage, including that of Operating Windows/ Android/ iOS particular apps, which is a serious weak point in. the iOS Systems version. There is no monitoring of games played either on Price (yearly) €35 (5 accounts on 5 devices) the Internet or using Internet connectivity, unlike some Web Address http://www.qustodio.com other systems. Users have also indicated problems with restricting offline time on the computer, dealing with Language 5 majr European languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian and customer support and their computer speed after Portuguese) downloading Qustodio. Qustodio Parental Control 2015 is a pcmag.com Editor’s Choice for parental control.

!3 PureSight Owl

Description: PureSight is similar to other internet filter software as it boasts basic parental control features like content filtering and Internet scheduling. However, PureSight also addresses the serious topic of cyberbullying on IM and can terminate the conversation, block the perpetrator, and notify parents if necessary. Protection is offered across multiple devices. PureSight also uses artificial intelligence technology to ensure that nothing is missed, as it recognises dangerous sites that are too new to be tagged as such. The parent portal allows parents remote access to information about their children’s online lives and enables them to set rules for Internet use.

Evaluation* In spite of its many positive aspects, there are some issues with this system. The online parental control system is Overall Evaluation 2,7 slow to use in comparison with other alternatives. Functionality 3,4 PureSight fails to provide any substantial management of Eﬀectiveness 2,2 social networking which undermines its anti-cyberbullying features. Like the majority of other systems out there, Usability 3,1 PureSight’s site blocking process is weakened by being Security 4,0 unable to prevent evasion through browsing via a secure * All scores are out of a maximum of 4 proxy. The price may not be exorbitant (at €35 per year for protection across 3 devices) but free alternatives oﬀer similar levels of protection without the cost. This system is only available in English and Spanish. Technical information Devices PC/ Mac/ Smartphones and tablets For the fourth year in a row, PureSight ranks highest in the Operating Windows/ Android European Commission Benchmarking of Parental Control Systems Tools SIP-Bench III for all age groups. Price (yearly) €35 (Varies depending on number of devices. Annual and monthly rates) Web Address http://www.puresight.com Language English/ Spanish

!4 Norton Online Family

Description: An excellent parental control system that emphasises communication over control. Parents configure the “House Rules” online which are then available to view for the children. They can block sites or simply warn their children when accessing them, while children are told to log off once they reach a time limit rather than being forced off. These measures may prove more fruitful in teaching good online behaviour to children, as they are kept involved in the process. The scheduler places limits on computer use. Effective IM monitoring effective allows for both the monitoring of conversations and blocking of friends. Visits to social networking sites are tracked and parents are notified if the child signs up for a Evaluation* new account, submits a false age or posts personal information. “Safe Search” can also be enabled. This set- Overall Evaluation 2,5 up is ideal for a multi-computer household as parents can Functionality 1,8 manage configuration and view reports/ notifications Effectiveness 2,1 remotely. Best of all, it’s free! Usability 3,1 The only problems are quite minor ones. Email notifications Security 4,0 about incidents don’t link to the event in question in the * All scores are out of a maximum of 4 log but instead bring you back to the programme’s homepage. The system doesn’t possess the real-time analysis that quickly evaluates uncategorised sites upon access, although the sites are queried for evaluation and Technical information possible manual review in the future. Site blocking can be Devices PC/ Mac made redundant by the use of a secure proxy which allows Operating Windows/ Android/ iOS the child to evade it. However, this is a problem that Systems affects almost all parental control systems. It is also Price (yearly) Free (€40 for premier version per browser-specific for Firefox and Internet Explorer, so year) children using unrecognised browsers can surf Web Address https://onlinefamily.norton.com unmonitored. Language 25 different languages (incl. English, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, etc.)

!5 Kaspersky Internet Security 2015

Description: Part of a general security package but just as comprehensive as some standalone products. The system provides site blocking, as part of its browser-independent filter, and its real-time analysis quickly evaluates uncategorised websites upon access. It blocks access to secure proxy sites. Each child has its own account and configuration settings. A scheduling system places weekly and daily limits on Internet use. Time limits can also be placed on the use of individual apps. IM and social networking communication is monitored effectively. Parents can control who their child is allowed to contact and prevent the transmission of personal information, while the system records all conversations and flags any that Evaluation* contain certain keywords. Downloads of certain types of files can be blocked while Safe Search is enabled for Overall Evaluation 2,4 Google and Bing. Another notable feature is the rating- Functionality 3,4 based protection provided when running games. Parents Effectiveness 1,8 can view a summary of their child’s internet or messaging usage either locally or remotely. The report provides detail Usability 2,5 on the websites visited and all communications. Security 3,0

* All scores are out of a maximum of 4 Kaspersky runs into problems that prevent it from being as good as the best standalone products. Firstly, time limits are exclusive to a single device so the child can continue on a separate device once they hit their limit. Secondly, Technical information Kaspersky experiences the same problems with managing Devices PC/ Mac web-based messaging systems as most other systems Operating Windows/ Android/ iOS which mean that children are less monitored when using Systems sites like Yahoo! Web Messenger. Thirdly, the system is Price (yearly) €55 (for one device for one year. Each completely local meaning that remote management is additional device costs extra. impossible and there is no way of notifying parents of risky Cheapest system quoted.) behaviour. Lastly, the price is relatively high compared to Web Address http://www.kaspersky.com the rest of the market (€55 for one device for one year) and Language A wide range (incl. English, each additional device costs extra which is an obvious Spanish,Italian, Chinese, etc.) negative, especially as free alternatives can oﬀer a similar and even superior level of protection.

!6 K9 Web Protection

Description: A free parental control utility that does an effective job despite its limitations. The software blocks websites in more than 70 categories and allows the user to select them in groups which simplifies configuration, while custom lists can also be created. Website blocks can be overridden by a Supervisor password, if parents want to access these sites or allow their children to. Real-time categorisation of websites that don’t appear on the database is also offered, which is a feature that is lacking in many other parental control systems. Safe Search can be forced on all major search engines while non- childproofed ones can be blocked instead. Time limits can be set to block access during designated times. Evaluation*

The limitations of K9 Web Protection mean that it is a less Overall Evaluation 2,2 comprehensive parental control system than other Functionality 1,6 alternatives. Firstly, there is no per-user configuration Effectiveness 1,8 meaning that the settings are blindly universal for all users regardless of age. Users have complained about how Usability 2,6 these settings can then interfere with parents and older Security 4,0 teenagers’ use of the computer and require them to enter a * All scores are out of a maximum of 4 password to reach a blocked site. The time limit aspect is similarly limited because daily and weekly maximums cannot be set. A log is kept of all websites visited but this crucially omits the username who visited each site, thereby Technical information reducing its relevance. A major issue is the lack of control Devices PC/ Mobile Phone or monitoring of IM. The lack of notifications alerting Operating Windows/ Android/ iOS parents to risky behaviour by their child is problematic Systems while the lack of remote management of the system Price (yearly) Free (€40 fo premier version per year) impacts on its usability. The system is only available in English. Web Address http://www1.k9webprotection.com Language English only

!7 Net Nanny (Version 7)

Description: Net Nanny 7 can monitor children’s online activity across all devices, which is particularly useful for larger families. The system offers the most effective web filtering feature on the market. There are 17 categories which can be blocked while real-time analysis is performed on uncategorised websites upon access. This analysis operates on a page-by-page basis meaning that only the harmful pages of a website will be blocked. Net Nanny adopts an intelligent approach to dealing with profanity, which allow parents to simply mask profanity on a page meaning that a harmless page won’t be blocked. Traffic through a secure proxy can be filtered which is impressive considering other systems can only block secure proxy Evaluation* sites. Time limits apply for the child across all devices. Email notifications for parents can include scenarios like Overall Evaluation 2,1 continuing after a warning or attempting to disable the Functionality 2,4 system. Weekly activity summaries for each child are also Effectiveness 1,5 provided. Configuration and reporting can be accessed remotely. The Android version allows parents to block Usability 2,4 specific apps and access to the Play Store if required. Security 4,0

* All scores are out of a maximum of 4 Price is an issue as parents have to pay extra for each device that they want Net Nanny to protect. Installing it on one computer for one year costs a reasonable market price of €35, but installing it on 10 PCs/ devices costs Technical information substantially more at €75 for a year. However, the €75 per Devices PC/ Mac/ Mobile devices year Family Protection Pass is the recommended package Operating Windows/ Android/ iOS as it comes with a year’s subscription to Net Nanny Social Systems which lets parents monitor their children’s social Price (yearly) €75 per year for recommended networking activity. This newest edition of Net Nanny does package of 10 devices. let go of certain minor features from previous versions, Web Address http://www.netnanny.com including monitoring of IM, but these omissions are largely unnoticeable. The i0S version is not really comparable to Language English only the others as it’s a very diﬀerent product that doesn’t link to the main Net Nanny account. The system is only available in English.

Net Nanny (Version 7) is a pcmag.com Editor’s Choice for parental control.

!8 Trend Micro Online Guardian for Families

Description: The strength of Trend Micro Online Guardian for Families lies in its innovative monitoring of social networking which provides detailed reports of children’s activity on these sites. Recent activity on all sites is listed while playable links are provided to recently viewed videos on YouTube. Facebook can be particularly closely monitored, including all recent messages and posted items while a link is provided to the account itself. IM communication is also monitored and the sending of personal information can be blocked. All computers in the house can be protected by the same local agent. Detailed reports of children’s Internet activity are available on the website. There are 27 categories of websites that can be Evaluation* blocked and preconﬁgured options depending on the child’s age. Parents can implement default internet access Overall Evaluation 2,1 schedules or conﬁgure their own. Functionality 1,7

Effectiveness 1,6 The system’s lightweight nature results in a number of glaring security limitations. Safe Search is not forced on Usability 2,9 the major search engines. Parents only receive email Security 3,0 notifications when their child attempts to send personal * All scores are out of a maximum of 4 information and not when their child tries to access a blocked site. Most worryingly, the basic features of web filtering and Internet time scheduling can be easily defeated by tech-savvy teenagers, which has been a Technical information concern voiced by users. Web filtering can be disabled by Devices PC/ Mobile Phone running a command, using a secure proxy or an Operating Windows unrecognised browser, as the system is unusually not Systems browser-independent. Changing the system time on the Price (yearly) 25,00 € computer makes the scheduling feature redundant while time limits fail to apply across all computers. The tracking Web Address http://www.trendmicro.com of social networking can also be evaded by using an Language A wide range (incl. English, Spanish, unsupported browser. Italian, etc.)

!9 McAfee Family Protection

Description: This system protects children on up to 3 devices. There is both remote and local access to configuration while settings apply across all devices. Web filtering is browser independent. Content can be blocked by choosing from 35 categories, customising a list of undesirable sites or selecting search terms to avoid. Traffic through secure proxies is filtered unlike the vast majority of other systems. Safe Search can be forced on the major search engines. Inappropriate YouTube videos can be blocked based on age ratings. Email, IM and social network communication is monitored. Explicit songs on iTunes can be blocked as can access to online game sites and internet connectivity for games that require it. Daily Evaluation* maximum time-limit apply across all devices. The software notifies parents through email or text when the child Overall Evaluation 1,9 misbehaves online, as part of an innovative threshold- Functionality 2,7 based alert system which tells parents if their child makes Effectiveness 1,2 concerted efforts to access forbidden sites, for example. Daily and weekly activity reports include links to sites Usability 2,4 visited and videos watched. Security 4,0

* All scores are out of a maximum of 4 Disappointingly, the entire system can be temporarily disabled through a simple network command. The monitoring of social networking is limited, as web-based messaging services, like Facebook chat, cannot be Technical information tracked while only posts that contain profanity, personal Devices PC/ Mac information or inappropriate language can be recorded. Operating Windows/ Android Users have expressed frustration with the slow speed of Systems the system and the sometimes unhelpful customer Price (yearly) €40 (for up to 3 devices) support, although this varies by case. The price is above- average by market standards (€40 for a year’s protection of Web Address http://home.mcafee.com/store/family- protection up to 3 devices) so there are cheaper and equally eﬀective alternatives available. Language A wide range (incl. English, Spanish, Italian, etc.)

!10 Netfilter

Description: Blocks sites under 7 different categories, including pornographic and violent online content. Specific websites can similarly be blocked or allowed. Content filtering is browser-independent and the system keeps track of all browsing history, even deleted history. Internet usage can be restricted by time limits while internet access can be completely denied to programmes like IM and social networking. Access to the software’s configuration is password-protected. The other versions of the system offer similar protection. Netfilter for iOS works as your stock browser while Netfilter Small Business addresses the issue of misuse of Internet connectivity in the workplace through time limits, monitoring of browsing history and Evaluation* blocking of websites. Overall Evaluation 1,7 Netfilter PC lacks the expertise of competing systems due Functionality 2,5 to its missing features. Settings are configured for the Effectiveness 0,7 computer as a whole and each user is treated the same, irrespective of age. There is no monitoring of Usability 2,0 communication over IM or social networks if they are not Security 4,0 simply blocked completely. Children can evade the filter by * All scores are out of a maximum of 4 browsing via a secure proxy, which are not blocked. Pricewise, the system is not the most expensive, at €25 for a year licence, but there are free alternatives that offer better protection. This system is only available in English, Technical information Spanish and Portuguese. Devices PC/ Mobile devices Operating Windows/ iOS Systems Price (yearly) 25,00 € Web Address http://www.netfilter.com.br Language English/ Spanish/ Portuguese

!11 Optenet Webfilter PC

Description: Content filtering can be applied to 25 different categories of sites while a real-time analysis feature assesses uncategorised websites upon access. An individual profile with unique settings can be customised for each user to allow for age-appropriate Internet access, including a “no surfing limitations” option for adults. Secure proxy sites are blocked thereby preventing children from evading the filter control. Downloads can be controlled while Internet access can be scheduled and limited for each user. Parents receive email notification when their child attempts to access forbidden material. The system also keeps a record of every site visited by each user, which is then available to view by parents. Evaluation*

The negative aspects of this system mainly include its Overall Evaluation 1,2 limitations when compared to other, sometimes cheaper Functionality 2,4 systems. There is no monitoring of email, IM or social Eﬀectiveness 1,0 networking, although there is an option to simply block these sites completely. Safe Search is not enabled on the Usability 1,8 major search engines. Another limitation is its system Security 0,0 requirements, as it only works on Windows. Similarly, there * All scores are out of a maximum of 4 is no Mac or mobile version. Users have cited unhelpful customer support and the blocking of legitimate sites as two prime issues they have experienced with this system. At €35 per year, which covers up to 3 computers, parents Technical information may opt instead for cheaper or free alternatives that oﬀer Devices PC more comprehensive monitoring of their children’s activity. Operating Windows Systems Price (yearly) €35 (covers up to 3 computers) Web Address http://www.optenetpc.com Language 7 major European languages (incl. English, Spanish, Italian)

!12 Name Overall Functionality Effectiveness Usability Security Devices Operating Price (yearly) Web Address Language Evaluation Systems Qustodio Parental Control 2015 2,8 3,5 2,8 3 4 PC/ Mac/ Windows/ €35 (5 accounts on 5 http://www.qustodio.com 5 majr European languages (English, Spanish, French, Mobile devices Android/ iOS devices) Italian and Portuguese) (incl. Kindle) PureSight Owl 2,71 3,4 2,2 3,05 4 PC/ Mac/ Windows/ €35 (Varies depending http://www.puresight.com English/ Spanish Smartphones Android on number of devices. and tablets Annual and monthly rates) Norton Online Family 2,47 1,8 2,1 3,07 4 PC/ Mac Windows/ Free (€40 for premier https://onlinefamily.norton.com 25 different languages (incl. English, Spanish, Italian, Android/ iOS version per year) Chinese, etc.) Kaspersky Internet Security 2,37 3,4 1,8 2,53 3 PC/ Mac Windows/ €55 (for one device for http://www.kaspersky.com A wide range (incl. English, Spanish,Italian, Chinese, 2015 Android/ iOS one year. Each etc.) additional device costs extra. Cheapest system quoted.) K9 Web Protection 2,15 1,6 1,8 2,63 4 PC/ Mobile Windows/ Free (€40 fo premier http://www1.k9webprotection.com English only Phone Android/ iOS version per year) Net Nanny (Version 7) 2,06 2,4 1,5 2,38 4 PC/ Mac/ Windows/ €75 per year for http://www.netnanny.com English only Mobile devices Android/ iOS recommended package of 10 devices. Trend Micro Online Guardian for 2,05 1,7 1,6 2,88 3 PC/ Mobile Windows 25 € http://www.trendmicro.com A wide range (incl. English, Spanish, Italian, etc.) Families Phone McAfee Family Protection 1,88 2,7 1,2 2,44 4 PC/ Mac Windows/ €40 (for up to 3 devices) http://home.mcafee.com/store/ A wide range (incl. English, Spanish, Italian, etc.) Android family-protection Netfilter 1,71 2,5 0,7 1,95 4 PC/ Mobile Windows/ iOS 25 € http://www.netfilter.com.br English/ Spanish/ Portuguese devices Optenet Webfilter PC 1,16 2,4 1 1,82 0 PC Windows €35 (covers up to 3 http://www.optenetpc.com 7 major European languages (incl. English, Spanish, computers) Italian)

* All scores are out of a maximum of 4

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