Webroot Child Safe

Price
$39.95 (subscription)

Pros: Not just Internet but computer and program restrictions (i.e. restrict the amount of time your children play games). Can prevent access to computer system tools (improves tamper resistance). Provides remote administration, only across your home network. Integrates with your Windows User accounts and allows for individual user customization.

Cons: Overwhelming user interface. Difficult password recovery. Email notifications require SMTP server (doesn't work for basic yahoo and hotmail accounts). Reporting is text-based making it difficult to gather useful information.

Summary
From computer time restrictions to temporary override passwords, Child Safe provides several features that offer another level of customization. With these new features it also made Child Safe difficult to manage and a little overwhelming. The user interface can be confusing at times and is cluttered with descriptions and tool tips.

Child Safe blocked only 65% of the objectionable websites tested and Over-blocked on only 15% of the “safe” websites tested.
The reporting/monitoring tools are all text-based which make it difficult to gather useful information about your families’ Internet activity.


Installation/Setup
Webroot’s Child Safe was very easy to download and install. With a footprint of 8.28MB it took only a few minutes to download on a Broadband connection (May take 10-20 minutes on dial-up). You are given two choices: Install Child Safe Remote Access Client – Used to remotely manage Child Safe on any networked computers; and Install Child Safe – recommended for all other computers in the house.


You are then prompted to create a password for this account with the default username of ‘cscontrol’. Remember to write down the username and password, as recovery can be very difficult. You will be asked to add Child Safe to you firewall settings. This allows Child Safe to communicate to the web filter servers. This can be cumbersome and it is recommended that you contact your firewall vendor for details. You are finally prompted to restart your computer to complete installation.


Management
Child Safe provides administrators with a management consol, which can be accessed from your Start Menu. Child Safe automatically creates users based on your Microsoft Windows user names. Each user can be categorized as a Child, Teenager, Young Adult, Adult, Administrator or Custom.


From here administrators can set restrictions based on: Category, Computer, Internet, Programs, Passwords, Web Filtering, Reporting and other Advanced options. Time Restrictions can be based on Computer time allowances or Internet time allowances. They can also be set to restrict by time-of-day.



Accuracy
Administrators are given the choice to filter on two types of categories: Mature and General. Mature contains 4 main categories including: Adult, Illegal/Criminal, Vice, and Non-mainstream. General contains 7 main categories from computers and Internet to Shopping. There are a total of 59 sub-categories between the Mature and General categories.
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We tested 2 lists of websites including: adult image searches, MySpace.com accounts, Hate oriented websites, websites that promote hacking, drug use, gambling, adult humor, etc…