Content Control Software

Below is an article from NetGuide magazine that looks at some of the options for controlling content.  There are other products available in New Zealand listed below the article.  This article is by Heather Smith, June 2002.

Disclaimer: NetSafe does not test or assess these products or services and we do not endorse them in any way. We also do not charge companies for these listings; we offer this simply as a service for NetSafe visitors.

Cyber Patrol 5.0
**
Platform PC and Mac
RRP $US49.95
Free 14 day trial available
Site: www.surfcontrol.com

The first thing you’ll notice when setting up CyberPatrol is its complex protection control settings. These include specific settings for each program you want to control. You can also set up a number of different users, to a maximum of nine. This package has a sophisticated time management mechanism, monitoring and limiting the time your child spends online. Another highlight is ChatGuard, which prevents children from giving out personal information when chatting online.

Other positive features include the software’s ability to completely block applications and restrict Web site access through its “yes” and “no” lists. You, as the administrator, can edit the categories within these lists, although you can’t actually allow or disallow individual words.
There is a one-year free subscription period for daily updates, then you will be charged anually.
Ongoing subscription costs, the lack of a violation report (so you can find out what your child has tried to access) and no response whatsoever to email requests for help are all problems that need to be addressed.

Cyber Sentinel 2.0
***
Platform PC
RRP $US39.95
Site: www.software4parents.com/main.html

Cyber Sentinel’s main feature is PredatorGuard, which specifically targets pornographic content. It even monitors chat rooms for dubious patterns of questions.  It also scans the content of each Web page for certain words and phrases. 
When the software registers that your child has visited a restricted site or has made contact with an undesirable person, you, as the program’s administrator, can select what will happen.  It could be set up to warn the user, log the violation, close the offending site, email you to warn of the violation, or store a visual log of the violation.  The one problem is that if the site consists entirely of images, it may be viewed, as there is no text to filter. 
Personal information can also be blocked from online chat rooms and from files such as Word documents, turning Cyber Sentinel into more of a total PC surveillance system, rather than just for Internet surveillance.

Cyber Sitter
***
Platform PC
RRP $US39.95
Free 10-day trial available
Sites: www.solidoak.com   
        www.cybersitter.com

The first helpful feature you’ll notice about Cyber Sitter is that it can be hidden on your desktop, so the kids won’t even know it’s there! This package uses a sophisticated “content recognition” system that can recognise and block the newest sites, even if they haven’t yet been added to the filter list.  While the filter lists are not viewable by the user, automatic online updates are available every seven days, free of charge. You can also customise access to different sites and programs. 
Unfortunately, Cyber Sitter doesn’t block some questionable sites, such as ones with violent or racist content. However, it does work well with ISPs such as AOL, Instant Messaging software and newsgroups. Entire programs can even be blocked. It doesn’t alert your child to violations; instead it re-routes them to a child-safe site and logs the violation for you to view later. The premise behind this is to discourage children from trying to challenge the software, so this package is great for older children and teens. A detailed list of all Internet activity and violations can be sent to you daily. 
Unlike most of the other packages, you cannot assign individual settings for each user, so this package mightn’t be suitable if you have children of widely different ages. 

McAfee Internet
Security version 4.02
***
Platform PC
RRP $AU119.95
Site: www.mcafee-at-home.com

Like Norton Internet Security, this software is a comprehensive online privacy package, which includes parental controls.  However, unlike the stand-alone parental control software featured in this review, you cannot assign different settings for each child.
Positive features include the use of content filtering lists, which are upgraded free of charge, and the ability to block personal details from chat rooms. Technical support is also very impressive.  It includes connecting to a technician at the online chat room www.mcafeehelp.com and a phone support line.  On the downside, we found changing from maximum restriction control to minimum restriction control complicated, which can be frustrating if you’re a busy mum or dad with kids of widely different ages. 
If you’re already a user of version 4.0, you may have encountered a few bugs in the software. An upgrade patch for this can be downloaded at www.mcafee-at-home.com.

Net Nanny 4.1
****
Platform PC
RRP $AU89.95
Site: www.manac.com.au

Features of Net Nanny include the ability to specify which sites your child can and cannot visit, and an informative Web site on cyber safety. However, Net Nanny doesn’t work with Instant Messaging software, certain games and ISPs that use their own customised browser.
Net Nanny’s lists of approved and blocked sites are updated regularly and updates are easily downloaded. You can view and customise “can go” and “can’t go” site lists. Unfortunately, these lists are not exhaustive. For instance, they largely ignore the topics of hate, drugs, and violence. Sites not on their black lists can be accessed, with forbidden words replaced with “###” symbols, though offensive content and images can still be viewed. 
On the plus side, Net Nanny will prevent your child from giving out personal details online, and though it cannot filter the content from chat and newsgroups, you can either permit them or disallow them altogether.  There are 12 different settings available, which you can adapt for the maturity level of users. Technical support is available through the Web site only. 

Norton Internet
Security 2002 4.0
*****
Platform PC, Mac version coming soon
RRP $NZ144 inc GST
Site: www.symantec.co.nz

Norton Internet Security 2002 is more than just a tool for parental control, it is a comprehensive security package. It includes Norton Parental Control, Norton Anti-Virus, Norton Personal Firewall, and Norton Privacy Control. Parental Control works through “application control”; you can set up the software so your kids can access certain applications, eg: chat rooms, newsgroups, email etc, or you can set up the software so these applications are automatically blocked. A categorised list of Web sites is provided, which you can customise to develop a list of “can visit” sites. Any site not on that list will be blocked. Any number of users is allowed, and the administrator can select four predetermined access settings; child, teenager, adult or supervisor. Through LiveUpdate, Symantec downloads programs and protection updates automatically. Technical support is available.

Note: If you take up the option of the free downloadable trial for any software that offers it, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions for removing it if you decide you don’t want to keep it on your computer after the trial period is up. Never simply delete the files or the folder they are in, as the software perceives this as tampering and you may find you encounter problems with your Internet access.

How does parental control software work?

Parental control software was essentially designed to help you control your children’s access to the Internet and the World Wide Web. There are generally four ways the software can do this:

• Using “black lists” or bad sites.  The lists are maintained by the software vendor, and in some cases, may be customised by the administrator (that’s you). 

• Using key words to block sites containing those words.

• Outgoing filtering restricting personal information, such as names, addresses, phone numbers, and credit card details from being sent online.

• Monitoring and tracking software providing you with details of which sites your child has visited, at what time, and for how long.

Our results

When we tested each package to see how it coped with a list of “good” and “bad” Web sites, we discovered that each package handles Web addresses and blacklisted terms in different ways. Everything depends on how you set up the software after you install it. This is important, as most packages allow different levels of protection. For example, we found that in the “child” setting for Norton Internet Security, almost all sites were blocked save for educational or entertainment sites such as Disney (www.disney.com). However, at the “teenager” setting, we found that we could get to news-related Web sites without problems, but naturally the sex and violence sites were still totally blocked.
If sites you aren’t happy with are still accessible after setting up a particular package and security level, you’ll need to manually enter that site or word into the software’s blacklist so that it doesn’t appear again. While these programs are in general quite effective, they still need an adult to tweak them over time for maximum effectiveness.

Here are other product options available in New Zealand that were not reviewed above.

BrowseControl

BrowseControl can be used by parents and schools.  It allows you to block Internet usage across your network (or on your stand-alone PC).  You can decide where and when students can access the Internet.  You can also schedule times during the day to enable Internet access.  Another feature is the ability to allow access only to certain sites e.g. your Intranet or other sites.  You can block/restrict email, Messaging, ICQ etc.  Parents can turn Internet access on at certain times and time sessions online.

www.codework.com/bcontrol/product.html

SurfControl

SurfControl offers a total content security solution, which includes Web filtering and e-mail scanning combined with automated intelligent filtering software known as Adaptive Reasoning Technology.  The adaptive reasoning tools offered with the latest versions of SurfControl's content management software give companies intelligent tools to make filtering even more relevant to their specific needs.  Organisations can use the SurfControl Web Filter's Virtual Control Agent to classify websites not yet in SurfContol's content-database of more than 4.2 million URLs.  Surf Control E-mail Filter offers the Virtual Learning Agent, which keeps sensitive documents from being inadvertently released, and the Virtual Image Agent, which scans e-mail attachments for sexually explicit images.

www.surfcontrol.co.nz