Net Nanny 5.5
© 2008 ContentWatch, Inc.
Looking for an Internet filtering solution for Windows computers? As of Summer 2008, one of the established and most evolved is Net Nanny — although it is limited to Windows computers, and your subscription must be renewed each year. Now part of ContentWatch (www.contentwatch.com), Net Nanny Home Suite costs $50/12 months for one computer. Here's how it works. First, you install the software on your computer's hard disk, either from a downloaded file or from a purchased CD-ROM. Next, you must register the software online with ContentWatch--which entails coming up with a password to keep hidden from users of the computer. This password is also required to uninstall the software. So, if you loose it, your only option is to call ContentWatch or reformat your hard drive. From this point in, every user must login to the computer with a password, which can be integrated with the regular Windows login. Net Nanny uses word and URL lists along with an ongoing filter to screen incoming and outgoing web content. As Web pages are requested, a "dynamic analyzing engine" either allows or blocks their display. It is possible to create a custom "white list" to override the filter if you like. You can manage settings from any Internet connection, as long as you have your computer's IP address and your NetNanny password. Other features include chat and instant messaging filtering, multi-language (English or Chinese) support, Email notification, the ability to set up individual accounts for different people, and time management tools for online games. Additional installations are $25 per computer. Of course, the drawback to any filtering solution is that it can gum up computer and Internet performance because a login is required, and every incoming or outgoing URL request or message must pass through the filter. Yet according to press materials, this edition of Net Nanny is "approximately 400% faster at dynamic contextual filtering than previous versions" — a claim we did not test. Also, keep in mind that nearly every mainstream search engine, such as Google, Yahoo, or MSN, has a "safe search" option already, which filters results for free. Of course, this can be disabled by any child with the ability to adjust your preferences. You've probably already figured out that the Internet filtering business can be costly and complex, and it can slow performance and erode trust. If you need a filter, Net Nanny is a viable choice.
$50, Windows
Teaches: an Internet filter and management utility