Parental Software Review

Parental software applications track children’s internet access, block websites with questionable material, filter content and capture both sides of chat conversations. Parental software helps to protect children from internet threats. Some applications watch out for keywords that you specify, so that you get an email whenever one of your keywords triggers an alert. To learn more about protecting your child online, please visit our Learning Center to view articles about parental software. This review site contains side-by-side comparisons and reviews of the best parental control products. We provide information about how to select parental control applications because At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don't Have To.™ We find the following three parental software products to be especially good: Net Nanny, McAfee Safe Eyes and WebWatcher.

Parental Software: What to Look For

Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate parental control applications.

Installation & Management
Some applications require installation on both the monitoring and monitored computer. Methods of deployment include local and remote. In the remote method, the clicking of an email attachment initiates the installation process. Once clicked, the application self-installs without user interaction.

Customization
Customization options may include setting the application for stealth and non-stealth configurations. Hot key access and Password protection protect the application's settings from the prying eyes of tweens and teenagers. Additional features can include scheduled monitoring, scheduled screenshots, scheduled PC access and loading the application during the Windows startup process.

Recording Capabilities
Features to look for in this area include monitoring computer use, screenshots, capturing keyboard strokes, online searches and accessed websites. Social networking sites connect children to their peers after school hours. However, social networks may also expose your child to bad people. Some products can capture Facebook and MySpace activities, usernames and passwords.

Filtering & Blocking
Check the application you are considering for filtering and blocking capabilities. Some applications come equipped to not only block website content but to also filter it. Additional blocking and filtering elements may include applications blocking, chat blocking, search engine filtering and social network blocking.

Reporting
Some parents will want access to reports from any internet-connected PC. Others are willing to wait until they can physically access the monitored computer.

Licensing/Upgrades/Support
This type of software often requires exclusions in antivirus and antispyware applications. When things get complicated, you are going to want to get some help from the vendor. So know in advance how you will be able to get help. 

Internet technology has created a situation where children can be exposed to danger even if they are in the house with you. The internet provides access to almost every piece of knowledge known to man, so you can’t exactly ban the internet without hurting your children. With the best parental software, you will be able to provide children with appropriate access to beneficial internet resources, while filtering out the elements that have potential for harm.