iOS Parental Controls (Mobile)

Company: Apple
Version: 6.1.3
Devices supported: Mobile
Operating system: iOS
Price *: free of charge
Language of interface: english
Test date: SIP Bench III, 1st test cycle, Summer 2013

*Prices might change according to the latest company offers

EFFECTIVENESS

The iPhone is provided with an embedded parental control tool that allows some filtering/blocking action that complement the control functionalities offered by an external tool: e.g. it enables the PARENT to block the Safari functionality and also YouTube application using the restriction code.

USABILITY

Installation of the tool: iOS Parental Controls is part of the operation system. Therefore the installation process was not tested with regard to usability.

Configuration of the tool: It is easy to limit the access to some apps. But the software offers unusual options that confuse the user. Expecially there is no hint that basic parental control features as web filtering (based on different content criteria or age) are not supported.

Usage of the tool: Deactivated browser functions leads to a disapearing Safari icon. This can be confusing and annoying for user with enabled parental control and not be aware of this fact.

Usability of the installation process: n/a
Usability of the configuration process: 2.4
Usability of the usage of the product: 1.0

Overall score for usability: 1.9 out of 4 points

FUNCTIONALITY

The iPhone is provided with an embedded parental control tool that allows only blocking action of some (not all) apps. It enables the PARENT to block e.g. Safari browser or iTunes application.

There is no build in web-filtering tool (as per 2013-07)! You have to install additional external tool to protect children from harmful web content. iOS' parental control tool can limit the use of films or other non www-based content as well as in-app-purchases.

SECURITY

The embedded system is installed by default on all iPhones devices. It is difficult to by-pass it. As the tool does not offer any filering feature, the security tests were not applicable.

DETAILED FUNCTIONALITY

Area of need	Functionality	Specific issues	Assessment
Management	Management of User profiles	Create several profiles	No
	Remote Management	Manage on various devices	No
	Monitoring	Remote access to monitoring	No
Filtering Customisation	Topics	Customisation of Filtering Topics	No
	URLs White List	Restrict Browsing to White List	No
		Default White List	No
		Modification OR Creation	No
	URLs Black List	Creation of User's own Black List	No
Keywords	Keywords	Default Black List	No
		Default White List	No
		Creation of a User's Black List	No
		Creation of a User's White List	No
Time	Time Limit Settings	Set a specific time frame or web access duration	No
Blocking Message	Type	Ask for unblocking by parents	No
Blocking Message	Type	Redirect to safe resources	No
Usage Restriction	Web	Block Access	Yes
	Web	Monitor Access	No
	Safe search	Availability	No
	Social Networks	Block Access	Yes
	Social Networks	Monitor Usage	No
	Personal data Provision	Block	No
	Streaming	Block Access	No
	Streaming	Monitor Access	No
	P2P	Block the application	Yes
	P2P	Monitor Downloads	No
	Skype	Block chat	Yes
		Block video chat	No
		Monitor	No
		Prevent new Contact	No
	Windows Life Messenger	Block chat	No
		Block video chat	No
		Monitor	No
		Prevent new Contact	No
	Email	Block email client and/or webmail access	Yes

DETAILED USABILITY FINDINGS

	Yes / No
I: installation in 3 steps or less	Yes
I: choice of installation for beginners or advanced users	n/a

C: different degrees of strength for the filtering	No
C: different content criteria for the filtering	No
C: option to transfer filter configurations between target users	n/a
C: option to transfer filter configurations between devices	No
C: overall comprehensible configuration	Yes
C: overall conformity with user expectations	Yes
C: overall easy to learn	No

U: alert message in a child friendly language	n/a
U: option to customise the reaction in case of blocking	No
U: overall easily operable and comprehensible reporting	n/a

DETAILED SECURITY FINDINGS

The Tool prevents the user from by-passing the filter by:	Yes / No
Using the IP address instead of the URL	n/a
Using an alternative browser	n/a
Changing time and date settings*	n/a
Disabling or uninstalling the software without a password*	n/a
Closing the filtering tool trough the Task Manager	n/a
Using a proxy instead of a direct connection to the Internet	n/a
Accessing the web-pages through the Google Cache	n/a
Reaching a website through translation sites	n/a
Renaming a blocked application	n/a
Using Safe Mode	n/a
Filtering Content personalised by user	n/a
Filtering Content evolving through time	n/a
Filtering Multimedia content	n/a
Filtering outbound content	n/a