SIP-Benchmark III was a project of the Digital Opportunities Foundation in 2009 - 2017.
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Mobile Parental Filter

Company
Profil Technology
Version
1.6.7
Devices supported
Mobile
Operating system
Android
Price *
9.99 €
Language of interface
english, french, german, italian, spanish
Test date
SIP Bench III, 2nd test cycle, Winter 13/14

*Prices might change according to the latest company offers

EFFECTIVENESS

The overall effectiveness score is fair on adult content and very weak on other harmful content.
There is no major difference in effectiveness between teenagers and children.
There is no major difference in effectiveness between web and web 2.0.
There is no major difference in effectiveness among the different languages.
Effectiveness score with adult content filtering for users up to 12 year old: 2.4
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users up to 12 year old: 0.0
Effectiveness score with adult content filtering for users 13 years and older: 2.8
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users 13 years and older: 0.0
Effectiveness score for users up to 12 year old: 1.2 out of 4 points
Effectiveness score for users 13 years and older: 1.4 out of 4 points


USABILITY

Installation of the tool: Mobile Parental Filter is delivered as an application which is installed nearly automatically. Therefore the installation process was not tested with regard to usability.
Configuration of the tool: The configuration is provided as both web and device-based configuration. The appearance is adapted to the Smartphone's design, so that the configuration is comfortable on both Mobile/Tablet and PC. The process is mostly comprehensible, but context sensitive explanations are occasionally missing, especially with regard to the content criteria. The configuration contains slight language inconsistencies and it does not always meet users' expectations. The overall look and feel is appealing and joyful.
Usage of the tool: When a website has been blocked, the tool provides the option to send a permission request to the parents or a redirect to a safe ressource. The alert message is quite adequate, but it cannot be customised and it is not explicitly worded with respect to children's capability of understanding. The reporting is generally comprehensible, but not very detailed.

Usability of the installation process: n/a
Usability of the configuration process: 2.4
Usability of the usage of the product: 2.0


Overall score for usability: 2.2 out of 4 points


FUNCTIONALITY

The tool allows the parents to create URL black/white lists and to decide what topics need to be filtered. Parents can set a limit time children spent for internet use. It is possible to block the access to Social Networks.


SECURITY

The tool resisted to the main hacking attempts to by-pass it.
Overall score for security: 4 out of 4 points


DETAILED FUNCTIONALITY

Area of needFunctionalitySpecific issuesAssessment
Management Management of User profiles Create several profiles No
Remote Management Manage on various devices Yes
Monitoring Remote access to monitoring Yes
Filtering Customisation Topics Customisation of Filtering Topics Yes
URLs White List Restrict Browsing to White List No
Default White List No
Modification OR Creation Yes
URLs Black List Creation of User's own Black List Yes
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 Yes
Blocking Message Type Ask for unblocking by parents Yes
Redirect to safe resources Yes
Usage Restriction Web Block Access Yes
Monitor Access No
Safe search Availability No
Social Networks Block Access Yes
Monitor Usage No
Personal data Provision Block No
Streaming Block Access No
Monitor Access No
P2P Block the application No
Monitor Downloads No
Skype Block chat No
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 lessYes
I: choice of installation for beginners or advanced usersn/a

C: different degrees of strength for the filteringNo
C: different content criteria for the filteringYes
C: option to transfer filter configurations between target usersn/a
C: option to transfer filter configurations between devicesYes
C: overall comprehensible configurationNo
C: overall conformity with user expectationsYes
C: overall easy to learnYes

U: alert message in a child friendly languageNo
U: option to customise the reaction in case of blockingNo
U: overall easily operable and comprehensible reportingNo

DETAILED SECURITY FINDINGS

The Tool prevents the user from by-passing the filter by:Yes / No
Using the IP address instead of the URLYes
Using an alternative browserYes
Changing time and date settings*n/a
Disabling or uninstalling the software without a password*Yes
Closing the filtering tool trough the Task Managern/a
Using a proxy instead of a direct connection to the InternetYes
Accessing the web-pages through the Google CacheYes
Reaching a website through translation sitesYes
Renaming a blocked applicationn/a
Using Safe Moden/a
Filtering Content personalised by userNo
Filtering Content evolving through timeNo
Filtering Multimedia contentNo
Filtering outbound contentNo


Funded by
Logo: EUEuropean Commission


Partners:
Cybion Online Business Intelligence

Stiftung Digitale Chancen

coordinated by:
Innova - Technology Transfer and Valorisation



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