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Surfgarten
- Company
- Deutsche Telekom
- Version
- 1.0.1
- Devices supported
- Alternative Tool
- Operating system
- iOS
- Price *
- free of charge
- Language of interface
- german
- Test date
- SIP Bench III, 2nd test cycle, Winter 13/14
USABILITY
Installation of the tool: The tool 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 process is generally comprehensible. It is possible to create different user profiles and set up the filter according to children's age but there's no information how it influence the filter. The app generally fulfills user’s expectations but content criteria not self descriptive. The configuration process is easy to learn and the design is appealing.
Usage of the tool: The alert message is appropriate for childern, as well as for adults and it supports the dialogue between children and parents. The app is without a reporting function.
Usability of the installation process: n/a
Usability of the configuration process: 2.9
Usability of the usage of the product: 2.1
Overall score for usability: 2.6 out of 4 points
FUNCTIONALITY
Surfgarten is a German app for iOS devices. Depending on the age level appropriate filters are set automatically. For the evaluation of the content, the app uses a number of proven mechanisms, based on content and age pattern of the domains. It is also possible to create different user profiles, own black/white lists. Furthermore parents can set up time restrictions for internet access and choose content criteria which have to be blocked.
DETAILED FUNCTIONALITY
| Area of need | Functionality | Specific issues | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management | Management of User profiles | Create several profiles | Yes |
| Remote Management | Manage on various devices | No | |
| Monitoring | Remote access to monitoring | No | |
| Filtering Customisation | Topics | Customisation of Filtering Topics | Yes |
| URLs White List | Restrict Browsing to White List | Yes | |
| Default White List | Yes | ||
| 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 | No | ||
| Usage Restriction | Web | Block Access | Yes |
| Monitor Access | No | ||
| Safe search | Availability | Yes | |
| 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 | ||
| 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 | Yes |
| C: option to transfer filter configurations between target users | No |
| 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 | Yes |
| U: alert message in a child friendly language | Yes |
| 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 |
