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F-Secure Internet Security
- Company
- F-Secure GmbH
- Version
- 2014
- Devices supported
- Computer
- Operating system
- Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows Vista
Windows XP - Price *
- 34.95 €
- Language of interface
- chinese, czech, danish, dutch, english, estonian, french, german, greek, hungarian, italian, japanese, norwegian, polish, portuguese, romanian, russian, slovanian, spanish, suomi, swedish, turkish
- Test date
- SIP Bench III, 3rd test cycle, Summer 2014
EFFECTIVENESS
The overall effectiveness score is good 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.
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: 3.0
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: 3.0
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users 13 years and older: 0.0
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: 3.0
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users 13 years and older: 0.0
Effectiveness score for users up to 12 year old: 1.5 out of 4 points
Effectiveness score for users 13 years and older: 1.5 out of 4 points
Effectiveness score for users 13 years and older: 1.5 out of 4 points
USABILITY
Installation of the tool: The installation process is well comprehensible. The installer does not provide advanced options, except for the choice of language. A loading indicator shows the progress of the installation process. The overall design is appealing.
Configuration of the tool: The tool is embedded in a security suite, but only the parental control features were subject of this test. The configuration process is generally comprehensible and easy to learn, but context sensitive explanations are missing at some points, especially with regard to the filtering categories. The process is mostly consistent and generally meets users' expectations. There are barely any options to individualize or influence the process. The overall design is functional.
Usage of the tool: The tool provides a redirect to the start page when a website has been blocked, but these are mainly addressed to parents and not to children. The alert message cannot be customized, but it is generally adequate. The reporting function is not available.
Usability of the installation process: 3.1
Usability of the configuration process: 2.9
Usability of the usage of the product: 3.0
Overall score for usability: 2.9 out of 4 points
FUNCTIONALITY
The Parental Control tool is part of an all-in-one security suite. On the Parental Control side F-Secure provides the possible to create a filtering profile for each windows account. Social Networks can be blocked by the function safe profile. Safe Search is available for the most important search engines. The parents can choose to block or allow selected categories. Furthermore the user can indicate, block and allow specific URLs. The parents can choose time-limit for children’s usage of the web.
SECURITY
The low rate results from the possibility for the user to reach a blocked website through translation sites.
Overall score for security: 1 out of 4 points
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 | 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 | No |
| Redirect to safe resources | Yes | ||
| 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 | No |
DETAILED USABILITY FINDINGS
| Yes / No | |
|---|---|
| I: installation in 3 steps or less | No |
| I: choice of installation for beginners or advanced users | No |
| 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 | Yes |
DETAILED SECURITY FINDINGS
| The Tool prevents the user from by-passing the filter by: | Yes / No |
|---|---|
| Using the IP address instead of the URL | Yes |
| Using an alternative browser | Yes |
| Changing time and date settings* | Yes |
| Disabling or uninstalling the software without a password* | Yes |
| Closing the filtering tool trough the Task Manager | Yes |
| Using a proxy instead of a direct connection to the Internet | Yes |
| Accessing the web-pages through the Google Cache | No |
| Reaching a website through translation sites | No |
| Renaming a blocked application | n/a |
| Using Safe Mode | No |
| Filtering Content personalised by user | No |
| Filtering Content evolving through time | No |
| Filtering Multimedia content | No |
| Filtering outbound content | No |
