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K9 Web Protection Browser (Mobile)
- Company
- Blue Coat Systems
- Version
- 1.1.92
- Devices supported
- Mobile
- Operating system
- Android
iOS - Price *
- free of charge
- Language of interface
- english
- Test date
- SIP Bench III, 3rd test cycle, Summer 2014
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.
The tool performs better with English content, particularly for underblocking functionality.
There is no major difference in effectiveness between teenagers and children.
There is no major difference in effectiveness between web and web 2.0.
The tool performs better with English content, particularly for underblocking functionality.
Effectiveness score with adult content filtering for users up to 12 year old: 0.0
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users up to 12 year old: 1.1
Effectiveness score with adult content filtering for users 13 years and older: 0.0
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users 13 years and older: 1.2
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users up to 12 year old: 1.1
Effectiveness score with adult content filtering for users 13 years and older: 0.0
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users 13 years and older: 1.2
Effectiveness score for users up to 12 year old: 2.2 out of 4 points
Effectiveness score for users 13 years and older: 2.4 out of 4 points
Effectiveness score for users 13 years and older: 2.4 out of 4 points
USABILITY
Installation of the tool: K9 for Mobile is delivered as an application which is installed nearly automatically. Therefore, the installation process was not tested with regards to usability.
Configuration of the tool: The configuration is limited to an application-based process; configuration steps via web-based access are not provided. The process is mostly comprehensible but context sensitive information are insufficient and could be more detailed. Therefore, the process is partly difficult to understand. Filter options are not provided. The configuration is consistent and it conforms users' expectations. The tool is very basic and there are just a few options to influence the process
Usage of the tool: The tool provides barely any options to react when a web site has been blocked. The alert message is quite adequate taking into account the small device but it is not worded appropriately to children's level of understanding. There is a browser-history instead of a reporting function. Blocked websites are marked in a different color.
Usability of the installation process: n/a
Usability of the configuration process: 2.4
Usability of the usage of the product: 1.2
Overall score for usability: 2.0 out of 4 points
FUNCTIONALITY
K9 Web Protection mobile is an application, consists of a web browser that restricts users from visiting inappropriate websites. The filtering tool customization interface is accessible by the mobile device only (remote control is not possible). No customization is possible neither according to topic categories nor to keywords or black/white URLs lists. The complete lack of configurable settings, like customizing a user profile filter as compared to the PC tool, makes this app insufficient. The Safe Search is available but it is related to the K9 browser. Important for iOS-User: In order to have the tool working, the embedded parental control for the iPhone/iPad must be set up as indicated by K9 setup instructions. The tool does not filter the websites accessed through the Safari browser provided by the iPhone: the access to the Safari browser has to be blocked by the embedded parental control.
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 | 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 |
| Redirect to safe resources | No | ||
| Usage Restriction | Web | Block Access | Yes |
| Monitor Access | No | ||
| Safe search | Availability | Yes | |
| Social Networks | Block Access | No | |
| 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 | 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 | No |
| 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 | No |
| Filtering Content evolving through time | No |
| Filtering Multimedia content | No |
| Filtering outbound content | No |
