Parentsaround (Mobile)

Company: ARS Nova Systems
Version: 2.19
Devices supported: Mobile
Operating system: Android
iOS
Price *: free of charge
Language of interface: english, french
Test date: SIP Bench III, 3rd test cycle, Summer 2014

*Prices might change according to the latest company offers

EFFECTIVENESS

The overall effectiveness score is weak on adult content and very weak on other harmful content.
There is no major difference in effectiveness between teenagers and children.
The tool performs better in underblocking on the web than on 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: 0.0
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users up to 12 year old: 0.7
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: 0.9

Effectiveness score for users up to 12 year old: 1.4 out of 4 points
Effectiveness score for users 13 years and older: 1.8 out of 4 points

USABILITY

Installation of the tool: Parentsaround 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 main configuration is based on the web browser. Some adjustments as creating profiles, age set up, block/allow apps and enable Safe Search can be done directly in the application. The process is mostly comprehensible but context sensitive information are insufficient and could be more detailed. The general principles of use are similar to many other applications

Usage of the tool: The tool provides an alert message but it is not appropriate for children. It offers some options to react: asking for allowance to see the website, safe search option. There is a detailed reporting function.

Usability of the installation process: n/a
Usability of the configuration process: 3.1
Usability of the usage of the product: 2.2

Overall score for usability: 2.8 out of 4 points

FUNCTIONALITY

Parentsaround mobile is an application, consists of a web browser that restricts users from visiting inappropriate sites. The filtering tool offers a remote control access to the configuration and to the reporting. The software generally fulfills users’ expectations, but could be optimized at some points. The tool allows the parents to create URL black/white lists and to decide what topics need to be filtered. Parents can set up time limits for internet usage.

SECURITY

Overall score for security: 4 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	Yes
	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	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
Blocking Message	Type	Redirect to safe resources	No
Usage Restriction	Web	Block Access	No
	Web	Monitor Access	No
	Safe search	Availability	Yes
	Social Networks	Block Access	No
	Social Networks	Monitor Usage	No
	Personal data Provision	Block	No
	Streaming	Block Access	No
	Streaming	Monitor Access	No
	P2P	Block the application	No
	P2P	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	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	No
C: option to transfer filter configurations between devices	Yes
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	No
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	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	Yes
Filtering Content evolving through time	No
Filtering Multimedia content	Yes
Filtering outbound content	Yes