Mobicip Safe Browser
- Company
- Mobicip LLC
- Version
- May 31, 2016
- Devices supported
- Mobile
- Operating system
- Android
iOS - Price *
- free of charge
- Language of interface
- english
- Test date
- SIP Bench III, 4th test cycle, Summer 2016
EFFECTIVENESS
Effectiveness score for users up to 12 year old: 2.0 out of 4 points
Effectiveness score for users 13 years and older: 2.0 out of 4 points
Effectiveness score for users 13 years and older: 2.0 out of 4 points
USABILITY
Installation of the tool: n/a
Configuration of the tool: The configuration is generally comprehensible, but information about the interaction between the app- and the web-based configuration is not highlighted well. There are no options to individualise or influence the process, which also contains some inconsistencies and does not meet the users' expectations. Additionally, the tool can be configured via a second app: Mobicip Monitor.
Usage of the tool: The basic version offers no reporting function. The alert message is not very comprehensible for children, but allows requesting access to blocked content.
Usability of the installation process: n/a
Usability of the configuration process: 3.1
Usability of the usage of the product: 1.6
Overall score for usability: 2.5 out of 4 points
FUNCTIONALITY
The customisation interface is accessible online (remote control). The tool allows parents to customise the management of different profiles. It is possible to choose among three different default age-based profiles: ‘Elementary’, ‘Middle’, and ‘High School’. Many features are only available in the premium version, such as the possibilities to create URL based black and white lists and to choose filtering categories. It is possible to block apps. The tool offers a special Youtube filter that blocks content as well as the preview of the blocked content, thus providing a very safe environment for children to experience the platform.
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 | 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 | Yes |
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 | Yes |
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 | 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 | 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 | Yes |
Reaching a website through translation sites | Yes |
Renaming a blocked application | Yes |
Using Safe Mode | Yes |
Filtering Content personalised by user | n/a |
Filtering Content evolving through time | n/a |
Filtering Multimedia content | n/a |
Filtering outbound content | n/a |