Independent Parental Control Software

Enhance Your Parental Control Options
Take a look at software programs that can provide unique features to supplement Windows Windows^®  7 Parental Controls or assist families using other Windows operating systems.

Net NannyTM  5.5 Parental Controls The Basics: Like Windows Vista Parental Controls, Net Nanny blocks access to online content that you find inappropriate for your kids' age groups — and it assesses content using 29 categories. Top Features: Dynamic contextual analysis means that it blocks sites based on what's on them at a given time. For instance, a news site may be blocked while it features a particularly graphic article but allowed when that article is no longer available. Email notifications can be sent when users are blocked from visiting objectionable sites. Usability Net Nanny is widely regarded as an easy-to-use program for non-experts. Great for: Parents seeking dynamic content controls and immediate notifications.

IMSafer The Basics: IMSafer can help stop the development of inappropriate relationships online by monitoring online chats and social networking in real time. Get IMSafer for free. Top Features: The IMSafer language analysis engine understands English, IM-speak, slang and even leet. Regular language engine updates help protect against new predatory or bullying tactics. Great for: Parents with chat-friendly kids that don't want to look through every IM conversation.

Child Safe®  The Basics: Child Safe monitors application usage, with scheduling software to manage specific applications. Top Features: Robust controls limit Web site access based on any combination of over 60 content categories, specific site addresses or keywords. Temporary passwords allow single-use time extensions so that kids aren't locked out of the Web when doing time-sensitive schoolwork or projects. Great for: Parents with very specific content guidelines, and parents of kids with specific curricula.

Windows LiveTM  Family Safety The Basics: Windows Live Family Safety is a free download which provides a set of controls to help parents manage which Web sites their children can visit and who they can communicate with when they’re using Windows Live Spaces, Hotmail, and Messenger*. Top Features: Web filters permit parents to limit searches, and monitor and block or allow websites. Individual log-ins for each child means you can customize filter settings, and you get different reports and filters for each child. Activity reports generated for parents, so that they can monitor their kids’ activity. Remote management of parental controls. Parents can change settings or manage filters anywhere parents are online—on the PC, the Web, or mobile phone. Integration of Windows 7 Parental Controls Great for: Web filtering, remote management, and activity monitoring, plus contact management for households that use Windows Live (Hotmail, Messenger, Spaces)*.