Pros
- Can customize controls for up to 10 different users
- Provides detailed usage reports
- Records IM conversations
- Web blocking can be done by filtering entire categories
- User-friendly and easy to manage
Cons
- May need to manually customize web categories that are too restrictive
Easy Set Up
Safe Eyes took only a few minutes to install. Each user has their own username and password, with a separate administrator password for the one setting the controls. The account summary lets you see at a glance the users and which features are activated for each. You’ll have to spend some time setting up everyone’s controls, but the software is very user-friendly. More than one computer in your home? No problem – Safe Eyes can be installed on up to 3 computers.Range of Features
Safe Eyes covers all the bases, with several different options for online protection:Web Blocking
Objectionable websites can be blocked by category, by custom URL list or by keyword. Besides the usual categories of pornography, drugs, and the like, you can also choose categories such as e-commerce, school cheating, weapons, message boards, and sites offering free email accounts or free web pages. There are 35 different categories to choose from, or you can customize your own.Instant Messaging
Choose to block IM's (like AOL, ICQ, MSN, etc.) altogether, or just use it to monitor conversations. Safe Eyes will record and store IM conversations either on your hard drive or on their remote server.
Time Limits
Stop watching the clock or nagging. Set the amount of time spent online per day (and during which hours). When a user’s time is up, they are blocked from any further internet activity. You can even specify certain times of the day when internet access is restricted.
Email Blocking
For maximum control, set up an "approved contacts" list, and you'll ensure that emails are only sent to or received from those on your list. Also can be used to block attempts to open multiple email accounts through different servers. At a minimum, it logs addresses of all emails sent and received.
Social Networking Sites
Afraid of your kids giving out personal info? Set up a list of any information you don’t want shared (name of your town, their school, phone number, etc), and Safe Eyes will record any occurrence of these keywords being used. Also records any use of profanity or explicit terms. It doesn’t stop this info from being posted, but it will alert you to it.
Usage Reports
At any time, you can view usage logs for any user. Web sites visited, web sites they tried to visit but couldn’t, email sent or received, IM conversations, and more. You specify what you want recorded and where you want it stored. A big plus is that Safe Eyes will allow you to store reports on their server, so they can be accessed from any computer…great if you’re away or at work.
Instant Alerts
If you decide to receive alerts on inappropriate activity, you choose how you want to receive those alerts, and when. Alerts can be sent to any email address, text-messaged to a cell or pager, or phoned. You also can set up certain times of day when alerts are accepted or blocked.
Customize Controls for Different Users
Dad’s favorite gaming sites may be inappropriate for the kids. Child A may get more time online per day than Child B. A teen may be allowed to use IM, where her tween sister is not. One of the things I liked best about this software is that it’s so easy to customize for many users.Does It Work?
When I logged in as my daughter, with all her controls in place, I was not able to access any site, image or feature that I had set up as restricted. I even got an instant email notifying me that attempts were being made to access banned categories. Within minutes I was also able to see a report of not just the sites I had visited, but all the attempted URLs that Safe Eyes had blocked from opening.On the contrary, some of the web-blocking categories can be a bit too restrictive. Selecting the “Games” category to block sites that include online role-playing games will also block sites like Webkinz. Selecting the “Entertainment” category will block sites like pbskids or the San Diego Zoo (we like to watch the panda cams). But at least you, as the administrator, can go in and handpick sites to be allowed. And when you’re buying parental control software, too restrictive is better than the alternative.
Remember to Log Out
Bottom Line
If you’re concerned about your kids’ online activities, Safe Eyes provides excellent protection. Simple to set up and with lots of built-in help available, even parents who are not overly tech-savvy will find this easy to manage.Technical Info
- Requires Windows 2000, XP, or Vista. For Macs, OSX Tiger 10.4 or later
- Price: $49.95 for one year of service
- Can be installed on up to 3 computers
