|
|
|
|
|
|
| K9 Web Protection
Cost: Free
|
Short Description
K9 is a free web filter that provides a very good level of filtering for web pages only. It is not an all round content filter but certainly more than capable of being an adequate web filter. K9 is a server based filter which means it checks all web sites visited against a server before allowing them to be displayed.
Ease of installation 7/10
Installation was relatively straight forward. The only setback was having to provide full contact details to the parent company Blue Coat to obtain the K9 License number.
Features 4/10
Although K9 definitely has the key features required to be a web filter it lacks other features that make up an all round Internet content filtering package. These include chat monitoring, chat filtering, email monitoring and program access control. This is where K9 lost some points in the feature department and although it doesn’t lack the essential features and ability of a solid web content filter, more features are required to provide adequate protection from the Internet.
Ease of use 9/10
The K9 administration is very well set out and both easy to use and understand. It gives several options when a page is blocked. Using the administrator password you can temporarily or permanently allow that particular page or category which is very helpful in training the filter to better suit the user’s requirements.
Effectiveness
| 9/10 |
|
| - K9 almost provided a perfect barrier against adult content. Only a few sites tested managed to get past it. Any searching for these sites would have resulted in a blockage. |
|
| 8/10 |
|
| - K9 successfully blocked almost every attempt to open a proxy site. It certainly blocked all searches for proxy sites but some known sites got through. |
|
| 8/10 |
|
| - An excellent level of protection was shown by K9 in the obscene category. |
|
| 4/10 |
|
| - Unfortunately K9 slackened a bit in the crime department. Many sites to do with violence, bombs and various other illegal activities were both able to be searched and visited. |
|
| 9/10 |
|
| - K9 did an excellent job at not over-blocking and the instant override feature was particularly handy as it provided several options for the override. |
|
Free |
Good reporting and categorisation of web content viewed and blocked |
Time limiting |
Effective against most inappropriate and adult content |
Cons
Server based so it may impose on some privacy issues |
No individual user profiles |
No chat filtering or monitoring |
No email monitoring |
No program control |
Conclusion
If you are looking for a decent web filter at no cost then you can’t go past K9 web protection as it definitely provides sufficient web filtering. However if you are looking for more all round computer protection then I would definitely opt for one of the more complete packages on offer.
| Ratings
|
| 1 - 4
| Poor
|
| 5 - 7
| Average
|
| 8 - 10
| Good
|
| |
|
 |
|
|
Home |
Useful Links |
About Us |
Contact Us |
Glossary |
Terms and Conditions of Use
|
|
Copyright © 2008, Internet-Content-Filter-Review.com, All rights reserved
|