WebSafetyPC Review

Parents manage WebSafetyPC through an online console from any Internet-equipped PC. It focuses on watching IM conversations and warning parents about problems such as sexting and cyberbullying.

A configuration wizard walks parents through initial setup, including defining one or two cell phone numbers to receive alerts when the application detects a problem.

Parents must download and install a local client on each PC for which they have a license. As you can see, WebSafetyPC uses a wide variety of graphical styles in the user interface of its different components.

Anyone can download and run WebSafety's free scanner, which checks IM logs, browser history, and local filenames for possible violations.

The safety scanner summarizes its findings. In order to view the extremely detailed full report, you must sign up for WebSafetyPC.

This screenshot shows sections of the lengthy full report. As you can see, the alerts don't necessarily reflect a real problem.

Parents can record private information that should not be sent via instant message. If a child tries to send one of these items, WebSafetyPC terminates the IM program and sends an alert.

When WebSafetyPC detects that an IM conversation might be dangerous it sends an email alert specifying what kind of danger it detected.

The alert message includes a reduced screenshot of the alert event. Parents can click for a full-size image, to see exactly what the child did that triggered a warning.

WebSafetyPC also sends a text message alert to the number or numbers specified in its configuration. The alert identifies the computer, the user, and the type of warning; parents must go to email for further details.

Parents can also check the online console for a list of recent alerts. Clicking one of these brings up the associated screenshot.

WebSafetyPC doesn't offer full category-based Web site blocking, but it does filter out porn sites. Its porn filter offers three levels of protection.

When the porn filter blocks a site it can display a parent-specified message, a blank page, or an error page. It can also redirect to a URL of the parent's choice.

The porn filter is completely browser-independent. Here it's blocking a site in a tiny browser that I wrote myself.

WebSafetyPC tracks the top 10 blocked sites for parental review. Parents can choose to whitelist any of these, thereby allowing access.

While WebSafetyPC does log all sites visited, it only retains the most recent 50. This list includes sites visited directly as well as those visited indirectly, for example advertisements or third-party content.

Parents can add any program's executable filename to the list of banned programs, or add a program directly from the log of top 10 programs used.

As this screenshot shows, children can get around the program control system simply by making a copy of the desired program under a different name.