10 Best Parental Control Apps
Nowadays, children spend a significant part of the time on the computer. Moreover, not only playing games but also in social networks, watching videos, and chatting in instant messengers. You cannot monitor the child constantly unless completely cut off him of access to the PC. Parental Control Apps Programs that can protect an under-age viewer from violence and adult content will come to the rescue, as well as find out that the children have contacted a bad company or even crime.
Content blocking
It is most effective to protect a child from information not intended for his psyche by completely blocking access to it. Parental controls with filtering and blocking are designed for this purpose. Some of them are suitable for a specific operating system, others are universal and work even on telephone platforms.
Qustodio
This program has a free version that can be used without any time limit. With its help, you can set the schedule and launch rules for individual applications on a PC and block the content of “18+”. When using the paid version of the utility, you can receive notifications via SMS about the activity of the child and filter information in social networks.
The list of utility functions allows you to consider it one of the most effective free programs for controlling actions and blocking access to the Network. Moreover, it supports not only Windows and Mac OS, but also iOS, Android, and even Fire OS on Kindle e-books.
However, you still have to pay for the most useful opportunity by purchasing an extended version of the program (from $ 49.46/year). Also, the application is quite difficult to configure in such a way that it starts with the system and is not reset by a simple reboot.
McAfee Safe Family
McAfee Safe Family is a universal tool for Mac and Windows PCs, as well as smartphones, which provides antivirus facility and filtering of content on the Web and is easily customizable to the requirements of parents. With its help you can:
● Customize the display of sites by category.
● Indicate pages to which access for children will be denied.
● Limit the use of social networks and watching videos of certain genres.
Among the features of use are setting time limits for working on the Internet, monitoring conversations and messages, blocking online games, and reporting. The advantages of the program also include multi-platform and effective technical support for users. Another advantage is the control of work in messengers, where children may face with information not intended for them just as well. It is one of the best app among best parental control apps.
Witigo parental filter
Witigo Parental Filter is designed to work on almost any device based on Windows, Mac OS, iOS, Linux, and Android. The utility provides real-time control and blocking of content. Access to information through the application is closed in accordance with the selected categories. For example, violence, online games, or “obscene content”. Parents can configure their own filters, blocking certain resources.
Among the features of the utility are the high efficiency of determining the category of content, multi-platform, and a simple interface. The program can not only block the content of sites but also make reports on the actions of the child on the network. However, for its use, you will have to pay from $ 13 to $ 50, depending on the operating system.
OpenDNSFamilyShield
A tool called FamilyShield is built into the OpenDNS service and is designed to block domains that may contain insecure content or adult video. To prevent the child from circumventing the ban through a proxy server or anonymizer, access to such services is also blocked.
Among the advantages of the utility is the ability to use it together with other means of parental control and launch at the router level. This means that it is enough to configure the utility once, and not do it separately for each device. In addition, the program is completely free and supports both Windows and Mac OS.
Remote web activity monitoring
Despite the tricks of the parents, children can circumvent the prohibitions and blockages, and still get access to the forbidden content. Therefore, parents of schoolchildren who are well versed in computers should install the program not for blocking, but for control, like TeamViewer. That is, monitoring the actions that the child performs on the computer.
Avira Free SocialShield
The Avira Free SocialShield utility monitors the child’s activity on social networks by performing additional verification of accounts on popular resources. In the presence of suspicious activity, profanity, or contact with strangers, the utility informs parents about them.
Among the features of SocialShield is a constant analysis of public and private messages, photos, and comments on them. When checking, attention is drawn to words about drugs, sex, and suicides, as well as signs of intimidation. Generated reports are sent to parents by email.
MSpy
The program belongs to the parent software suitable for Mac OS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Among the features of the PC version are creating screenshots of the desktop and saving all the information that the child typed on the keyboard (keylogger function). The utility can control how long the computer has been used and what applications run on it.
The benefits of MSPY include detailed reports and round-the-clock technical support from developer representatives. The same program controls which applications are installed on the computer. The only downside is the high price. Depending on the duration of use, the monthly subscription fee is between $ 22 and $ 70.
Kidlogger
If the child turned out to be more talented than the parents and bypassed the protection, KidLogger utility will help him control it. It records everything that was entered from the keyboard, takes screenshots, and even records voice messages received through a PC. Although, if parents more or less trust their child, you can set up control of not all, but only certain actions.
The list of program features includes monitoring chats, social networks, and sites. Even the free version of the application runs on different platforms and is quite suitable to ensure the safety of the child. Paid option costs from $ 9 for three months.
Spyrix free keylogger
Utilities that control the information entered from the keyboard will not restrict access to either program, sites, or adult content. But with their help, it is easy to check what the child was doing at the computer. A reliable record of everything that happens will allow you to timely detect and prevent a number of problems – from communicating with suspicious individuals from participating in the drug trade, which can involve children.
Among the advantages of the program is the ability to check the information that was entered from the keyboard a few weeks ago, control the clipboard and even documents sent to the printer. And Free Keylogger can take screenshots and can be remotely controlled from the parent’s PC.
OS parental controls
To limit children’s access to inappropriate content, it is not necessary to download additional software. Sometimes a problem can be solved using the already built-in functions of the Windows and Mac OS operating systems.
Parental Controls: Mac Panel
The Apple operating system received built-in tools, thanks to which you can control the time spent at the computer and configure access to certain programs and sites. Parental controls are available on all Mac OS platforms, starting with version X 10.7. To block resources on the Internet, you must configure the filter, indicating which programs are allowed to run. It is possible to prohibit even sending e-mail and messages in iChat – you can only communicate with the specified contacts.
To use the control functions, no additional utilities are required. In addition to completely restricting access, you can set time intervals that reduce the time spent on the computer and on the network.
Windows Live Family Safety
Live Family Safety is one of the key components of the Windows operating system. With it, you can limit the launch of games and applications, as well as the time they are used on a PC. The utility compiles reports with full information about downloaded software, visited web pages, and running games, so you will always be aware of what your child was doing at the computer.
The utility is easy to configure but requires the creation of a Live ID account. To customize the user’s requirements, the Family Safety website is used.
The solution is completely free and can be installed on any PC or laptop with Windows, starting with Vista. The blocking efficiency is slightly lower compared to other programs that are not embedded in the system. But to block most resources that are not intended for children, the Live Family Safety features will be sufficient.
About the author
Melisa Marzett works for writing services how to find best essay as an essay writer for more than 5 years now. She is happy doing her job. She loves life. She loves people, animals, and nature. She enjoys traveling, having picnics, reading, and simple walks especially somewhere in the woods to feeling closer to nature.