Porn, cults, guns, bestiality-Nanny's default settings let most of these sites through without batting an eyelash.
In our tests, on its default setting, the software blocked just 3 of 30 sites we deemed objectionable-a mere 10 percent. Unfortunately, even with all these security features, the Nanny is easily the most permissive filter we tested.
You can add these variants to the word list, but it's a thankless, time-consuming chore. And even after you program the Nanny to block certain naughty words, it doesn't automatically block variations on a word so bleep might be blocked, but bleeps, bleeper, and bleeping are not. Your kids also won't be able to view the pics at legitimate sites and may struggle to make sense out of a page on Vice President # Cheney. The downside? Net Nanny can't tell the difference between a nudie picture or a baby picture, so it blocks all images without discretion. (Your Web browser lets you hide images, but there's no way to keep someone from undoing your settings.) You can also program Net Nanny to let Web pages and e-mail messages through but wipe out certain words, replacing them with #. What about sites that don't post objectionable words, but display "Nude XXX Celebrity Pix"? You can set Net Nanny to blank out GIF and JPEG images (primary Web image formats), so even if your 15-year-old made it to (not a real site, by the way), he wouldn't find much to look at. No other filtering software makes it so easy to block this type of information. (Alas, Net Nanny, like its competition, won't filter instant messengers such as MSN or ICQ.) To set up the personal information block, just fill out a few onscreen forms with the forbidden names, addresses, credit card numbers, names of schools or workplaces, and more. With Net Nanny, it's possible to prevent your browser, chat software, or e-mail client from transmitting personal data.
As with the other programs, you can schedule Net Nanny to regularly update its list of forbidden URLs, but Nanny is the only filter that shows you which sites are on its list, then lets you check off the ones you want your kids to access.Īfraid your little ones will share inappropriate information with strangers online? Don't be. Unlike Cyber Patrol or CyberSitter, Net Nanny lets you turn blocking off while still keeping a log of your children's online activities, including transcripts of any chats. When Junior does encounter a restricted site, Net Nanny responds in one of several ways: it blocks access to the site, shuts down the browser, or allows the page to load, but pops up a standard or customized warning. If you want an easy-to-use, customizable filter, Net Nanny's the way to go. True, the program's default filters block the fewest objectionable sites overall, but it's a cinch to add sites to your restricted list. For example, create a less restrictive filter for your teenage daughter but stricter controls for your toddler son. It's easy to customize Nanny for multiple users. If you want an easy-to-use, customizable filter, Net Nanny's the way to go.As its name implies, Net Nanny is friendly, flexible, and none too strict. As its name implies, Net Nanny is friendly, flexible, and none too strict.