CNET Editors' review
This parental control software protects your children from inappropriate Web sites, but some features didn't work in our evaluations. FreeShield's plain interface is accessible through the toolbar it places on your browser. The application effectively allows specific sites and blocks others. It also comes preset to block adult sites; you'll just need to check the appropriate mode for functioning.
The password-protected program effectively logs Web-surfing activity. FreeShield has a spyware/adware protector and scans your PC for possible infections, but annoyingly, it didn't produce results and told us to try later. Additional track-cleaning features are given to clean Internet Explorer's history, cookies, cache, address bar entries and the Recycle Bin, though some items remained after the supposed cleaning in our tests. We also found it odd that its cleaning features weren't covered under its password protection. FreeShield itself isn't protected very well either, since it can be uninstalled from the Windows Control Panel without the password. We also would have liked screen captures and a scheduler to bring this application up to par. While its blocking mechanisms worked well, this freeware program's competition outshines it tenfold.
Publisher's Description
From Thinking-Machine:
The Internet is a wonderful educational tool but as a parent you obviously want to protect your children from viewing pornography and adult Web sites. FreeShield is the simple, easy to use solution to change your PC into a safe educational tool by filtering out pornography. FreeShield is the only parental control software that gives you free complete control. It can be as strict or open as you want. But that's not all.
More Popular Parental Control downloads
- JuniorWatch
3,299 downloads
- Anti-Porn
1,488 downloads
- ParentalControl Bar
1,156 downloads
- K9 Web Protection
926 downloads
- KidLogger
866 downloads
-
All versions:
3.2 starsout of 2 votes
-
Current version:
2.5 starsout of 2 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-2 of 2
-
"good, i like it"
Version: FreeShield 2
-
"Didn't like it - uninstalled within the hour"
Version: FreeShield 2
Pros
The download is small and the install was quick.
Cons
When I tryed to test it, it was in the new toolbar but not active yet. There was no start message telling me to run the setup wizard, choose a password, and start the program. They need a popup to start the Wizard Setup.
So I found the wizard and turned the thing on. The 'spyware' setup screen was confusing (and contains typos on screen - a pet peeve). It 'finds' 1200+ 'potential' spyware threats - which I doubt and lists them for you to check on/off. Some are red sheilds some green, some good, some mean. It was very confusing. I found later that you are supposed to click the 'Apply Protection' button which checks all the red sheild items for you.
Also, the 'Scan Computer' feature failed with 'Busy Server' so I never got that done.
Once it is on, it blocks popups without notification so you go to a site, click on something and nothing happens. Keep clicking - oh it is being blocked. It prevents bad sites with a 'ping' sound and multiple error message screens which you have to click on OK to get rid of.
Finally, I was ready to uninstall - which it allowed me to do without requiring a password - although the uninstall froze up half way through. That won't stop my kids much.
Seems buggy and sloppy. I will try something else.
