CNET Editors' review
For a free Internet filter, K9 Web Blocker does its job well, providing a broad collection of options for customizing your remote Web supervision needs.
To run the program, you must register on the Web site to get the free activation code. The control panel is accessible only through the Internet. Uninstalling requires removing the app from the Task Manager, then using its password to delete it from the Windows Control Panel, and finally, rebooting. Because the password gets sent to the e-mail account of the person who registered the program, it's possible that an enterprising user could disable K9 on a shared computer.
Despite those drawbacks, K9 comes with a handful or so of predesigned filters and an option to customize. With more than 50 categories for organizing Web sites, and the keyword-free proprietary K9 rating system, the Web monitoring and blocking aspects of the software functioned well. K9 also has categories for blocking sites that have been detected as potential malware threats. Equally impressive, and a little bit scary, was the log that detailed not just blocked Web sites but also every Web site visited.
K9 Web Blocker is a good, free program for those who are concerned solely with Web surfing, but the lack of a chatware filter leaves some holes for predation.
Publisher's Description
From Blue Coat Systems:
K9 Web Protection is easy-to-use Parental Control and Internet filtering software that helps parents protect their children online. K9 Web Protection has the ability to block adult, porn and other offensive content, prevent spyware infections, and monitor visited sites on any Internet access connection (AOL, MSN, Yahoo, Earthlink). Based on commercial-grade Web filtering controls from Blue Coat Systems, K9 Web Protection is unique among content filters and it is free for home use. K9 can be configured as a porn blocker, a spyware stopper, a gambling filter or various other configurations based on our over 69 Web categories.
What's new in this version: Version 4.4.268:
- Windows 8 Metro App filtering support
- Implemented experimental Advanced YouTube Filtering
- Added additional configuration options: Disable HTTPS block notifications, Disable Google SSL redirection, Separate Option for YouTube Safety Mode
- Improved HTTPS filtering
- Compatibility with more Antivirus and Firewall vendors
More Products to Consider
- Monitor and restrict adult content in browsers and chat windows...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Protect your PC against the latest viruses and spyware.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Protect your computer from viruses and malicious programs.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Restrict access to pornographic Web sites.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Detect and quickly remove malicious threats to your computer.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Record and view every keystroke typed on keyboard.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Protect your PC in real time from malware & spyware.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Provide secure, anonymous, and private browsing on Wi-Fi hotspo...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Protect your family online, block harmful content, and control ...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Search your hard disk and Registry for threats to your security...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Protect children from porn web.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Detect and eliminate viruses, get free protection for home user...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Prevent your children from accessing adult-oriented Web sites.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Prevent access to adult sites, block file sharing, spyware, and...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Reduce multiple passwords to one single item.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Monitor Internet connections to protect your child from unsuita...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Protect your children and monitor Internet use.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Guard your Windows PC from malware and Internet based attacks.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Supervise your children's access to Web sites and block unhealt...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Protect PC from viruses, Trojans, worms, buffer overflows, zero...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Detect unauthorized access to your computer.Download
Installed
Smart Install - Download and exchange files safely, enjoy games and Web surfing...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Block known pornography sites and scan and analyze images to pr...Download
Installed
Smart Install - Detect and remove spyware, malware, rootkits, trojans, hijacker...Download
Installed
Smart Install
-
All versions:
4.1 starsout of 294 votes
-
Current version:
3.0 starsout of 3 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-3 of 3
-
"Easy to stops... Can not limit sites by time..."
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.4.268
Pros
Easy to install.
Good support team.Cons
Easy to stops...
Can not limit sites by time...Summary
This program is good for small children only. For teenagers you need something more serious, for example, I want to block adult content, but allow Facebook for 30 mins... I use another program, called Time Boss. It gives me all, I need, but unfortunately it works with Explorer only. Anyway, I recommned it to the parents.
Yiu are welcome to download it from here: http://nicekit.com/parental-control-software.htm -
"Best ever filtering tool"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.4.268
Pros
- Ease to install
- Ease to administer
- Is always up-to-date
- Gives you some peace of mind regarding what your children are seingCons
- Can't block everything you wanted... does not substitute you as a parent :) But this can be seen as a positive issue too, we as parents should stay close to our children and instruct them to flee from evil and run to good things.
Summary
If you care about your children, go for it, it will protect them and yourself from many bad sites that contain spyware, malicious code, pornography and other useless stuff.
-
"Contains viruses"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.4.268
Pros
No pros, uninstalled as soon as I noticed viruses; have not yet been able to get rid of them.
Cons
Contains severe malicious viruses: Key loggers/password stealers; browser modifiers; adware and popups.
Summary
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
Results 1-3 of 3
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
See more CNET content tagged:
Previous Versions:




