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: Integration with K9 Safe Search, Improved Self-moderator options, bug fixes and performance enhancements.
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All versions:
4.1 starsout of 287 votes
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Current version:
2.6 starsout of 8 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-8 of 8
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"Big problems with Google Chrome"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.3.188
Pros
Excellent program if not using the Chrome browser.
Cons
Have had major problems with the last two versions of Google Chrome.
The K9 blocked sites warning comes up in separate tabs from the window you are viewing. Closing the tabs allows children direct access to the blocked/banned sites. Contacted Bluecoat and Chrome but did not receive any replies regarding this problem.Summary
Excellent program for IE/Firefox users.
Does not work with Google Chrome. -
"Couldn't surf AT ALL after installing."
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.3.188
Pros
Well, I suppose it did eliminate any inappropriate sites
Cons
It eliminated every single other site as well. I couldn't get the browser to respond to anything. Even the K9 management site wouldn't open.
Summary
I installed, uninstalled, reinstalled, tried different browsers. I did everything I could think of. Why some people had a decent experience and I had a horrific one, I'm not sure. I'm fairly computer and software savvy (maybe not a tech genius, but no slob either).
I am not a rep or whatever for anything or anyone. My sister told me about Norton Family Online, it blows this bloated piece of software away. Also free. Way better and more powerful.
Good luck in your parental control software choices. -
"Freaking Nightmare"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.3.188
Pros
None. Worst program EVER.
Cons
Completely blocks your internet. COMPLETELY.
Summary
I didn't have an account for cnet before I downloaded this program, but since my experience, I just had to create an account to warn people about this absolutely horrendous program. I downloaded k9 to stop myself from watching porn. I set a random password, so that I wouldn't be tempted. Little did I know, my nightmare was about to begin.
I went on with my browsing, feeling good, knowing that I wouldn't be able to watch porn. The only problem was... I couldn't do a damn thing on the internet! Each time I tried to connect to a website, it always showed me the K9 protection error page. At first, I thought it might just have been my connection, after all, these things do happen. Nope. My entire family's internet connections were fine! I thought, "Hmm, that's odd." So I tried plugging in an ethernet cable to see if my internet would work again. Wrong again. I soon came to the conclusion that I would have to get rid of this program to access the internet again!
The only problem, was that this program is damn near impossible to uninstall! And get this, if you did what I did, and set a random password, you will NEVER be able to uninstall this program. A password is required to uninstall this program, and if you click "Forgot password", NOTHING HAPPENS, because you need to have an internet connection to have a password sent to your e-mail! This wouldn't be a problem, if this program didn't block your internet completely!
The only way I got rid of this program was to do a bunch of extremely tedious things that didn't uninstall the program, but disabled it completely. After doing this, what do you know? My internet was working perfectly again!
Sorry for the long rant, but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS PROGRAM. Save yourself the trouble and hours of time removing this. I've learned my lesson. I would give this program negative a million stars if I could. -
"Very good product, works smoothly, accurate and free"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.3.188
Pros
Blocks alot of things which can be customised by adminstrator. Many low end websites that aren't popular are blocked. Hardly any websites go past unnoticed. Works with any browser that tries to connect to the internet. Fast, the internet speed isn't compromised.Very hard to bypass almost impossible for the average to expert user.
Cons
Blocking streaming content blocks popular websites like youtube which can't be a good thing in this day and age. However allowing youtube and download sites means some small percentage of adult type videos can be viewed on youtube and pornography can be downloaded.
Did cause severe slow internet issues with Avast AntiVirus which I spent a long time solving, thanks to Phillabb. See his review to solve the compatibility issue with Avast antivirus.
Needed to add avast to exclusions list myself on my firewall.Summary
Very good, reliable and accurate product for the home. Has a lot of helpful features and not any useless comsumer junk. Easy to download and install, cannot be bypassed. Works with all interfaces/browsers that attempts to connect to the internet. Does not slow down the internet and blocking results are fast.
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"Free and better than most of paid softwares."
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.3.188
Pros
It's simple and easy;
It has few, but essential features;Cons
- The last K9 version doesn't work properly on my computer: lots of internet site can't be accessed: "K9 is not responding" and Chrome brownser slows down until I desinstall K9.
- K9 should have more features. Ex: the possibility of exceptions overide all restrictions (so, a kid could watch a site like Khan Academy anytime).
- K9 should allow diferent settings for different computer accounts.Summary
Until the recent bugs the new version, K9 was the best program (including purchased with paid) that I had found. Now I am looking for others.
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"Avast Conflict"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.3.188
Pros
From K9 Support Memeber
Cons
None that I can think of
Summary
To all users who have Avast installed:
Currently K9 and Avast are conflicting with each other. If you have Avast Anti-Virus installed please make the following adjustment:
1. Go to the Avast Console.
2. Click on 'Real-Time Shields'.
3. Next Click on 'Web Shield'.
4. Click on 'Expert Settings' and then 'Exclusions'.
5. Next add "k9filter.exe" (without the quotation marks) to the 'Processes to Exclude' list.
5. Click Ok
Please reinstall K9 and test it out. If you are still having issues or do not have Avast installed please submit a help request to the K9 support team by going to http://www1.k9webprotection.com/support/kb
Regards, -
"This new version (beta) doesn't work properly!"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.3.188
Pros
Basically, I loved K9, but this version doesn't work correctly!
Cons
Automatically, my K9 version 4.2.123 has been updated to beta 4.3.188, but unfortunately, this version doesn't work properly on my computer: lots of internet site can't be accessed: "K9 is not responding". Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
If I reinstall v 4.2.123, there is an automatic upgrade to this blody version. My other computer has not been udpated, it works properly on the same internet access.
I am going to fully desinstall K9!Summary
Avast conflict resolved with the very efficient and reactive support of BlueCoat helpdesk (thank you Phil)
Updated on Mar 9, 2012 -
"Works, but VERY slowly"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.3.188
Pros
Does a good job of filtering out unwanted content; Even kept me from changing my safesearch setting on Firefox and Internet Explorer
Cons
Slowed my computer to a crawl. Bootup time increased dramatically and time to launch Firefox and Microsoft Mail both jumped to well over a minute. Kept getting messages that K9 was not responding and the page could not be loaded. Made using the net impossible when these errors occurred, which unfortunately was very frequently.
Results 1-8 of 8
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