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: Bug fixes, firewall compatibility, and performance improvements.
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All versions:
4.1 starsout of 279 votes
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Current version:
3.8 starsout of 12 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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Version: K9 Web Protection 4.2.123
Pros
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Cons
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Summary
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"The best free Web Protector"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.2.123
Pros
It does what it says...
Cons
Sometime I get blue screen when using K9 Admin.
Summary
The best free Web Protector
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"It is the best program ever"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.2.123
Pros
I am very happy ,it blocks all bad sites
Cons
thanks you
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"Does the job"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.2.123
Pros
Simple easy install. Pretty user-friendly.
Cons
Have to deselect the https filter in order use most of the Google services (mail, plus, etc.)
I can't log onto my campus's wifi because k9 kills my connection to https login screen.Summary
Great for at home and or any normal use. If you use internet that reqires a further login on your internet browser, you might have to look somewhere else. Otherwise, good block all around.
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"A good line of defense"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.2.123
Pros
Works as it specifies
Free
Adequate minimal user controls
Works with both IE and Firefox (my browsers) - as well as others I don't use (I understand)Cons
The only con I've experienced so far is an inability to turn off blocked site notifications, which depending on your internet use could be frequent or a little
Summary
This utility was selected and installed to ensure that no pornography would be displayed on my computer screen. It fulfills that function beautifully and seamlessly. It also blocks sites (as in, prevents access to sites) that contain material that the administrator has identified as off-limits. I am thrilled with this product. My solitary complaint is that I would rather not be notified every time a site is blocked, because the notifications can be distracting, especially when they are frequent. I will say, however, that, because of the notifications, I have discovered that many sites (particularly social networking sites) are being blocked from access (TO my computer by, or from, these sites) when I am visiting news sites and other, totally-unrelated sites - and we have NO social networking accounts (no Facebook, no MySpace, etc.). The notifications have kind of served as an awareness tool as to how vulnerable a computer is to unknown visitors trying to access the computer and possibly breach it. K9 seems to be a worthwhile tool that, in my opinion, every computer should not be without.
I just want to clarify that I, as administrator, have selected social networking to be blocked on my computer. This is because my household doesn't do social networking. If I had not selected social networking to be blocked, it wouldn't be. So if you want to do social networking on your computer and use K9 for blocking other types of content, K9 is still a good choice of a filtering product.
Updated on Nov 19, 2011 -
"If you love your children; Install this program NOW!"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.2.123
Pros
It's free and easy to use, and it is as effective as anything else out their.
Cons
Web history can only be access from the computer it is installed on.
Summary
Ok, there are many filtering programs out there that help prevent children from accessing undesirable content on the internet. I have tried several, including some that cost more then $100 a year for the service. I found that none of them, even the expensive paid ones, lived up to their all hype. I am not going to go into great detail about them because, what it all boils down to, is protecting our children. And when it comes to protecting our children, K-9 does it as good as the most expensive program out their. K-9 installs easy. The only difficult thing about the installation is the registration for a unique password. And you must never forget your password! I will explain why later.
K-9 gives you tons of control and filtering options. There are two main functions of the program. The first function is to keep your kids from accessing undesirable content on the web. The second function is to keep your kid, or anyone else using their computer, from uninstalling the K-9 program. In order to fulfill this second function, the programmers needed to make K-9 almost impossible to uninstall. This is why it is so important that you never forget your password. Because without it, you cannot modify the filter settings or uninstall the program. If you forget your password and want to uninstall it later, completely formatting your hard drive and re-installing windows is about the only way you can completely get rid of the program. But this is what we want right? What good would a parental control program be, if our children could just turn it off? But unfortunately, nothing is impossible when it comes to computers and that is what I will talk about next.
There are two areas that this program needs to improve. One, is it needs an invisible install mode. What I mean is this. When you install K-9 it creates a desktop icon and if your child ever accesses a restricted site a K-9 restricted access page comes up. Now this seems fine, but it also tells the person using the computer exactly what program is restricting them. If they are determined to go ahead, a quick search on the internet will give them access to a whole network of people who have dedicated their lives to subverting parental control programs like K-9. With these vial peoples help, your child will be surfing the web unrestricted in minutes.
I have always said, "The best locking system is one that the thieves don't know about." I once worked for a construction company that had a tool trailer that was getting broke into frequently. The supervisor ask me to devise thief proof locking system. So I welded a small chain to the inside of the vertical sliding door and drilled a hole through the floor of the trailer just big enough for the chain to fit through. I then put a little padlock that would not fit through the hole on the end of the chain. I then bought the biggest padlock on the market and put it on the front of the door through the normal locking system. In a few months time, that big lock had been cut off six times, but the thieves never got into the trailer. They finally stopped trying because they could not figure out how to get in. Little did they know that, a little $5 pad lock was all they needed to cut in order to get in.
My point is this, you cannot subvert a locking system that you don't know is there. I wish that the K-9 programmers would give us the option to install the program where it would be invisible, or at least the option of making it so.
The second area I wish K-9 would improve is account access. Currently you have to be setting in front of the computer that K-9 is installed on to access the account, view browsing logs etc. But K-9 is a free program and for them to offer online access and storage would be expensive, so I understand the limitation. But there is a solution. Just go over to www.logmein.com and create an account and install logMeIn Free on the same computer that K-9 is installed on. Now you will be able to control that computer from anywhere in the world just like your were sitting in front of it. Problem solved.
In summation. K-9 appears to be made by people who genuinely care about protecting kids. The other programs I have used, especially the paid ones, give you the feeling that they were created by Master Guard fire alarm sales men, that try to make you feel that you are personally setting the fire that will burn your kids alive if you don't pay for their outrageously over priced fire alarms.
Bottom line. Just install K-9 if you care about your kids. -
"Good idea, REALLY glitchy"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.2.123
Pros
Blocks any websites you want - easily used to block facebook and twitter for a student who can't concentrate
Barking noise makes me get back to work, but can get annoyingCons
Where do I start? "supervisor mode" never lasts as long as you choose - I chose an hour before bed, and it gives me five minutes, so I have to disable the whole program to use the internet normally.
When I wasn't even using my web browser, it would sit there barking at me , blocking websites I wasn't using.
Stopped responding, then I couldn't use the internet at all, so I had to uninstall the program.Summary
It's a good idea, and it's even better that this program is free, but it's seriously glitchy and needs to get those sorted out before you can properly use it.
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"INSTALLING ISSUES- NO SUPPORT!"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.2.123
Pros
Free,has decent reviews.
Cons
INSTALLING ISSUES WITH NO SUPPORT HELP. Blue screen of death is well known. error is " the exception unknown software exception (0x40000015) occured in application at location 0x00474324 click on ok to terminate the program click on cancel to debug the program" you are then sent in a spin cycle of this plus send error reports until you give up and uninstall because it crashes your computer where you are unable to get on the internet for help. help directs you to unhelpful tips and FAQs.
Summary
A pure headache when all you want to do is protect your children!!!
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"It does the job !!"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.2.123
Pros
Easy to install, easy to use, great web protection.
Very easy to customize.
Peace of mind.
Free
Great job !!Cons
For what I need at home, NONE!
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"Outstanding Web Protection!!!"
Version: K9 Web Protection 4.2.123
Pros
Does what you need & more! You can block porn, gambling, alcohol, hacking, social media, streaming, peer-2-peer, etc. Customizable choose to block a little or a lot. You can block all web activity at certain times of the day (late nights).
Cons
None, anyone who wrote cons is lying.
Summary
I can't believe this software is free!!! It's perfect! I would recommend to anyone for themselves or family protection! What a great tool with many options! The people that didn't rate this well are either PC-illiterate or kids trying to convince their parents not to use it.
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