Webwasher

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET Staff on February 27, 2009

Filter your Web surfing with this simple to set freeware utility. Webwasher's basic interface is made up of basic checkboxes with a few option windows. Novices may have to look up a few terms, but most will have their preferences set in a couple of minutes.

Webwasher's premise is simple; click what you want to filter from viewing, saving, or sending. You can install the program as a proxy filter, or use a simple automatic configuration. Our testers found that both methods worked well. The Standard Filter operates on those items most users identify as problems. Pop-ups, misdirected URLs, large images, scripts, and animations are all easily set to not display. Intermediate users will find it easy to tweak each option for a more personal performance. The Privacy Filters are primarily on or off options. Prefixes, Referrer URLS, and Web bugs are removed with simple clicks. The Cookie Filter, though, requires some thought to properly set its options.

You can use Access Control wildcards to automatically redirect all or select URLs to a preset site, an option our testers felt would be useful to parents. All settings are protected from change by a simple password. Anyone wanting to fine-tune Web surfing to eliminate pesky pop-ups or filter inappropriate sites for other users will find Webwasher easy to operate and effective.