Big Mother

We can't deny that this software is great for parents to take control of their PCs, but Big Mother could use some lessons in user-friendliness.

With a multifaceted, password-protected interface, parents can easily block Internet access or other online features that may be tempting to little ones, such as uploading and downloading files, surly URLs, e-mails, games, and chats. Or, parents can grant limited access by developing scheduled access times. Big Mother even allows you to limit the amount of uploaded and downloaded data by file sizes.

We like the variety of logging options: URLs, e-mails, games/chats, or FTPs. What we don't like is that rather than simply monitoring network PCs by username, this application uses host names and divides them into work groups. Its various options could be overwhelming to the not-so-computer-savvy mom or dad. Additionally, the short seven-day trial isn't exactly a help to those needing acclimation to the ins and outs featured. Still, though it is geared toward parents, this customizable software also could be an asset in the workplace.