iShield

In some cases, iShield does a good job of blocking access to pornographic Web sites, but its performance is by no means flawless. Before you can access the program's settings, you must specify a password that will prevent other users from disabling or uninstalling it.

iShield's interface is simple to configure, allowing you to completely block suspected porn sites or simply alert the user that he or she going to a potentially offensive page. The application offers three levels of security and lets you block certain URLs via its blacklist. In our tests, using the most secure blocking mode, the application stopped most adult sites we threw its way but let through a number of others, though support for several alternative browsers is a welcome addition.

Also, we should note that this program isn't a full-on monitoring tool. Although it does log attempts to access potentially pornographic sites, it can't take screenshots or capture keystrokes. Happily, we didn't manage to disable the app via the Task Manager or uninstall it without a password.

We think iShield makes a decent choice for keeping adult material away from younger children, but a more powerful tool will better to safeguard older or savvier users.