Kaspersky Safe Kids Versus Net Nanny

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How Does Kaspersky Safe Kids Work?

Installing and running Kaspersky Safe Kids is quick and easy. From the website, you simply follow the instructions for the type of device you want to protect. There are options for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. Once you’ve installed the software, you can change the settings from your online dashboard or through the parental app.

You will need to set up individual profiles for each of your kids. Doing so allows you to ensure all content is age-appropriate for the user, set usage limits and monitor individual online activity. If your kids also have portable devices, you can set up additional features like geofencing.

Kaspersky Safe Kids works by notifying you of any suspicious activity and letting you control what your kids can and can’t do while online. You can block access to specific websites, deny web access once they reach their usage limit or just monitor their conversations to make sure they aren’t sharing information that could be a security risk.

What Makes Kaspersky Stand Out?

Kaspersky Safe Kids is not the most feature-rich parental control option out there, but the features it does offer are top of the line. Solid internet filtering lets you set it and forget it unless your child asks for a change. Then, you can take a look at specific sites and allow access on a case-by-case basis.

With geofencing, you can use the location information from your child’s phone to set physical boundaries. If your child leaves that safe zone, you get an immediate notification. You can also check to see if children are where they said they would be, at any time of the day or night. As long as they have their phone, you can track them.

Another positive aspect of Kaspersky is that it isn’t limited to just browser activity. It also tracks apps, messaging, MMS and calls. No, you can’t listen in on kids’ calls, but you can see who they are talking to and contact your service provider to block inappropriate numbers.

Public Facebook monitoring is another piece that sets Kaspersky apart. Other parental control solutions may not offer any social media monitoring, or if they do, it may come with a separate price tag attached. Kaspersky Safe Kids includes public Facebook monitoring, so you won’t be caught by surprise if something happens on social media.

Common Kaspersky Safe Kids Reviews

Most reviews for Kaspersky Safe Kids are positive. Even the free version generates mostly 4- and 5-star reviews. However, do keep in mind that children do not always appreciate the limitations placed on them by parental controls. You will find plenty of negative reviews, though only some are from parents complaining about the product.

Some of the most common user complaints are about features parents would like to see added. For example, many users note that it would be helpful if they could set daily usage limits and schedule offline periods at the same time. One user had some trouble when the usage limit locked the phone completely, disabling even features such as the clock and calling functionality. Barring some recommendations for added features, Kaspersky generally receives high marks.

Most users say it works exactly as advertised, blocking inappropriate sites and allowing tracking both online and off.

Is Kaspersky for Me?

Children do not always understand the complexities of online security. A poorly framed picture can post your address for the world to see, and a comment on a site could reveal where your child goes to school. The more information your child posts online, the greater the risk factors. If parents want to remain aware of potential risks and limit the dangers of the online world, parental controls are essential.

With Kaspersky Safe Kids, you can monitor online activity and talk to your kid about inappropriate sites and security issues. You can also use Safe Kids to monitor offline behavior. If your children want to visit a friend, make sure they go where they say they are going using the location settings on their phones. If you are a concerned parent and want an affordable solution to online monitoring and digital tracking, Kaspersky Safe Kids is a solid choice.

About the Author

Jeff Hindenach

Jeff Hindenach is the co-founder of Versus Reviews. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He has a long history of journalism, with a background writing for newspapers such as the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Examiner, as well as writing for The Huffington Post, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, Newsday and The Street. He believes in giving readers the tools they need to get out of debt.

How Does Net Nanny Work?

Getting started with Net Nanny is quick and easy. The installation wizard walks you through the process of installing the monitoring software locally on your computer and helps you set up profiles and accounts for each family member. During the setup process, you’ll also set permissions and features to deal with different levels of internet access.

Once you have the basics set up on your computer, you can also install the app on individual devices. Have your kids download the app onto their phones and tablets. You can let Net Nanny know which device goes with which profile to start monitoring.

What Makes NetNanny Stand Out?

With any good software, the features are really what makes the difference. Net Nanny offers a comprehensive list of features that let you customize internet access for your family. From scheduling to filtering, Net Nanny does it all.

With Net Nanny, you can block internet activity during school hours or after bedtime. You can also set limits for cumulative internet use.For example, if your house rule is no more than 10 hours online each week, this parental control software will track individual usage and automatically cut off access once a user reaches 10 hours. There’s no need for you to track which kid has already used up their online time — Net Nanny does it for you.

The option to add social media monitoring is another big plus. Kids often don’t realize the impact of online bullying, so it’s important for parents to be aware of what is happening on social media sites. By tracking activity and seeing conversations as they happen, Net Nanny lets you respond in real time to real issues. Since it’s a web-based platform, you don’t need to install any software to start monitoring. Simply give Net Nanny the email address or social media account information you want to track, and you’ll start getting reports. It’s that simple and that powerful.

Common Net Nanny Reviews

Net Nanny consistently gets excellent ratings from software reviewers. The granular filtering options and flexibility offered through the Net Nanny suite make it a top contender when comparing parental control software. Like all of the best parental control platforms, it has its fair share of negative reviews, mainly from kids.

Parents may give five-stars on their Net Nanny reviews, but the kids dealing with restricted access generally don’t. In fact, the better the software works, the lower you should expect the reviews to be. After all, there are more children complaining than there are parents offering a thumbs up.

The only area where this parental control software has some work to do is for iOS. While they offer an app through Apple, the functionality leaves a lot to be desired. The Android app delivers on most of the promises made to PC users, and with the option to buy the app at a much-reduced price point. NetNanny delivers consistent quality and a very comprehensive set of features.

Is Net Nanny for Me?

Selecting a parental control software can be difficult. Some install like spyware, and your children never know they’re being monitored. Others send out notifications to you and your children whenever they try to visit a blocked site. Ultimately, if you want a one-stop-shop for parental controls and monitoring along with some of the most granular filtering options, Net Nanny might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Net Nanny lets you block everything from pornography to anime, so you can be very specific about what is and is not allowed. If you have tech-savvy kids who find workarounds to other parental control options, you might want to give it a try. Instead of working through your existing browsers, Net Nanny blocks all other browsers and only lets kids use their proprietary option. The result is easy online monitoring that includes both activity logs and scheduling.

Depending on the number of devices you need to monitor, Net Nanny can be a very affordable option that offers maximum coverage and some nifty features. The ability to continue to display page content while only blocking profanity is helpful for you and the kids. Adding social media monitoring is another big bonus, particularly since you only pay once for the service, not per account.

About the Author

Jeff Hindenach

Jeff Hindenach is the co-founder of Versus Reviews. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He has a long history of journalism, with a background writing for newspapers such as the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Examiner, as well as writing for The Huffington Post, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, Newsday and The Street. He believes in giving readers the tools they need to get out of debt.