His articles have also appeared in Tom's Guide, TechTarget, Phandroid, and more. App Advisor Web filtering is absolutely the star of the show for Net Nanny. Check out our coverage of additional ways to manage your child's screen time on all of their devices, including options already built-in to the respective platforms. Norton Family Premier ($49.99 per year) and Kaspersky Safe Kids ($14.99 per year) offer the best value, since they can monitor an unlimited number of devices. These capabilities works well, however the web filters are subject to easy workarounds and its service is purportedly missing geofencing tools.On top of that, competitors offer a better value in terms of the number of devices they cover (Qustodio for example). We did find some workarounds though. We didn't experience any performance issues or delays in rules taking effect. It also controls the games your children play, which is extremely important. The parental control capabilities of video streaming services vary widely. You can choose to get alerts upon your child's arrival and departure, as well as to expand the reporting settings to all the monitored devices in your family. Qustodio is our Editors' Choice pick for parental control software, thanks to its excellent apps and customizable features. Parental control solutions are only effective if they cover all of a child's devices and activities. Monitoring. To enable or disable SSL filtering login to https://admin.netnanny.com then select the User tab, next select the Net Nanny User for which you wish to change the SSL filtering setting, click on User Settings. So if you opt for Net Nanny and your child has an iOS device, the best solution will be to delete any apps on your child's device that you don't approve of and then set up Apple's own Ask to Buy (opens in new tab) feature so that you can approve all app downloads in the future. You navigate Net Nanny's interface via icons in the top menu bar, one for Overview and the rest for individual child profiles. Note that Net Nanny's filtering technology recognizes context. Technically you can install and use the Net Nanny app (opens in new tab) for free, but it will operate purely as a parenting guide to apps and a source for relevant news regarding digital parenting, so I don't think that really counts as a free tier for the actual service. The Parent Dashboard is where you manage Net Nanny's parental control settings, but it is surprisingly difficult to find on Net Nanny's home page. Net Nanny parental control app review | Tom's Guide Net Nanny did not record our searches when we used the mobile Firefox Focus app, but it did lock Safe Search settings. 3 Method 3: Bypassing Net Nanny by Stopping during Start-Up. Both brands have roughly the same annual price for the 5-device package, costing around $55 per year . Net Nanny recently added a Social Media protection feature which works as a quick way to control access to social media sites. For example, if you block the Gambling category, your kid can still access the Wikipedia entry about gambling, but won't be able to access any actual gambling sites. This is really putting the strength of its live page analysis on display, as it covers over profanity in text with the "#" symbol. Net Nanny also offers two family protection passes. Gone are the days when a single parental control utility on the family PC was sufficient for keeping your kids safe and productive. Location tracking. You get all the same customization options as on the desktop here. The content filtering on these mobile web sites worked as expected, but some profanity did make it through the filters. Mobicip goes one step further by offering Chromebook support, but Norton Family Premier notably cannot help parents of kids with macOS computers. When your child encounters a blocked site, they will see a Net Nanny screen explaining that the page is blocked. Unlike Net Nanny, Qustodio also comes with a completely free and permanent . Net Nanny sends a clear notification on Windows when the monitoring status changes. Its not as feature-rich as our Editors' Choice pick, Norton Family, but Locategy is still a good way to keep tabs on your kids activities. Net Nanny runs on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Chrome OS and Kindle Fire. This all works fantastically well; I was unable to get around any of the blocks on my test devices on either Android or iOS. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. It also offers some social media protection when it comes to monitoring child activity on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Tumblr. You get the same monitoring options: Allow, Alert, and Block for each of your custom categories. Net Nanny also offers two family protection passes: the . Before PCMag, I worked at Neowin.net, Toms Guide, and Laptop Mag. Large plan: It covers 20 devices for $89.99 annually. Among those are daily screen time allocation, internet filters, website blocking, app blocking, a profanity filter, a force Safe Search option, and app removal protection. For example, the best content filters don't just use a database of categories. In the years since that fateful meeting, Ive become PCMags expert on security, privacy, and identity protection, putting antivirus tools, security suites, and all kinds of security software through their paces. Net Nanny is the most complete solution offering the following essential . You may notice that Net Nanny flags some strange URLs, such as a Google API site and others related to the Amazon Cloud Front content delivery network (CDN). There is not an option to enable two-factor authentication on your account either, which we would like to see. The company was bought out by Zift in 2016 and briefly changed names, but in May 2019 reverted to the familiar Net Nanny name. At the top, you can see how much time a child has used their device and how much they have left in the Screen Time Allowance section. Before settling on a particular parental control utility, you should to make sure it supports all the device types in your household. The Profile Settings button to the left of that module with the gear icons is where you configure the rules. If your kids are strictly smartphone users, take a look at our roundup of mobile parental control apps. However, we noticed that after Net Nanny blocked an app, our monitored test device starting to experience internet connectivity issues. Expletives just appear as strings of pound signs (#). In the upper right-hand corner, parents can manually sync the app with the servers or disable the Net Nanny protection. Basically, they help keep your kids and teens safer on their computers and mobile devices. A pop-up window gives you the option to block both Android and iOS apps from a list, but there are some caveats. PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. The Net Nanny profanity filter successfully filtered our explicit words from a song lyrics site in Chrome. One is used to install a monitoring profile on your kid's device and the other is for parents to make changes to restrictions and monitor activities. Its mobile apps and web portal are among the best designed in the industry, and the web filtering is second to none. Who are they, really, and what are your kids discussing with them? So, when one chooses Net Nanny, not only will they pay less, but they will also get the services on 5 more devices. Qustodio and Kaspersky Safe Kids do not support this feature on Android. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Net Nanny started as a web filter service for parents, and the latest version of the software features robust screen time management tools, location tracking, as well as YouTube and social media monitoring. Visit us for everything you need and to find help now Supported social media services include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Tumblr, Twitter, and YouTube. It analyzes the pages as they are pulled up on a child's device rather than just relying on block lists as many other parental-control services do. Boomerang is cheaper at $30.99 per year for 10 devices. Net Nanny has expanded beyond its internet filter roots and offers new tools for blocking apps and restricting a child's screen time. When we searched for lyrics to the same song on the Firefox Focus app, Net Nanny only blocked the profanity on some of the sites we checked. Then, click on the current location of the monitored device. Some kids spend more time on gaming consoles than any other device. It is easy enough to pick the limits for any day: Simply tap on the day in the Screentime management menu and then select the amount of time you would like the child to have for that day. Qustodio and Kaspersky Safe Kids match its platform support. With all of that said, I think Net Nanny is well worth the high price considering its superior web filtering, extensive features and broad platform support. Next, assign the device to a child. Thankfully, Net Nanny has expanded beyond its internet-filter roots and offers tools for blocking apps and restricting a child's screen time. Net Nanny boasts customizable web filters along with solid screen time and app blocking features, but it's a bit pricey and its geofencing features are not yet competitive. For comparison, Qustodio costs $54.99 for a five-device planthe same as Net Nannyand Mobicip costs $49.99. Net Nanny Youtube App | Net Nanny Website For some apps that Net Nanny cannot natively monitor, it can help redirect your child to the mobile web page of the app in question. I prefer this as app blocking isn't something you need to access regularly. In addition, it has a feature Net Nanny lacks . If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Among the 14 preconfigured categories are Anime, Death/Gore, Drugs, Gambling, Mature Content, Porn, Suicide, and Weapons. Text blocking: None Net Nanny saves searches from Google, Yahoo, Bing, and YouTube. If so, you can pay $39.99 per year for Net Nanny for Windows or macOS, but this plan does not extend to mobile platforms or to multiple devices. . https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-parental-control-software, Buying Guide: The Best Parental Control Software for 2023, How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, Best Parental Control Apps for Mobile Devices, learn how your connected kid uses technology, how to enable parental controls on gaming consoles, 6 Ways to Manage Your Teen's Privacy and Safety Online, Why You Should Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication on Facebook, 10 Things Every Parent With a Connected Kid Needs to Know, Stay Kind Online: How to Talk to Your Kids About Cyberbullying, The Best Password Managers for Business in 2023, The Best Live TV Streaming Services for 2023, The Best Sports Streaming Services for 2023. As mentioned, kids can still access the phone and messaging apps, even during paused mode, which is a necessary safety precaution. Also, blocking an app on iOS just prevents it from connecting to the internet, so children can still launch and use offline apps. Most also have the option to permanently enable SafeSearch, though those settings are often limited to Google, Bing, and sometimes YouTube. While it's true that parents can set up custom Content Filters (as we discuss below), we would prefer if Net Nanny preconfigured more options. Has Multi-Factor Authentication Failed Us. Net Nanny - Review 2020 - PCMag Australia We also appreciate the ease of its setup. Recent versions of both Android and iOS don't let you grant permanent location privileges to an app during installation. Net Nanny's geofencing settings aren't as sophisticated as competitors'. All the apps look and function similarly regardless of the platform you choose. Other parental control services offer a far greater number of preconfigured options, including Proxies, VPNs, File Sharing, and Social Media categories. Net Nanny requires you to scroll down the list or manually search for app names. Norton Family Premier and other apps do a better job of explaining what rules are in effect. Net Nanny does support a multi-user setup though, so a parent can maintain an unrestricted account for themselves while monitoring their child's account on the same device. Several offer free trials, which are worth checking out before committing your time and money. (For example: Allow Internet access between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.) Internet access turns off during scheduled hours or days that you select. Apple's Screen Time features for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS are quite capable and come with the added benefit of first-party support. The premium package cost of Net Nanny also includes three different plans: Small plan: It covers only a single device for $39.99 annually. Starting with Net Nanny's filters, you can set each of the pre-created categories to Allow, Alert, or Block. At some point, you start to worry more about their interaction with the wider world. Qustodio Vs. Net Nanny | Parental Control Software Comparison It captured all the searches from the site, but did not record any of the videos we played. Net Nanny 10 | Net Nanny There is not an option to enable two-factor authentication on your account either, which we would like to see. App management: Android, Kindle Fire only Parenting styles run the gamut and so do the features in parental control and monitoring utilities. Then click on the + sign and double click the www.example.com and delete it and enter the site you want block. Internet Access Control & Time Management for Kids | Net Nanny You can't view location history from this screen, but you can browse around the map and perform quick monitoring actions like pausing device or internet time or enabling a time schedule. On Windows, we tried both the pause and block internet settings. You may notice that Net Nanny flags some strange URLs, such as a Google API site and others related to the Amazon Cloud Front content delivery network (CDN). These settings worked as expected for regular Windows apps and those installed from the Microsoft Store. 1. The one other concern could be Net Nanny's yearly subscription price, and if that's a problem, then you could look to Kaspersky Safe Kids, which is an incredible value. Before my current security gig, I supplied PCMag readers with tips and solutions on using popular applications, operating systems, and programming languages in my "User to User" and "Ask Neil" columns, which began in 1990 and ran for almost 20 years. Note that Net Nanny includes an Uninstall Protection option you can enable from the parental dashboard. On the right-hand side of the menu, you can access Net Nanny's App Advisor to discover popular apps your kids may be using, as well as add child profiles and manage your installations. Then, enable push notifications, location permissions, and follow the steps to install the MDM profile. The content filtering on these mobile web sites worked as expected, but some profanity did make it through the filters. 2. Right-clicking on the icon gives you the option to view basic stats on screen time, manually sync with the Net Nanny servers, or launch the parent dashboard on the web. If your child removes or otherwise disables the monitoring app, parents will get a notification. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Keep in mind, this primarily applies to SMS texts; messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Signal do not fall under the same scope. Net Nanny also offers two family protection passes. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. Best parental control app of 2023 | TechRadar Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Medium plan: It covers five devices for $54.99 annually. In the center of the page, there's a map with pinpoints marking the current location of each monitored child. Expletives just appear as strings of pound signs (#). You'll also find advanced versions of standard features. MSRP . One other limitation is that there is not an easy way to see which apps you've blocked. Net Nanny needs to consolidate its time limit and time scheduling tools in one place. Next, assign the device to a child. Qustodio has just about every feature an anxious parent wants, including web content filtering, robust app blocking, and a detailed activity log. You can even block new contacts or view message content with some parental control software. The Net Nanny app for iOS is available . Call logging: None Family Feed For the full range of settings, click into the child profile icon in the top menu. Furthermore, competitors offer a better value in terms of the number of devices they cover. Boomerang is cheaper at $30.99 per year for 10 devices. Net Nanny's app blocking worked as advertised during testing. If you want to actively manage what they see on YouTube without restricting them to YouTube Kids, those tools are your best solution. On Windows, the schedule took effect quickly and switching the time zone was not enough to skirt Net Nanny's restrictions. We tested Net Nanny's web-blocking capabilities primarily on a Windows 10 desktop using Chrome, Edge, and Tor. Net Nanny's installation follows a similar pattern to most other parental-control apps. You get all the same customization options as on the desktop here. If you're a parent, this presents a problem, as there are explicit, disturbing, and illegal websites and apps you don't want your kids to encounter. I spend too much of my free time reading forums and blogs about audio and photography. You also cannot define the size of the geofence, let alone create a custom border. These systems perform content filtering at the router level, so your settings affect every device on the network. On Windows, the schedule took effect quickly and switching the time zone was not enough to skirt Net Nanny's restrictions. You navigate Net Nanny's interface via icons in the top menu bar, one for Overview and the rest for individual child profiles. Net Nanny uses a scalpel rather than a sledgehammer to remove unwanted content from your child's online experience. PXG founder and billionaire Bob Parsons tells us how he's making golf more inclusive, This awesome free app helped me dodge US Customs hell here's how, Philips' new LED light bulb could cut your electric bill in half. Instead, you need to dive into the settings of each video streaming service. Net Nanny saves searches from Google, Yahoo, Bing, and YouTube. Circle's joint hardware and software solution is easy to set up and a quality solution for parents who want to monitor their children's internet activity. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. On Windows, macOS, Android, and Kindle devices, this option prevents your kid from uninstalling the app without entering the account password. All Rights Reserved. Initially, we thought that the Filter name was the word that we wanted to filter. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Want to keep an eye on who your child is interacting with on certain social networking apps? Setting up a custom Content Filter is a bit confusing. You can't view location history from this screen, but you can browse around the map and perform quick monitoring actions like pausing device or internet time or enabling a time schedule. Location history will show location updates for the last 30 days. That costs either $54.99 per year for up to 5 devices or $89.99 per year for up to 20 devices. A lot more Resources For Net Nanny Pause Device vs No Internet To get the best performance and to avoid problems or inaccurate reports, users turn screen off when the device is not in use. However, it still only offers basic geofencing capabilities and we would like to see more predefined web filters. As it is purely monitoring, you can't block anything from here, but it's a nice way to keep tabs on your child's YouTube consumption. Ive been writing and editing technology content for over five years, most recently as part of PCMag's consumer electronics team, though I also spent several years on the software team. On Android, if your kid tries to open a blocked app, Net Nanny prevents it from fully launching. Most of the services we've tested have given up monitoring social media for now. Net Nanny for iOS is a world-class browser solution for kids of all ages to safely browse the web. Some services let parents set a daily or weekly schedule for device usage. The Profile Settings button to the left of that module with the gear icons is where you configure the rules. To set up a geofence with Net Nanny, head to the Location tab within a child's profile settings. Internet Filter for iOS: FAQ | Net Nanny These settings worked as expected for regular Windows apps and those installed from the Microsoft Store. We have removed Kaspersky's products from our "Best for" lists and added a statement to all our Kaspersky product reviews. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. You can lock Safe Search on those same services. Most kids are on mobile devices at least some of the time, and many are almost exclusively accessing the internet on their phones. 4 Ways to Bypass Net Nanny - wikiHow This type of filtering only really works if it's browser-independent and works with secure (HTTPS) sites. Some do not offer any options to restrict content, while others may simply offer a kid-friendly mode that broadly limits the streaming library to content appropriate for young children. The app lives as an icon in the notification tray area. Norton Family Premier ($49.99 per year) and Kaspersky Safe Kids ($14.99 per year) offer the best value, since they can monitor an unlimited number of devices. Geofencing: Yes To monitor an Android device, download the Net Nanny Child App on your child's phone, sign in to your account, and select the appropriate child profile. Net Nanny's screen time feature allows you to either set an overall cap on device usage for the current day or for multiple days of the week. Net Nanny requires you to scroll down the list or manually search for app names. Parental Controls | Net Nanny Then, you need to tap through and give Net Nanny all the permissions it requests, including app usage, location, device admin, and content tracking using VPN permissions (this is not a true VPN that encrypts traffic), as well as approve a certificate install. Your child can thwart most SafeSearch restrictions by using a privacy-focused search engine such as DuckDuckGo. When prompted, click Yes/OK to complete the uninstall process. When the IBM PC was new, I served as the president of the San Francisco PC User Group for three years. Among the 14 preconfigured categories are Anime, Death/Gore, Drugs, Gambling, Mature Content, Porn, Suicide, and Weapons. Others specifically restrict the amount of time your kid spends on the internet. Otherwise, you manage everything online or locally on the PC, where you have fine control over activity reports and restrictions. Net Nanny is offering Tom's Guide readers $10 off each of its plans (opens in new tab). Scheduling: Yes Net Nanny covers a solid array of time-management features in line with most of the other top options. A self-professed "wearer of wearables," Sean Riley is a Senior Writer for Laptop Mag who has been covering tech for more than a decade. You can block the DuckDuckGo site if this is an issue. Only OurPact commands a higher starting price, but that is for unlimited devices, so it's not an apples-to-apples comparison. Web monitoring: Yes How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, what every parent needs to know about their connected kids, The Best Parental Control Software for 2023, The Best Parental Control Apps for Your Phone, 10 Things Every Parent With a Connected Kid Needs to Know, Stay Kind Online: How to Talk to Your Kids About Cyberbullying, Webroot Internet Security Complete Review. Net Nanny is available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Fire OS (Kindle) devices, which is standard for the category. Qustodio is our Editors' Choice pick for parental control software, thanks to its excellent apps and customizable features. We set up a custom web filter called VPN and added the terms VPN and Proxy to the list to test this feature. Net Nanny is available on Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Fire OS (Kindle) devices, which is standard for the category. Parents who want to keep tabs on what their children are doing online with the comprehensive Net Nanny Family Feed, which shows their activity in real-time. To add terms to the filter, hit the plus button below it, enter the phrase, and then hit Add. Supported social media services include Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Tumblr, Twitter, and YouTube. You can "Pause Device" or "Disable Internet." If anything, its advantage in this realm seems to be more pronounced than the last time I reviewed it. Net Nanny's app management on Android covers the basics, but it lacks some extras like the ability to set time restrictions or schedule specific apps. You also cannot define the size of the geofence, let alone create a custom border. To add terms to the filter, hit the plus button below it, enter the phrase, and then hit Add. That's it. Number of devices: 5 to 20 Net Nanny's geofencing settings aren't as sophisticated as competitors'.