AREA OF NEED

NAME
MAC OS X PARENTAL CONTROLS
Company
Apple
Version
10.8
Type of product
Client
Devices supported
Computer
Operating systems
Mac OS X
Price*
Free of charge (Included in MAC OS)
Language of interface
Every OS X language
≤ 12 years old users: 16/21 (1,53 points out of 4)
GLOBAL RANKING
≥ 13 years old users: 14/21 (1,80 points out of 4)
*Prices might change according to the latest company offers
FUNCTIONALITY
The tool is built in the Mac OS X operative system. Each user account in the Mac OS X can be controlled by the system
Administrator (the parent) who can select for each one the proper restrictions. There are three levels of websites filtering: (1) no
restrictions; (2) automatically limit the browsing to some websites, optionally adding custom websites to a white list and a
blacklist; (3) force browsing just in a subset of websites listed in a prefilled white list with some comics-related websites. The tool
is able to block applications directly: in the System section the parent can list the allowed Applications using a whitelist. Protocols
cannot be blocked directly but only through the application that uses it. It is not possible to block the access to social networks. It
is not possible to force the user to user the safe search functionality of Google and there is no way to block the provision of
personal data. It is possible for the parent to specify a list of e-mail addresses. It the child/teenager write an e-mail to one of
these addresses, the parent will be notified.
FUNCTIONALITY SCORE:
2,4 OUT OF 4 POINTS
EFFECTIVENESS
The overall effectiveness score is good for adult content but very weak for other harmful content.
There is no major difference in effectiveness between teenagers and children.
There is no major difference in effectiveness between web and web 2.0.
There is no major difference in effectiveness among the different languages.
Effectiveness score with adult content filtering for ≤12 years old user: 2,0
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for ≤12 years old user: 0,0
Effectiveness score with adult content filtering for ≥ 13 years old user: 2,0
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for ≥ 13 years old user: 0,0
OVERALL SCORE FOR EFFECTIVENESS FOR ≤ 12 YEARS OLD USER: 1,0 OUT OF 4 POINTS
OVERALL SCORE FOR EFFECTIVENESS FOR ≥ 13 YEARS OLD USER: 1,0 OUT OF 4 POINTS
USABILITY
Installation of the tool: The function is integrated in the Mac OS X operating system, no further installation is necessary.
Configuration of the tool: The configuration process does not provide many functions or settings. It is comprehensible, easy to
learn and mostly meets users' expectations. There are barely any options to individualise or influence the product, except for
individualisation within the operating system in general. The overall look and feel is appealing, but not very special.
Usage of the tool: The tool provides a few options to react, when a website has been blocked, but these are mainly addressed to
parents and not to children. The alert message cannot be customised and is not worded with respect to children's capability of
understanding. The reporting is overall comprehensible, but not very detailed.
Usability of the installation process: /
Usability of the configuration process: 2,65
Usability of the usage of the product: 2,51
OVERALL SCORE FOR USABILITY: 2,60 OUT OF 4 POINTS
SECURITY
The tool resisted against the various hacking attempts, except the possibility to by-pass the block of P2P by changing the port of
the application.
OVERALL SCORE FOR SECURITY: 3 OUT OF 4 POINTS
DETAILED FUNCTIONALITY FICHE
AREA OF NEED
MGMNT
FUNCTIONALITY
SPECIFIC ISSUE
Management of
users profile
Create several profiles
YES
Monitoring
Remote access
NO
Topics
Customisation of filtering topics NO
ASSESSMENT
Restrict browsing to a white list YES
Urls White lists
FILTERING CUSTOMIZATION
Default white list
YES
Modification OR Creation
Modification – YES
Creation – YES
Urls Black lists
KEYWORDS
TIME
BLOCKING MESSAGE
Keywords
Time limit settings
Type
Web
Safe Search
Social Networks
Personal data
provision
Creation of user’s own black list YES
Default black list
NO
Default white list
NO
Creation of a user’s black list
NO
Creation of a user’s white list
NO
Set a specific timeframe or web YES
access duration
Ask for unblocking to parents
NO
Redirect to safe resources
NO
block access
YES
monitor usage
YES
Availability
NO
Block access
YES
Monitor usage
NO
Block
NO
block the access to streaming
Application - YES
Web - YES
Streaming
USAGE RESTRICTION
P2P
Skype application
MSN
e-mail
monitor the streaming activity
YES
block the application
YES
monitor
NO
block (chat, VoIP, Video-chat)
YES
monitor the usage
YES
prevent from new contact
NO
block the application
YES
monitor the application usage
YES
prevent from new contact
NO
block email Client and/or web
YES
DETAILED SECURITY FINDINGS
The Tool prevents the user from by-passing the filter by:
YES/NO
Using the IP address instead of the URL
YES
Using an alternative browser
YES
Changing time and date settings*
YES
Disabling or uninstalling the software without a password*
YES
Closing the filtering tool trough the Task Manager
YES
Using a proxy instead of a direct connection to the Internet
YES
Accessing the web-pages through the Google Cache
YES
Reaching a website through translation sites
YES
Renaming a blocked application
YES
Using Safe Mode
YES
Changing the port of Peer-to-Peer application
NO
*As managed directly by the tool and not by the device.
DETAILED USABILITY FINDINGS
YES/NO
I: installation in 3 steps or less
/
I: choice of installation for beginners or advanced users
/
C: different degrees of strength for the filtering
NO
C: different content criteria for the filtering
NO
C: option to transfer filter configurations between target users
NO
C: option to transfer filter configurations between devices
YES
C: altogether comprehensible configuration
YES
C: altogether in conformity with user expectations
YES
C: altogether easy to learn
YES
U: alert message in a child friendly language
NO
U: option to customise the reaction in case of blocking
NO
U: altogether easily operable and comprehensible reporting
YES