Entered CNET Catalog: 08/29/2006
SKU: CNETMSWINDOWSLIVEONECAREFAMILYSAFETYBETA
Manufacturer: Microsoft Corp.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 08/30/2006
This service also marks an expansion of the Windows Live OneCare family, which previously included only the paid service. Windows Live OneCare protects and tweaks the performance of your PC, while Windows Live OneCare Family Safety is a free opt-in service. Ironically, the Family Safety beta will first be available to the general public; currently, paid subscribers to Windows Live OneCare must sign up on their own. In the future, all the tools within Windows Live OneCare Family Safety will become part of the OneCare paid service.
Windows Live OneCare Family Safety works by identifying categories of Web sites as defined by third-party organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics. For example, under the category Sexuality, sites that the AAP says would be appropriate for teenagers would be allowed for a 12-year-old but would be automatically blocked for an 8-year-old attempting to access them. By identifying users via their Windows Live login information, Windows Live OneCare Family Safety allows parents to restrict Internet access to a child regardless of which computer they use (this assumes, however, that the child has logged into their Windows Live account on a remote computer).
Windows Live OneCare Family Safety also gives children an opportunity to petition for access to blocked sites. For example, a parent or guardian, operating as the administrator of the family accounts, associates their children to one family account. Whenever a child logs in to Windows Live, the child would be free to surf the Net until he or she reaches a blocked site; a child can then request access "for school research." If the parent or guardian is online, access might be granted (or denied) immediately; if not, an e-mail request would be sent for later consideration.
Future enhancements to Windows Live OneCare Family Safety will include contact management, allowing parents or guardians to control their children's e-mail contact list.
While all this seems fair and flexible, Windows Live OneCare Family Safety assumes that the child always logs in to Windows Live, which may not be the case. Also, we're not sure how many parents want to play administrator, setting Internet policy for their dependents and constantly fielding requests for one-time access to questionable sites.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2out of 2 user reviews
Microsoft Acknowledges The Dangers of Children & Web
Pros: Simple. Clean Interface. Does not slow down browsing. Good reports and accountability.
Cons: Not very intuitive. Not much customization available. Blocks everything or nothing. Constantly allowing sites.
out of 2 user reviews
I like the 'hosted' idea... but My MS executes poorly
Pros: Great to be able to install w/ my Windows Live OneCare... and on 3 PCs. I also like the way I can manage this remotely from work.
Cons: The Family Safety site to manage my son's account always seems to be down when I try to go there.
I have 3 more months on my Windows Live OneCare 1st year subscription... unless they can get the stability worked out, I will be shopping for another virus / parental control applicaiton.
