SIP-Benchmark III was a project of the Digital Opportunities Foundation in 2009 - 2017.
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Puresight Owl

Company
Puresight Technologies Ltd.
Version
586_1
Devices supported
Computer
Operating system
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows Vista
Windows XP
Price *
29.00 €
Language of interface
arabic, english, greek, hebrew, russian, spanish
Test date
SIP Bench III, 3rd test cycle, Summer 2014

*Prices might change according to the latest company offers

EFFECTIVENESS

The overall effectiveness score is fair on adult content and very weak on 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 users up to 12 year old: 2.2
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users up to 12 year old: 0.0
Effectiveness score with adult content filtering for users 13 years and older: 2.4
Effectiveness score with other harmful content filtering for users 13 years and older: 0.0
Effectiveness score for users up to 12 year old: 2.2 out of 4 points
Effectiveness score for users 13 years and older: 2.4 out of 4 points


USABILITY

Installation of the tool: The installation process is well comprehensible. The installer provides barely any options for advanced users, except for the choice of language. The process is consistent, but there are no advanced options like choice the destination folder. Some steps of the configuration are already integrated in the installation process. The overall design is appealing.
Configuration of the tool: The configuration process is comprehensible and mostly easy to learn. The configuration contains some inconsistencies with regard to the navigation structure. The process offers several options for the individualization and possibilities to influence the amount of information about the process. These various options offer a joyful experience for the user. The design is appealing.
Usage of the tool: The tool provides barely any options to react, when a website has been blocked. The alert message is appealing and very child friendly, but it cannot be customized. The reporting is detailed and overall comprehensible, it even offers a pie chart.

Usability of the installation process: 3.0
Usability of the configuration process: 3.0
Usability of the usage of the product: 3.3


Overall score for usability: 3.1 out of 4 points


FUNCTIONALITY

There are numerous customization options: It is possible to use default filtering settings based on children’s age. Categories can be handled as: block - allow - filter - monitor only. The monitoring activity is customizable and detailed. The parents can choose to be alerted via email when specific bypassing attempts happen. Parents can create URL black/white lists and block Streaming content and Skype. It is possible to block the social networks choosing to block this category of content or simply to monitor the user’s activity.


SECURITY

The tool resisted to the main hacking attempts to by-pass it.
Overall score for security: 4 out of 4 points


DETAILED FUNCTIONALITY

Area of needFunctionalitySpecific issuesAssessment
Management Management of User profiles Create several profiles Yes
Remote Management Manage on various devices Yes
Monitoring Remote access to monitoring Yes
Filtering Customisation Topics Customisation of Filtering Topics Yes
URLs White List Restrict Browsing to White List Yes
Default White List No
Modification OR Creation Yes
URLs Black List Creation of User's own Black List Yes
Keywords Keywords Default Black List No
Default White List No
Creation of a User's Black List Yes
Creation of a User's White List Yes
Time Time Limit Settings Set a specific time frame or web access duration Yes
Blocking Message Type Ask for unblocking by parents No
Redirect to safe resources No
Usage Restriction Web Block Access Yes
Monitor Access Yes
Safe search Availability Yes
Social Networks Block Access Yes
Monitor Usage Yes
Personal data Provision Block Yes
Streaming Block Access Yes
Monitor Access Yes
P2P Block the application Yes
Monitor Downloads Yes
Skype Block chat Yes
Block video chat Yes
Monitor Yes
Prevent new Contact No
Windows Life Messenger Block chat No
Block video chat No
Monitor No
Prevent new Contact No
Email Block email client and/or webmail access Yes

DETAILED USABILITY FINDINGS


Yes / No
I: installation in 3 steps or lessNo
I: choice of installation for beginners or advanced usersNo

C: different degrees of strength for the filteringYes
C: different content criteria for the filteringYes
C: option to transfer filter configurations between target usersYes
C: option to transfer filter configurations between devicesYes
C: overall comprehensible configurationYes
C: overall conformity with user expectationsYes
C: overall easy to learnNo

U: alert message in a child friendly languageYes
U: option to customise the reaction in case of blockingYes
U: overall easily operable and comprehensible reportingYes

DETAILED SECURITY FINDINGS

The Tool prevents the user from by-passing the filter by:Yes / No
Using the IP address instead of the URLYes
Using an alternative browserYes
Changing time and date settings*Yes
Disabling or uninstalling the software without a password*Yes
Closing the filtering tool trough the Task ManagerYes
Using a proxy instead of a direct connection to the InternetYes
Accessing the web-pages through the Google CacheYes
Reaching a website through translation sitesYes
Renaming a blocked applicationYes
Using Safe ModeYes
Filtering Content personalised by userNo
Filtering Content evolving through timeNo
Filtering Multimedia contentNo
Filtering outbound contentNo


Funded by
Logo: EUEuropean Commission


Partners:
Cybion Online Business Intelligence

Stiftung Digitale Chancen

coordinated by:
Innova - Technology Transfer and Valorisation



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