Looking for Parental Monitoring Software

[bpatters55]

Hello All,

We have an exchange student who will be joining us in a few weeks. He is 16 and he will be with us for the school year. My wife and I do not have any kids so the whole kid experience is new to us. Wish us luck.

I want to purchase Parental Monitoring Software as we are responsible for the student while he is in the US. I am an ATT Uverse customer so McAfee Internet Protection is included with my UVerse service. I have installed McAfee Safe Family under a trial program for 30 days. So far the software seems ok but it is a bit buggy. I have also seen reviews that are less than impressive. Can anyone on the forum recommend something better?

Here is what I need.

1. I have McAfee Internet Security so I like the fact that I can simply add on the Family Safe module. As I said, the Family Safe may not be the best option and if it is not, I am willing to invest in something totally new. I would like something that works with McAfee Internet Security and if not, I am willing to uninstall McAfee Internet Security and install something like Norton Security and the Norton Family which seems like a better option base don what I have read.

2. Our home PC is Windows based and I am running Windows 7. I have set up an account for the student and blocked folders and applications by using Windows Parental Control and Windows file sharing.

3. The student will have some type of phone. We are waiting for his arrival and then we will buy him a used IPhone or Android.

4. I am loaning the student a Dell Laptop which is running Windows 10.

So In summary, should I keep McAfee and use McAfee Family or find a standalone monitoring software that works with McAfee or ditch McAfee and buy a different Virus\Firewall Product and Parental Monitoring from a different company?

Thanks, Bill

 

[th3p00r]

You can try K9 Web Protection: http://www1.k9webprotection.com/
I use it at home and it works wonder.

 

[The Paladin]

ask the it at school for a recommendation you would be surprise to find some ISD provide support and software for such "parental software"

 

[PeterKendrick]

I searched the Internet for McAfee Family Safe, and you are right about it, people were complaining about the bugs and performance. Norton seems an attractive option but the reviews on Google Play alone aren't satisfying (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.symantec.familysafety&hl=en) but the service is responsive I might add.

Though, Net Nanny is one of the popular but they have ruined their service by separating each feature with a price tag so people would be paying per device, so its not a single solution for your problem. You can go for PureVPN 360 in your situation because along with network protection service (VPN) they are now providing advance features including parental monitoring, app control, adblocking, and antimalware/antivirus on all devices, in a single subscription. It will not only cost you less but all the features will be on a single program. You can get more info on their site: https://www.purevpn.com/advanced-vpn