Australian IT innovator, Netbox Blue, has been awarded Family Friendly Filter status by the Internet Industry Association (IIA) for its new BIC Agent.
The BIC Agent (previously known as the Laptop Protector) allows schools and businesses to control web browsing, media streaming and the language used on the most common social networking sites, instant messaging, chat and webmail applications on school and company-owned laptops and other devices, even when outside the network.
“To qualify for IIA Family Friendly Filter status, a filter must undergo rigorous independent testing to ensure that it meets the criteria as set out in the IIA Codes,” IIA Chief Executive, Peter Coroneos says. “These include effectiveness, ease of use, configurability, availability of support and agreement by the filter company to update the filter as required by the Australian Communications and Media Authority. We are pleased to recognize Netbox Blue’s BIC Agent for meeting those criteria.”
“The IIA is committed to fostering family friendly ways of dealing with inappropriate internet content, cyber bullying and misuse of social networking sites. The Family Friendly Filter program is an important initiative for keeping Australians secure online. We applaud companies like Netbox Blue for offering internet users a safer internet environment,” Mr Coroneos says.
The independent testing was conducted by Enex TestLab.
“We are pleased to see Netbox Blue continuing to deliver innovative technology,” Enex TestLab Managing Director Matt Tett says. “The solution they have designed is easy to use and will be very successful.”
“The BIC Agent is the only solution like it that we have tested to date. It is ideally suited to schools and businesses who want centralized control over their laptop fleet – regardless of how these are accessing the internet.”
Netbox Blue Chairman John Fison says laptops are a vital tool for schools and business, yet up until now, they have been difficult to control.
“Businesses face major productivity issues, with staff using laptops and other devices outside the network and the potential for reputational damage. Students using laptops and other devices are vulnerable to inappropriate content on web sites and offensive language on social networking sites. Privacy is also a concern: not just data, but also images and potentially video content. Such content may be made available to anyone on the internet,” Mr Fison says.
“To ensure children aren’t exposed to bullying and inappropriate content, schools must control internet and email use on school-owned laptops in the same way that they control these things on their school network.
“The BIC Agent provides a comprehensive, effective and manageable way to control internet and email use on school and company-owned laptops and other devices.”
Installed on laptops and devices and taking policies from the central Netbox settings, the BIC Agent offers the following features:
 | SafeChat | Prevent inappropriate language from popular social networking sites, Instant Messaging and Gmail |
 | Email content Manager | Block inappropriate language from all email conversations |
 | Website Manager | Control access to particular sites or categories of sites. This can be set up with different rules for different days, or children, giving total flexibility |
 | Time of day Manager | Manage the times of day that children or staff are permitted access to the internet |
 | Privacy Manager | Prevent personal details such as your address being given out in email or chatroom conversations |
 | Cam Manager | Block access to webcam use to prevent predators using this as a tool to communicate with children and for inappropriate footage to be visible to anyone |
 | Reporter and Alarm System | Get full visibility of all internet-based activity and alarms to alert parents on any breaches of rules that may be set. This innovative solution is fully password protected and also allows administrators to access reports, alarm settings and policies remotely. |
This innovative solution is fully password protected and also allows remote access for an administrator to access reports and alarm settings and to remotely change any policies.
The SecurED BIC Agent works on PCs running Windows XP and Windows 7*.
*Windows 7 32 bit only
