Protect Your Computer from “Little Hands” with KidSafe

Are you looking for a way to keep your computer, settings, and files safe around young children that love to “play” with the keyboard? Then you will want to take a look at KidSafe.
Note: There are two versions currently available…a regular zip file setup and a portable apps version. For our article we are using the portable.
Setup
The great thing about the newest version of KidSafe is that it comes in that wonderful portableapps.com format so that it can go where you go.

The “Program Folder” has the usual contents…just place the folder in an appropriate or convenient location, create your shortcut and you are ready to go.

Since this software is still new to the portable apps format you will see this when the program starts…but do not panic or worry. The program worked very well on our system.

KidSafe in Action
As soon as your start KidSafe your screen will be “covered” while setting the program up. Notice that there are two menus (Tools & Help) in the upper left corner. Accessing the options in the “Tool Menu” will require the password that you will set up for KidSafe…so no worries about a young child simply going in and changing your settings to gain entry without the password.

A closer look at the active part of the screen shown above. Click on “OK” to get started with the options/setup.

There are three options/setup windows for KidSafe. Here in the first one you can change any settings that you feel necessary for keys, keyboard combinations, Task Manager access, etc. On our system we definitely “locked” the “Windows Key” since it was not a keyboard combination…
Note: Highlight/select existing entries from the right side to change them.

If you are wanting more information about a particular setting simply hover your mouse over the yes/no blank and a tooltip with a description of what the setting does will appear.

The second window will let you choose the “KidSafe Mode” that best suits your needs. You may also choose a specific wallpaper background (.bmp, .jpg, or .png format) if desired or let KidSafe use a default one (leave it blank).

Here are the “KidSafe Mode” choices available in the drop down menu.

The final window will be where you set up your password for KidSafe. Click “Finish” once you are done.

As soon as you click “Finish” in the options/settings KidSafe will be active. We gave the keyboard a “pretty rough go” on our system and KidSafe did a perfect job. The only way we got back into the system was to use the password…
Note: This is not the default wallpaper for KidSafe.

To unlock KidSafe you will need to enter your password and click on “OK”. Hitting “Enter” will not work…