KidFox is a new parental control system for Android tablets and Firefox. This tool gives parents greater control over what their children can and cannot do while using the browser.
With KidFox, parents can personalize and block specific browser functions for kids using tablets and Firefox. The main goal is to add extra protection by activating and configuring add-ons that run in the browser while children are using Firefox.
Key Features
Among KidFox's main features are the option to disable add-on installation (important to prevent kids from downloading and installing unknown files), disable private browsing, disable clearing of browsing history, and disable the master password, among many other options. KidFox includes ten options that allow you to block specific browser functions.
Restricted Profiles
KidFox also makes use of restricted profiles on tablets, a feature introduced in Android 4.3 of the operating system. The device administrator (in this case, the parents or guardians of the child) can create these profiles and restrict access to applications and functions on the tablet.
This way, Firefox on Android checks if a restricted profile is in use and starts the browser in KidFox mode instead of the regular mode when that is the case.
Future and Availability
Mozilla already has plans to significantly improve this system with future updates, one of which is to add a country-specific filter. KidFox is currently available in Firefox 42 for Android 4.3 running on tablets. Since Firefox 42 is still in beta, it's only a matter of time before it becomes available to the public.
