Free, open-source parental control for Mac and Windows. Block adult content, filter harmful websites, and keep your family safe online. No subscription required.
macOS 12+ · Apple Silicon & Intel | Windows 10/11 64-bit | Chrome Extension
Two independent layers of protection work together to block harmful content before it reaches your screen.
Blocks harmful domains at the system level via /etc/hosts. Works for every app and browser on your Mac, even offline.
A local HTTPS proxy inspects URLs and keywords in real time. Works in every browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Brave — including incognito and private browsing modes.
Add custom domains to your blocklist, or whitelist specific sites that the built-in filter would otherwise block — full control in your hands.
10,527 built-in keywords always active. Add your own words or phrases — any URL containing them is blocked immediately by the proxy.
Individually switch adult content, image & video search, YouTube, and Safe Search enforcement on Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.
Lock all settings and the uninstall process behind a password. Nothing can be changed or removed without entering it first.
A background agent re-locks binaries and re-enables the proxy every 10 seconds. Cannot be defeated by force-quitting the app.
All filtering runs on your machine. No URLs, history, or stats ever leave your device. No telemetry, no accounts, no internet required.
A native macOS dashboard — clean, fast, and always in control.
No technical knowledge required.
Download the zip, unzip it, and drag K9 Web Protection.app to your Applications folder. On first launch, macOS may show a Gatekeeper warning — go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Allow Anyway.
Open K9 Web Protection, go to Settings, and change the password. The default password is shown below — update it immediately so only you can disable protection.
Click "Enable Protection" on the dashboard. Both layers activate instantly — all browsers are now filtered.
K9 runs silently in the background, survives restarts, and watches over itself. Set it and forget it.
Everything you need to know about K9 Web Protection.
127.0.0.1:8080 — a localhost connection — adding under 1ms of overhead. In everyday browsing the difference is imperceptible.No ads, no subscriptions, no data collection. Just protection.
K9 Web Protection started as a personal project and grew into a free, open-source app I'm happy to share with the community. Built in Go for macOS and Windows, it works at the OS level with no subscriptions, no data collection and no compromises. If it has helped you or your family stay safe online, consider supporting the work.