WebWatcher is the TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award winner in the monitoring software category. Features that are superior to our third place product, Spector Pro 2010, are vigorous content-blocking and filtering components. However, WebWatcher lacks the remote computer administration capabilities of our No. 1 product, Spytech SpyAgent.
Awareness Technologies, a Los Angeles-based developer, has produced PC monitoring solutions since 1996. Many consider WebWatcher as the gold standard of surveillance software.
The monitoring software's website recording component logs all of a user's website activities. The PC monitoring software creates a list of visited URLs, the frequency, hour and duration of each visit. Moreover, owners can specify keywords, disallow websites by URL, allow websites and customize the app to an assortment of settings. These features are useful in preventing a user from accessing online pornography, gambling, fetish, social networking and gaming websites.
The monitoring software's Alert Word system can assist parents in protecting their minor children. Upon designation of a concerning word or phrase, WebWatcher actively scans all monitored communications seeking the specified word or phrase. Examples of keywords and phrases can include terms such as pornography, gambling, dating, sex and more.
Upon discovery of an alert word, WebWatcher's Smart Camera tool takes a screenshot of the text in question and sends an email notifying the computer owner of a potential compromising situation. The Smart Camera tool shows what the monitored user had open on their desktop at the time of the email alert. For easy viewing, the application stores all captured screenshots in sequential order. Computer owners can choose to isolate the images and view them one-by-one or implement a video-type playback of the recorded screenshots. Each purchase of the monitoring software comes with 1,000 complimentary screenshots. More desktop images are available for an extra fee.
The monitoring software records all online searches. If the results of an online search contain one of the designated alert words or phrases, WebWatcher's preference settings allow for the showing of a blank browser page instead of the desired outcome.
The email monitoring component of WebWatcher records the contents of all email correspondences. Supported email applications are Outlook and Outlook Express. WebWatcher can also record communications sent through web-based email providers such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo and others. Moreover, the software logs the transcripts of conversations that occur via chat and instant messaging software.
After purchase, Awareness Technologies sends the buyer an email that contains a login for the product's website and software download instructions. The installation of this application is fast and simple. Once complete, it runs in stealth mode and is invisible to all users of the monitored computer. The PC monitoring software does not display itself in the Windows Task Manager, System Tray, Add/Remove Programs or the Process List. The monitoring software secretly operates with virtually no depletion of other critical system resources or bandwidth.
Removing the monitoring software requires the input of a series of hotkeys and correctly entering the administrative password. These combined security features prevent the monitored users from meddling with the PC monitoring software's secret settings.
The monitoring software has numerous customization settings. In Basic Mode, the default option performs surveillance of all users of the monitored computer. The Advanced Mode allows computer owners to assign different recording levels to the individual users of the monitored PC.
WebWatcher's advanced keylogger records all keyboard strokes. The monitoring software's formatting of the strokes is uncomplicated to read. The PC monitoring software catches the use of profanity and other obscene phrases. The keylogger can help to determine if a child-user is the recipient of inappropriate materials or sending personal information to individuals located on the internet.
If concerns regarding the viewing of pornography exist, the monitoring software can log the frequency of user-launched applications. Examples of these types of computer programs include video player software such as QuickTime, Real Player, Media Player and others. Additional information provided by the PC monitoring software includes the most frequently launched computer application as well as the duration of use.
WebWatcher has strong blocking and filtering capabilities. Computer owners can block websites by URL or page content. The online monitoring feature of the software can filter content on the fly. It actively scans online searches and website content for inappropriate or objectionable material.
The computer owner can prevent users from executing certain types of applications. Category-based blocking allows for the blocking of applications by group such as web browsers, instant messaging software, and email clients. Blocking by the software's given name is also possible.
WebWatcher has remote reporting capabilities. The gathered information is viewable from any internet-connected PC. The manufacturer's reporting interface is intuitive. Beginning computer users will have no trouble locating the saved data. The reports are easy to read and interpret. The reporting system sorts the information by application type and in chronological order. The Alert Word system marks all information that contains the specified alert words and phrases.
Unfortunately, the only reporting method available for this monitoring software is via the manufacturer's website. Viewing the reports from the monitored PC is not an offered option. WebWatcher does not come equipped with full email monitoring and email reporting. However, WebWatcher does send email alerts.
The data enclosed in the email alert contains only information that is alert-word specific. Perhaps, in the future version releases, the manufacturer will implement a local computer reporting method as well as a full email monitoring and reporting solution. The manufacturer keeps all gathered data on their website for 14 days. However, longer data retention options are available for an additional fee.
WebWatcher is strong and comprehensive PC monitoring software that can prevent users from viewing pornography or engaging in online gambling. Nevertheless, over the course of a year, additional costs may accrue if a purchaser desires to retain the product's full capabilities.
