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Software Review |
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(From www.MonitoringSoftwareReviews.org) |
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WebWatcher |
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$97 |
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Limited
Time Offer |
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Editor's Choice Winner
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Pros: Web-based interface (monitor activity from
anywhere). Invisibility. Real-time recording. Contextual
Blocker. Keystroke recorder. Integrated recording for multiple
computers. Customer service.
Cons:
No P2P blocking (peer-to-peer).
No Mac support.
Verdict:
Powerful. Stealthy.
Very functional.
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As the only truly web-based computer activity / Internet
monitor,
WebWatcher is in a league of its own. With a
complete suite of powerful features it includes (among
other things) a web site monitor, a chat recorder, an
invisible, nearly perfect key logger, and an automated
screenshot capture tool.
WebWatcher also has the rare
ability of both effective monitoring and web site
blocking. |
| The software installs easily and has an
intuitive interface that even computer novices should find easy
to use.
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In short:
WebWatcher puts serious
power in your hands. Couple the powerful features
available "out-of-the-box" (no configuration required)
with the ease of managing everything from a standard web
browser, and it's easy to see why
WebWatcher is our
Editor's Choice. It's solid software. |
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 Features
**Now fully compatible with Windows
Vista**
WebWatcher's
real achievement is that it
does, well, pretty much everything. Further, while most
applications either block OR monitor Internet activity, WebWatcher does both and does both equally well.
WebWatcher does everything you'd expect
full-featured Internet monitoring software to do:
- record web site activity
- record chats (IMs)
- log keystrokes
- record email (sent
and
received)
- record email attachments
- take screenshots automatically
WebWatcher also records Myspace and
web-based email (webmail) and can even take snapshots of the
screen (also called screen captures) automatically
anytime "important" words appear anywhere in text in any web
page.
This is important because it means
screenshots are only taken when they need to be.
That way if the person you're monitoring
is on the web even reading
about something you should know about,
WebWatcher can instantly
take a picture of it for your review.
The important distinction here is that
other screen shot software, while generally good, does so at
timed intervals or in an "always on" mode, which means more data
to sift through. In contrast,
WebWatcher can be used to just
capture the need-to-know items and bring them to your attention.
While these features are impressive, if
your data is trapped on the computer being used by the person
you're monitoring, it's of little use.
This is where
WebWatcher shines. Since
this program is completely web-based, you can keep an eye on
things in near real-time from
anywhere in the world with nothing
more than a web browser. It doesn't matter if it's from around
the globe or around the corner, you can monitor from anywhere.
Once we saw this feature in action, we instantly "got it." We
love this feature.
One very
important note here--a question we're often asked about
WebWatcher is: do I have
to view recorded data from a different computer than that which
WebWatcher is montoring?
Nope. You can always
view the recorded data from the same computer you're
monitoring.
In fact, you can even view recorded data
for a computer from multiple locations. Think of it this way:
If you have one computer at home, for
instance, and want to see what's happening
on that computer from
that same computer when you're home, fine, no problem--just
log into your account; then when you go elsewhere--like to
work--and you want to see what's happening on that computer
from work since you checked last, fine, no problem--just log
into your account!
Normally, we wouldn't include a "how it
works" type section like the one below, but in the case of
WebWatcher we felt it was important to be sure everyone
understands what make is unique.
WebWatcher
works like this;:
- Install it on the computer the
person you want to monitor uses.
- Their activities are silently
recorded.
- This information is securely copied
into your online account.
- You view this information from
anywhere with a web browser.
With
WebWatcher you can watch what your
kids or other individuals are doing from anywhere with nothing
more than a web browser.
Most other software we reviewed requires that
you sit at the computer the person you're monitoring uses
anytime you want to review recorded data.
Doing this once is bad enough, but for
those parents and other consumers looking to be unobtrusive,
having to constantly get access to the computer being monitored
can be very difficult if not impossible.
With
WebWatcher, this isn't a concern
though, since you can keep an eye on things from anywhere. This
feature alone puts
WebWatcher at the top of the heap--to say
nothing for the rest of its great features.
WebWatcher's only real shortcoming is that
it has no mechanism for blocking P2P (Peer-to-Peer)
applications. With the growth of illegal music downloading and
movie piracy that takes place on P2P networks, this is a feature
we'd like to see them add to their next release.
We're also a bit disappointed there's no
version for the Apple Mac, but as this will not affect most
consumers, who use Windows XP anyway, it's understandable.
Ease
of use
We found
WebWatcher to be quite easy to
use. We expected a program with this much versatility to be
difficult to install and run, but it was actually quite simple.
We also liked that for most folks there's
really nothing (or certainly little) to configure, and that you
don't have to worry about firewalls, IP addresses, or network
access or any overly technical setup.
We tested this by installing the software
on multiple computers and randomly connected the machines to
different Internet Service Providers (including a wireless
service) to see if
WebWatcher would still record (and that we
could get to the data right away) -- and it did.
Why? We did it to test what would happen
if someone was connecting from different places--like someone
travelling with a laptop.
Impressive.
That it can be run with no/so little
configuration for most people, and that it's "firewall friendly"
is a huge bonus in our eyes.
(N.B. According to the vendor, because
their software starts recording with no configuration, they're
getting traction with schools and companies that need to keep
tabs on computers that are often moving from location to
location.)
Additionally, since it's possible to
monitor as many computers as you need to from the same web-based
interface,
WebWatcher really is the easiest software to use no
matter how many people (or computers) you need to monitor.
Monitoring
effectiveness
First of all, let it be said that this is
the most invisible product we've ever tested. When they say it's
invisible, they're not kidding. It didn't show up anywhere!
During our tests it performed as
advertised without a hitch. If it said it was going to record
something, it recorded it every time.
Also, with a high-speed internet
connection the data appeared very quickly--just seconds behind
the event. This means you can watch your kids', employees' or
your spouse's Internet activity pretty much in real-time even while they're still using the
computer.
We gave it a positive nod for that for
sure.
Accessibility
of information
For our money this is what separates
WebWatcher from the pack. Because it's completely web-based, you
can see the recorded activity from anywhere at any time.
Once you've seen this in action, it's hard
to imagine using monitoring software without it.
Customer
Support
Their customer support was fast and
knowledgeable. Their support hours are good (not quite as
extensive as some of their competitors but still very good.)
We liked that they even offer live
web-based chat from within their customer interface web site in
case questions arise as you use the software. This chat feature
can be handy when you need to get a question answered quickly.
Awards
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