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$97.00
(visit site)
Top Choice Award |
Web Watcher Review:
Summary:
Web Watcher is the only software available that offers internet filtering, program blocking, and time limit controls along with the advanced and extensive monitoring capabilities neccessary to keep complete tabs on your child's computer and internet activity. They provide the most responsive customer support of all products that we reviewed. Also, although Web Watcher is priced higher, they don't require annual subscription fees like most other parental control software - once you purchase, the software and monitoring service is yours forever.
Website Filtering/Blocking:
Web Watcher provides three levels of web filtering:
- Category based:They have a huge list of about 30 categories to pick from including Adult, Drugs, Entertainment, Gambling, Weapons, Shopping, etc.. They claim to have the largest and most comprehensive database available for keyword and URL category based filtering.
- Custom words: This is useful to keep current such as if a new objectionable movie was released or you would like to block other specific material.
- Allowed list: The allowed list (or whitelist) allows you to allow specific sites through which may otherwise be blocked, or allow only what's on the allowed list and block everything else.
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Other Filtering/Blocking:
Web Watcher has the ability to prevent various programs from running - you can choose the programs based on category such as web browsers, email, IM, file sharing, etc. or select specific programs to block. You can also set times and days in which specific programs can be run.
Monitoring:
The monitoring capabilities truly put Web Watcher in a league of it's own. Web Watcher can monitor the following computer and internet activity:
- Web browsing activity: record every website
visited, the time of day a site was visited, the total number of visits
to a site, and the types of searches completed.
- Email programs and Web-based email: Outlook, Outlook Express, Myspace, Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL Webmail, etc. Web Watcher shows whether email was sent or received, who sent it, who received it,
the date and time an email was sent or received, the subject, the
contents, and any attachments
- Chat / Instant Messaging programs: AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), MSN Messenger, or Yahoo Messenger. Web Watcher records the date, start time, end time, participants, and entire contents of chats and instant message conversations.
- Screenshots: Web Watcher can take screenshots based on alert words (when specific words are viewed or typed). You can also take screenshots of specific programs at specified intervals. All screenshots are saved chronologically so you can view them whenever you wish.
- Keystrokes: The Web Watcher key logger records every keystroke, what application was used, what was typed, and who typed it. You can access all usernames and passwords, all letters typed, and
every spreadsheet formula. Key strokes are saved and organized by date,
time, and by what program / application was used. WebWatcher's key logger also has a unique ability to auto-format what was
typed into a human-readable format, removing the extra "backspaces" and "deletes".
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Web Watcher has a unique feature within it's monitoring capabilities called 'Alert Words', (words that you have specified as being important) to automatically bring important monitored activity - which contain these words - to your attention. This is useful when you don't want to sort through every email, chat session, and keystoke recorded.
Also, Web Watcher is the only software available that allows you to access the monitored activity anywhere from a web browser, remotely and in real time. This is particularly useful if you want to monitor activity from a home computer while you are at work, a computer that you do not have constant access to, or want to catch someone 'in the act'.
Management:
Web Watcher is extremely easy to setup and manage. You simply log into their web interface and configure your settings (filter categories, what you want to monitor, alert words, etc.) The web interface is neatly organized and easy to navigate. To view recorded activity, you simply select the tab of the category that you want to view (Websites, Email, Chat, Keystrokes, Screenshots, etc.).
Support:
They are very well staffed and reply promptly to both chat and trouble ticket requests. They also have a comprehensive user guide which explains all features.
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Web Watcher Minimum Requirements:
Windows 2000, XP, or Vista
64MB RAM
10MB Hard drive space available
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Screenshot:
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For more information, see the parental control software comparison chart.
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