Effective Monitoring
You need a program that's going to allow you to see all web pages visited, read sent and received email, and see both sides of IM conversations...
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 Web-based /
remote data access
This means:
1. No need to repeately access the monitored computer to review recorded data.
2. Keep an eye on things from anywhere.
(Imagine keeping an eye on the kids' Internet activity from your office for instance.)
more
 Invisibility / Stealth
If you want to have any hope of seeing what the person you're monitoring does when they think no one's looking, you need a program that's completely invisible...
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 Key Logger
The keylog component is a crucial part of any monitoring suite. (And it's completely missing in the sparse Microsoft's parental controls center in Vista.) Keyloggers are often referred to more specifically as: "ghost key logger" or "stealth key logger"...
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 Ability to block
Since the Internet changes so fast, we suggest that you go for a program that has some kind of contextual blocker...
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 Data filtering
Be sure to look for some kind of data filter, search mechanism, and "important" word alert systems that will help you quickly find the essential information...
more
 Screenshots
Some monitoring applications can take screenshots of on-screen activity; for real Internet safety, you'll see the best let you automatically trigger those screenshots when they encounter an "imporant" word...
more
Stay informed with the latest
in Internet monitoring software
and parental controls.


We love SpectorSoft, but they made one critical error in their design of eBlaster; email is not a secure means of transmitting data!

eBlaster 6.0 does most of the things that its sibling Spector Pro does, but in an effort to get the recorded data off of the target computer (which is a must in our opinion!) they chose the risky method of emailing the data.

Since email can put your very private information at tremendous risk, for that reason alone the benefit of data access via email should be seriously weighed before you buy.

The kind of data recorded by activity monitors (such as usernames and passwords) is far too sensitive to be sent out via email.

Additionally, the email reports--even if you're only in the default configuration of 1/hr--add up quickly if you're away from your email for a few hours--much less a few days.




eBlaster
Pros
  • remote access to data (via email)
  • peer-to-peer (P2P) monitoring
  • good interface
  • customer support
    • Cons
  • email is only way to retrieve data
  • no screenshots
  • insecure data
  • limited features
    • verdict: Missing features. Decent software.



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    Feature
    		1: Unimportant
    >>   4: Must have 
    Full Remote Access to Recorded Data
    1 4
    Web Site Activity Logging
    1 4
    Web Site Content Blocking
    1 4
    Read Emails Sent / Received
    1 4
    Read IM ("Chat") conversations
    1 4
    Automatically record screenshots of any activity "of interest"
    1 4
    Automatic alerts on any words or activity "of interest"
    1 4
    Invisibility
    1 4
    Ease-of-use
    1 4






    Facts On:

    Internet Predators


        Did you know...
    • 75% of solicited youth are not troubled, 10% do not use chat rooms and 9% do not talk to strangers.
      - Crimes Against Children Research Center
        
    • Only 25% of solicited children were distressed by their encounters and told a parent.  
      - Crimes Against Children Research Center
      •  
    - protectkids.org -


      Features

    For the most part, the available features on eBlaster are the same as with Spector Pro. The only real difference is that eBlaster doesn't record screenshots.

    Therefore, if you want to take screenshots and receive email copies of the computer activity you have to buy both Spector Pro and eBlaster. At just shy of $200 for the combination, those are some pretty expensive screenshots.

    As humble consumers, our desire would be for SpectorSoft to at least offer email copies as an add-on feature at a more reasonable mark up than the current $99.

      Ease of use

    eBlaster is as simple and easy to use as Spector Pro. The layouts are almost identical.

      Monitoring effectiveness

    Without screenshots this program fails to play in the big leagues. The things that it does record, it records well, but without the catch-all of screenshots, some of the data will inevitably be taken out of context.

    Really, eBlaster should be an add-on to its more robust sibling, Spector Pro. If that were the case, Spector would be a more worthy contender for the top spot.

      Accessibility of information

    The information is accessible via email, but the question is, just how many emails are you willing to sift through? Additionally, unless you're running a network with TLS/SSL protocol, email is not a secure way of transmitting data.

      Customer Support

    Their customer support is efficient, even if our experience wasn't the most personable. Their available customer service hours are good, a definite plus.


     
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