eBlaster 5.0 |
|
 |
Product: eBlaster 5.0 Vendor: SpectorSoft Price: $99.95 Editor Rating: 3 1/2 stars DOWNLOAD NOW! |
Pros
+ Instant Notification via email of chat conversations and/or alert keywords.
+ Simple, easy-to-use interface.
Cons
- Log files could become unwieldy if you want to search for a particular activity from the log file archive.
- No screen capture facility.
Review
We tested each activity monitoring program by first installing the program with all logging options enabled. Next, we ran different applications to see what activity was logged. During the test, we visited websites with Internet Explorer, engaged in chats with AOL Instant Messenger, sent emails using Outlook, Outlook Express, and Hotmail, and downloaded files using FTP and the P2P program Limewire.
Feature Set
The eBlaster activity monitor is targeted for people who want to know instantly what someone is doing on the computer it is monitoring. eBlaster provides instant notification via email of full chat conversations from AOL Instant Messenger and other messenger type programs. The program will also, at scheduled intervals, email an activity log containing websites visited, keystrokes type, applications launched, emails sent or received, and P2P download activity.
Installation
The eBlaster program installed without difficulty, we were prompted during the installation for basic configuration options like the email address we want our reports mailed to. The setup program also had the ability to send a test message to verify the settings were correct. After restarting, the program started in stealth mode as expected.
Ease of Use
eBlaster is very easy to use. The interface is intuitive which makes changing or finding a configuration option or viewing the activity log a simple operation. The program’s main purpose is to send email activity logs, so the current activity log viewable from within the program contains only the activity since the last email sent. This keeps the size of the log file manageable but may make searching for a particular website or keyword more difficult than the other monitoring programs.
Monitoring Effectiveness
eBlaster successfully recorded all of the operations in our test. Both sides of our AOL Instant Messenger conversation were recorded and a report was emailed as soon as the conversation was over. Every website visited with Internet Explorer was recorded and the program even sent an instant notification when a keyword we specified was typed into Google. eBlaster also logged our two file downloads via FTP and Limewire.
Documentation
The eBlaster manual is available by clicking ‘Help’ and is easy to read and navigate. The program also has additional help information on the company’s website, as well as, phone, chat, and email based technical support.
Summary
SpectorSoft’s eBlaster is an excellent activity monitor for home usage. The program monitors nearly every type of computer and Internet activity and is simple to configure and use. The price is higher than other products, but if you must know everything that happening on your computer, it’s worth it.
Printer-friendly version
