007 Spy Software |
|
 |
Product: 007 Spy Software Vendor: Spy Software Inc. Price: $39.95 Editor Rating: 2 stars DOWNLOAD NOW! |
Pros
+ Logs keystrokes, websites, programs, and can save screen captures.
Cons
- Log files only organized by activity not date.
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
007 Spy provides basic activity monitoring like keystroke and web site visited logging. In addition, 007 Spy can capture an image of the desktop at timed intervals and monitor what programs have been launched and what files were accessed. The program also has the capability of emailing reports (but not screen captures) at regular intervals.
Installation
007 Spy installed without problems and setting the program’s options was easy to do. The ‘Settings’ screen has the handy feature of allowing the user to test the email function on the spot, which saves some frustration if you don’t set the SMTP settings exactly right.
Ease of Use
007 Spy organizes the activity logs into five major categories—Keystrokes, Websites, Applications, Screenshots, and Files/Folders. Activities for each of the major categories are then placed into a single list that is searchable. In trying to review the activities on the computer for more than a few days, it would be difficult to scroll through all the information to find what you are looking for.
Monitoring Effectiveness
While 007 Spy does log all web sites visited using Internet Explorer, the program does not have the capability to monitor AOL Instant Message, MSN Messenger, or Yahoo Messenger conversations. Only keystrokes are logged for these applications, so only the sender’s side of the conversation would be viewable. The same goes for email, only keystrokes were recorded and possibly (if we’re lucky) a perfectly timed screen capture.
007 Spy’s file access log did not record our FTP and P2P downloads, although it did record that these programs were launched.
Documentation
007 Spy comes with its manual as a Windows Help file. The Help file also includes a FAQ but there are no additional sources of information available online.
Summary
007 Spy has limited logging capabilities since it cannot save email or chat conversations. Also, the interface for reviewing keystrokes and websites leaves something to be desired when reviewing more than a couple of days of computer activity. There are better programs out there.
Printer-friendly version
