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Revision as of 21:18, 12 December 2014
 | |
| Developer(s) | Awareness Technologies |
|---|---|
| Stable release | |
| Operating system | |
| Type | Computer monitoring |
| License | Proprietary commercial software |
| Website | www |
WebWatcher is a proprietary licensed computer and user activity monitoring software developed by Awareness Technologies.[3] WebWatcher's features include email & Instant Message monitoring, keystroke logging, web content filtering and monitoring, and screenshot monitoring.[4]
History
WebWatcher was developed in 2002 initially for uses of counter-terrorism for Windows PCs.[5] The software is now used by parents to monitor their children's online activities.[6] In 2010, a version of the software was released for BlackBerry and Android devices. In 2012, WebWatcher for Mac was released. WebWatcher for iOS was released in 2014.
Features
WebWatcher utilizes a client-server architecture which monitors and records user activity on the client machine. After data is recorded, it is then encrypted and transmitted through a secure SSL connection to a remote server. The user can then login to a website portal to view this recorded data.[7] This process allows a customer to view the recorded data remotely.
| WebWatcher for PC | WebWatcher for Mac | WebWatcher for Android | WebWatcher for BlackBerry | WebWatcher for iPhone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Websites Visited | X | X | X | X | |
| Website Searches | X | X | X | X | |
| Block Websites | X | X | |||
| Emails Sent & Received | X | X | X | ||
| Instant Messages Sent & Received | X | X | |||
| Screenshot Monitoring | X | X | |||
| SMS Text Messages | X | X | X | ||
| Call History | X | X | X | ||
| Photos Taken | X | X | X | ||
| Device Geolocation | X | X | X | X | X |
Reception and Criticism
WebWatcher received the PC Magazine editors’ choice award in a 2011 review of Parental Control & Monitoring software. In the article, WebWatcher was referred to as "Heavy-handed" saying: "if you find it necessary to track a child who's engaging in risky activities, WebWatcher will record every detail and even send you instant notification when it encounters certain words."[3] Also, About.com readers named WebWatcher as the “Best Internet Safety Tool” as part of its 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards.[8]
Critics have noted that since the software runs stealth on a device, there is an opportunity for the software to be installed illegally. To mitigate this issue, WebWatcher requires administrator credentials to be installed on a device.[9]
References
- ^ "WebWatcher Downloads". Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- ^ "CNET WebWatcher for Mac". Retrieved 1 May 2014.
- ^ a b Rubenking, Neil. "WebWatcher Review & Rating". pcmag.com. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
- ^ Norbury, Keith. "The case against Big Brother at work". theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
- ^ Cohan, Peter. "Awareness Technologies Spies on Workers, Teens". Forbes.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
- ^ "4 services for monitoring your kid's online activities". dailynews.com. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
- ^ "webwatcher.com". Retrieved 2 May 2014.
- ^ "WebWatcher Named 'Best Internet Safety Tool' by About.com Readers". Retrieved April 19, 2014.
- ^ Rogers, Kate. "NSA-Style Surveillance for Parents Looking to Monitor their Kids". Retrieved May 2, 2014.