Seeking Reviews on Internet Monitoring Software

We use something called Spector. You can get it at Spectorsoft.com. It is a keystroke logger, that has "hot keys" to bring it up. It is password protected, so even if they can figure out the hot keys, they would have to know the password. It runs in stealth mode, doesn't show in the program log, or registry. So they cannot find it just surfing around. It records every keystroke, and takes screenshots every few seconds. I've found it an invaluable tool raising teenagers.

I know I am different and odd man out here but I just don't get into spying on my child. If she gets the idea in her head that we are not confident in ourselves as parents and how we have taught her then she will doubt the trust we have built for the last 13 yrs of her precious life.

We are very open and honest with her. We talk about dangers of internet, etc. We sit down WITH HER to go through her computer and get viruses out, etc.

Just my two cents worth. I also realize that my 13 yr old is not perfect and she will have setbacks occur but whatever happens, we believe she should be respected.

TF

I would also be interested in how helpful anyone finds this software. Also, I work from our computers and I am concerned about how much it slows down the process.

Having a teenage son, I know there is a lot of temptation out there on the internet and I would like to save him from falling into it easily. Once those images are in their head, it is hard to get them out.

I don't have internet monitoring software at home, but my husband has worked in a library that has filtering software on all of its public computers and here's what I've heard about most software. None of it works 100%. Filtering software can block perfectly harmless websites and yet not block very offensive websites. Savvy website creators or internet predators can easily get through most filters. In this case, there's no substitution for old fashioned parent monitoring.

If you're just looking for software that will tell you what sites they've been visiting, my question to you is, what are you going to do with that information? Are they going to be punished for visiting sites that you don't think are appropriate? Just curious.

I noticed that your boys are older. Most likely, they'll know how to get around any software you put in place or will know where to get the stuff they are looking for without your knowing.