CNET Editors' review
Family Cyber Alert takes the uncertainty out of the question, "What's my kid been doing online?" This app does far more than record every keystroke made, and it does it well.
Including the keystroke log, the program offers a full array of monitoring functions. All applications are under Family Cyber Alert's watchful eye, including separate logs for sent e-mails, chat participation, and Web sites visited. It also takes screencaps regularly, forwards you copies of any e-mails sent, and incorporates blocking software to block programs as well as specific Web sites. There's even a customizable automatic keyword "danger" alert and a networking feature to monitor remote machines. All this control isn't arbitrary, though; it allows the Administrator to set specific users outside of its purview and observe the rest.
Family Cyber Alert doesn't show up in the start menu or control panel, so uninstalling the program must be done from the command line. However, to do so you must close it, and that requires the password, so the app is virtually tamperproof. If you need to keep a watchful eye over how your computer gets used, whether for a child or an employee, Family Cyber Alert tells you all.
Publisher's Description
From InfoWorks Technology:
Are you concerned about your children's online activities? Do you feel you should keep a closer eye on what they are doing in cyberspace? Concerned parents are using Family Cyber Alert, an all-in-one PC/Internet activity monitor, to keep a watchful eye on their family and monitor their PC/Internet activities. This parental control tool records everything your family members do online and offline, including e-mail, chat/instant messaging, Web sites, applications, file access, keystroke (keylogger), screen snapshots, and time and sequence. It provides automatic e-mail forwarding, e-mail/Chat/IM blocking, Web site blocking, games/applications blocking, automatic keyword detection and danger alert, and intelligent reporting. It also provides parental time control for you to decide when to shut down the computer.
What's new in this version: Version 4.52 adds support of latest IE, FireFox, and Google Chrome.
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All versions:
3.4 starsout of 95 votes
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Current version:
2.8 starsout of 4 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-4 of 4
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"Dont Buy This, its Junk"
Version: Family Cyber Alert 4.52
Pros
Jpeg images of screen captures was fast and useful
Cons
website log never worked
instant messenger log never worked
FCA created a second c:\windows\system32 on system.
InfoWorks tech support less than helpful.
slowed pc substantially
After 6 weeks hot keys to access FCA stopped working
could not access program, setup, logs...nothing.
I could not uninstall it.
Tech Support's recommendation - "Reboot"Summary
I bought Family Cyber Alert online from amazon. installed it nov. 5. website log never worked. instant messenger log never worked. I discovered that FCA had created a second c:\windows\system32 directory to install itself in. InfoWorks tech support less than helpful. several apps on the pc slowed substantially with FCA installed. several games became almost unplayable.
Today the hot keys to access FCA stopped working. I emailed InfoWorks tech support. I could not access the program, the setup, the logs...nothing. Worse I could not uninstall it while it was running and I could not stop it. I removed it from startup in msconfig and it replicated itself. I used "end process" in windows task manager but it immediately restarted itself. I could not delete the .exe file because I got the "cannot delete, file in use" error message. I've had viruses that were easier to clean than this. Finally I started windows in safe mode and uninstalled it. Then i had to clean the leftovers out of my registry. After about 50 restarts and 2 hrs later I had gotten rid of this POS software.
And to top it off, I got a prompt reply from InfoWorks asking where i bought the software and did I install it from CD, then recommended I reboot my pc. Don't buy this! -
"It has been working great for me"
Version: Family Cyber Alert 4.52
Pros
I have been using Family Cyber Alert for over a year. Just upgraded to the new version and still love it. I have the family pack license that allows me to install it on 4 computers. I have it on three computer (2 Vista and 1 windows 7). I primarily use it for monitoring websites and facebook. I do turn on blocking on one computer. I also use the keylogger and screen shots to get more Internet activity information. I really like the new feature of time control that allows me to decide on when computers can be used. It has been working great for me. I strongly recommend it to anyone who needs to monitor their family members' computer use.
Cons
Remote monitoring setup can be improved.
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"I like it but could be better"
Version: Family Cyber Alert 4.52
Pros
Monitors like it says it does and easy to use.
Cons
Like the previous review says "person being monitored can change the logs". Easy to remove if you have some computer knowledge.
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"logs are unencrypted and unprotected, users can edit"
Version: Family Cyber Alert 4.52
Pros
easy to set up
Cons
person being monitored can change the logs
Summary
See my review of Office Cyber Alert here on cnet for more detail, since that's the one I actually installed. As far as I can tell the products are the same, but Office comes with a 4-user license and a CD.
Results 1-4 of 4
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