IMMonitor AIM Spy

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET Staff on February 27, 2009

This utility surreptitiously monitors AIM conversations, but it has some trouble monitoring over a network. IMMonitor AIM Spy's interface is neat, simple, and efficient. The program doesn't include a Help file, but the simple tooltips and onscreen reminders are enough to guide most users.

Operating this app is pretty simple. It defaults to monitoring AIM conversations on the computer where it has been installed. Our tests found that it usually discovered the proper network adapter to monitor and self-selected the computer's IP address. Monitoring your own PC means you merely need to press the program's Start button. It's very easy to configure this app to load on Windows startup, hide the monitor window, and autosave logs. We liked the simple setup to e-mail or FTP conversation logs. We had much more difficulty monitoring machines over a local network. IMMonitor AIM Spy easily discovered all machines on the network, though it also identified IP cameras as PCs. However, our testers were unable to get the program to record AIM conversations on networked PCs. This could be a matter of network configuration and should be checked on your network before registering the utility.

In addition to the 10-day trial restriction, this program limits logs to the first seven lines of any conversation. Compared with similar programs, this one was especially easy to install and operate. Any level user with a need to monitor AIM conversations should give IMMonitor AIM Spy a try.