ChatAlert

A chat monitoring tool that provides full text rather than just keywords, ChatAlert will prove useful to any parents wanting to watch over their kids' PC use. Registration (with some minimal personal info) and a reboot are required before ChatAlert can go to work. The interface for configuring the utility's settings is well-designed and easy to understand and use, and it's password protected to prevent unauthorized changes. Once ChatAlert is running in the background, an unobtrusive smiley face icon resides in the taskbar. We like that the utility pops up a warning box when a user types info during a chat that includes ChatAlert's trigger words. A log file accurately captures the activity details. You also can set up sound alerts. Users in Australia and the United Kingdom can set up SMS alerts for mobile devices, but as of this writing other countries aren't offered this functionality. Parents looking for a simple tool to monitor chat activity should give ChatAlert a try.