Net Nanny's Chat Monitor

Rating:
Summary: Don't buy this product
Review: Chat monitor failed to install correctly initially and because of that it became extraordinarily difficult to uninstall what did load. I had to use a program which would do a deep search on my registry. Uninstalling XP's service pack 2 made it possible to actually install the product but then it consistently failed to record chats regardless of numerous attempts to reinstall and change possible program parameters. Support is useless to the point of being non-existent. Do yourself a favour and look elsewhere for a chat monitor.

Rating:
Summary: Unreliable
Review: I didn't have any problems loading the software, but it isn't recording all of the chat sessions. The summary report says that there were 35 sessions, yet only 10-15 files are sent. It is incapable of properly recording ICQ chats, even though it claims it can. Information at the website indicates that there is a patch to "ungarble" ICQ chats, but when I attempted to load the patch I received a message that my software was already up to date. I wrote to tech support, got an auto response, but never heard from them again. Internet Explorer crashes constantly on each of the computers that I have installed this software on, and we weren't having that problem prior to installation. I am uninstalling it and looking for something else.

Rating:
Summary: Problems Installing Software - Virus
Review: I went to install Net Nanny Chat monitor following their installation instructions exactly. Unfortunately Net Nanny requires you to turn off any Internet security programs to install the software. After I installed the software and then restarted my computer per the installation instructions, I received a Windows message labeled "Windows NT Authority System." My PC then went into an endless restarting mode whereupon I lost total control of my PC. I contacted Net Nanny through phone and email and a tech support staff member responded by phone and told me that the Chat Monitor software makes the same RPC calls that triggers the Blaster Worm virus. Net Nanny attempted to provide me with minimal support to fix the problem but ultimately had me contact my manufacturer, Dell. I was very diligent in keeping my Virus definitions up to date and running them and had installed Microsoft security patches. I did not have the Virus before attempting to install this software as far as I know.

Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time with this software!
Review: This software is a total waste of money. Once you install it, you have the option to run a software update. Once you run this update, the software stops functioning properly and you get a database error whenever you boot your computer. The setup I used was Windows XP Home Edition with SP1 and Internet Explorer 6 SP1. I emailed technical support (which is only available in a pay-per-incident basis or free through email...and email is a minimum 2 day wait for a response). Tech support suggested I uninstall and reinstall the software which didn't work. I'm still waiting to hear back from them on how to REALLY fix the problem but I'm not expecting much. This software is almost as pathetic as their Net Nanny 5 software which can actually keep your web browser from displaying anything, blocked or otherwise. I would look elsewhere for content filtering and monitoring software.

Rating:
Summary: Very Difficult to Work With For Any Parent
Review: This software is very difficult to work with. Installation is especially difficult and the only way you can get help is if you pay almost $20 for a support call. I found the instructions very scant and after installing it, decided the hassles of getting it to run properly were not worth the trouble. I would try a number of the free downloads first available on CNET. Ended up uninstalling the software. Also, looked at all the reviews from USA Today and Reuters and they all say this software is either "clunky" or needs more patches.

Rating:
Summary: NetNanny Chat Monitor
Review: This was perhaps one of the WORST products I have ever tried to install on my computer. They have NO technical support at all. If you have a problem all they tell you is to do is un-install then re-install the product.
This product failed to install and failed to monitor my children's chats. I reached out 4 or 5 times for help and got nothing. I will tell anyone I can NOT to waste their money on this product.
SAVE YOUR MONEY.... GET ANOTHER PRODUCT.. NOT THIS ONE !!!