SpyAgent 11 Standard review

Spytech SpyAgent 11 lets you control your children’s internet use while still allowing them to enjoy their time online.

SpyAgent 11 Standard review

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

SpyAgent 11 is an affordable and useful monitoring tool, especially with its total stealth setting. It lacks a few features, and could be easier to set-up, but overall it's very effective.

Pros

  • +

    Has stealth mode

  • +

    Covers most devices

  • +

    Detailed reports

Cons

  • -

    Can be difficult to set-up

  • -

    Lacks cyber-bullying features

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SpyAgent 11 is the latest version of SpyTech's online activity monitoring software. Basically, it allows you to keep track of someone's internet usage, no matter what device they are using. With this reliable and affordable parental control software, you can track virtually all internet activity; you can view transcripts of sent and received email messages, attachments, both sides of instant messaging conversations, and activity on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. It has wide compatibility, so works with PCs, Macs, the best smartphones, and tablets.

What makes SpyAgent 11 stand out is that is allows you to track your child’s online activity without them ever knowing. The total stealth mode requires a little more expertise and time to set up, but having the option is great, as it allows you to keep track of their usage without them knowing, which can maintain trust in a relationship.

This software is a bit more challenging to download and set up than other internet monitoring programs we reviewed. We needed to disable some security measures and use a web browser other than Chrome to keep SpyAgent from being tagged as dangerous and blocked by our system. After it installed, the program took a bit longer to figure out than its competitors, but once we got the hang of it, it wasn’t difficult to remember where to go to adjust filter settings and view activity reports. And the reports are pretty extensive, giving you a great overview of all different types of usage.

SpyAgent lets you customize the program to fit your specific needs. For example, you can designate screenshot frequency and log storage locations as well as block or filter websites based on filter categories. You can also set the software to monitor at certain times or to lock down the internet based on specific events. For example, if your child attempts to search for a specific term too many times, SpyAgent locks the browser so they can’t try again. This internet monitoring program lets you set time limits as well, which makes it easy to keep your children off the computer during homework, chores and bed times.

SpyAgent 11 Standard review

(Image credit: SpyTech)

SpyAgent doesn’t have designated anti-cyberbullying tools that are found in other internet monitoring programs. These tools proactively shut down conversations your child has with dangerous individuals and prohibits the use of certain words and image sharing. You also receive timely alerts about potential cyberbullying. While SpyAgent doesn’t have specific anti-cyberbullying features, its chat blocking and message capturing tools can be used for this purpose – you just need to be diligent about opening email alerts and checking online reports. Surfie has the single best anti-cyberbullying feature of any program in our lineup.

This program has multiple reporting capabilities, including remote reporting and reports delivered via email. Activity logs, including screenshots, can be filtered based on time of day, specific websites, restricted access attempts and keystrokes. You can download any report and save it to your desktop to look at later. The latest version of SpyAgent adds SMS alerts for unwanted activity too, one of our main criticisms of past iterations.

SpyAgent 11 Standard review

(Image credit: SpyTech)

You only get one license to monitor one computer or laptop when you purchase SpyAgent, though you can purchase additional licenses. Spytech has a smartphone tracking product you can purchase. If you buy both, you can monitor cell phone and computer activity through a single parental portal online.

SpyAgent by Spytech is reliable and affordable parental software. It can track all incoming and outgoing communications, including email, chat and social networking activity. It blocks websites based on filter categories and by URLs added to the blacklist. You can run this program in stealth mode so no one knows they are being monitored. The program is a bit more difficult to install than other parental control software and may require you to disable some security measures, such as your antivirus program, during download and operation.

Nicole Johnston

Nicole writes for multiple Future Publishing brands covering topics from antivirus to kitchen appliances to SAS. She has over 15 years of research and writing experience, including eight years of testing and reviewing consumer products. Nicole earned bachelor’s degrees in both English and Political Science with a focus on empirical research. In her spare time, Nicole serves as a member of several school councils and volunteers for a local arts board.