SpyBuddy is primarily computer monitoring software, rather than web filtering software. It offers rudimentary filtering options, based on keywords and a list of web sites, but it's not a full-fledged web filtering solution. Instead, it helps you track your children's online and offline activities.

SpyBuddy is fairly easy to install, although it requires you to make more decisions during the installation process than some programs. This can be a plus or a minus, depending on your patience and your level of experience.

You can install SpyBuddy in one of two modes, Administrator or optional Stealth Installation. If you choose Stealth Installation, SpyBuddy will be invisible to casual users. It won't appear in the Start menu, and if you choose a custom installation, rather than the default, someone who is looking for it won't easily find it. (On the down side, if you forget where you installed it, you may not be able to find it, either.)

Once you install SpyBuddy, regardless of which mode you choose, you can use the icon-based interface to select the actions you want to monitor, and how you want to monitor them. You can log every keystroke, track email, record chat room and instant message software conversations, and track web site visits.

SpyBuddy can log all incoming and outgoing mail, and log SMTP email attachments. It can also log applications, not just which applications were launched, but how long they were actively used. The Timeline feature provides a complete record of every action taken on the computer, in order, including opening and closing applications, opening and closing windows, visiting web sites, visiting chat rooms, using instant message applications, and printing documents. SpyBuddy also records all disk-related activities, including creating files and directories, and renaming or deleting files and directories.

If you want to monitor computer use remotely, such as when you're at work and your kids are at home, you can set SpyBuddy to send activity logs to you.

SpyBuddy covers almost all possible offline and online activities, but it doesn't record or log P2P (peer-to-peer) downloads, although a new edition will.

Pros: Records most activities, including most Internet-related activities
Cons: Can be difficult to uninstall, limited filtering capabilities