WebWatcher

Last updated
WebWatcher
Developer(s) Awareness Technologies
Stable release
8.2.37.1168 (PC) [1]

2.0.27.142 (MAC) [2] 3.6 (Android)

Operating system
Type Computer monitoring
License Proprietary commercial software
Website www.webwatcher.com

WebWatcher is a proprietary computer and mobile device monitoring software developed by Awareness Technologies. [3] WebWatcher is compatible with iOS, Android, Windows, ChromeOS and macOS operating systems. WebWatcher Mobile records text messages, call logs, web history, photos, and GPS. WebWatcher for PC and Mac features include email & Instant Message monitoring, keystroke logging, web content filtering and monitoring, and screenshot monitoring. [4] Critics have referred to WebWatcher and other similar pieces of software as "stalkerware".

Contents

History

WebWatcher was developed in 2002 initially for uses of counter-terrorism for Windows PCs. [5] The software is now used predominantly by parents to monitor their children's online activities and by employers to monitor the activities of their workers. [6] In 2010, a version of the software was released for BlackBerry and Android devices. In 2012, WebWatcher for Mac was released. WebWatcher for iOS was released in 2014.

Reception and criticism

WebWatcher received the PC Magazine editors' choice award in a 2011 review of Parental Control & Monitoring software. In the article, WebWatcher was referred to as "Heavy-handed" saying: "if you find it necessary to track a child who's engaging in risky activities, WebWatcher will record every detail and even send you instant notification when it encounters certain words." [3] Also, About.com readers named WebWatcher as the "Best Internet Safety Tool" as part of its 2011 Readers' Choice Awards. [7]

Critics have noted that since the software runs stealth on a device, there is an opportunity for the software to be installed illegally. [8] In 2020, TechCrunch and other media outlets described WebWatcher as "stalkerware". [9] [10] Shortly thereafter, Google removed advertisements for WebWatcher from its search results. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Android (operating system)</span> Mobile operating system

Android is a mobile operating system based on a modified version of the Linux kernel and other open-source software, designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Android is developed by a consortium of developers known as the Open Handset Alliance, though its most widely used version is primarily developed by Google. It was unveiled in November 2007, with the first commercial Android device, the HTC Dream, being launched in September 2008.

Dropbox is a file hosting service operated by the American company Dropbox, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco, California, U.S. that offers cloud storage, file synchronization, personal cloud, and client software. Dropbox was founded in 2007 by MIT students Drew Houston and Arash Ferdowsi as a startup company, with initial funding from seed accelerator Y Combinator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SHAPE Services</span>

SHAPE.AG is a cross-platform independent software vendor and web-based services provider. The company develops instant messaging, social networking, productivity, entertainment, games, media and location-based applications for Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, BlackBerry, Windows Phone/Windows Mobile, Android, Symbian S60, UIQ, J2ME, and HP/Palm webOS mobile platforms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smartwatch</span> Wearable computer in the form of a watch

A smartwatch is a wearable computer in the form of a watch; modern smartwatches provide a local touchscreen interface for daily use, while an associated smartphone app provides management and telemetry, such as long-term biomonitoring. While early models could perform basic tasks, such as calculations, digital time telling, translations, and game-playing, smartwatches released since 2015 have more general functionality closer to smartphones, including mobile apps, a mobile operating system and WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity. Some smartwatches function as portable media players, with FM radio and playback of digital audio and video files via a Bluetooth headset. Some models, called watch phones, have mobile cellular functionality such as making telephone calls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chromebook</span> Laptop or tablet computer running ChromeOS

A Chromebook is a laptop or tablet running the Linux-based ChromeOS as its operating system. Initially designed to heavily rely on web applications for tasks using the Google Chrome browser, Chromebooks have since expanded to be able to run Android and full-fledged Linux apps since 2017 and 2018, respectively. All supported apps can be installed and launched alongside each other.

Baidu Yi, also known as "Baidu Yun", was an operating system for mobile devices until Baidu suspended it. It is based on Google's Android but is a fork by Baidu, the dominant search engine operator in China. It was announced on 2 September 2011 at the 2011 Baidu Technology Innovation Conference in Beijing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BlueStacks</span> American technology company

BlueStacks is an American technology company known for the BlueStacks App Player and other cloud-based cross-platform products. The BlueStacks App Player allows Android applications to run on computers running Microsoft Windows or macOS. The company was founded in 2009 by Jay Vaishnav, Suman Saraf, and Rosen Sharma.

Google Authenticator is a software-based authenticator by Google. It implements multi-factor authentication services using the time-based one-time password and HMAC-based one-time password, for authenticating users of software applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Messenger (software)</span> American instant messaging app

Messenger is an American proprietary instant messaging app and platform developed by Meta Platforms. Originally developed as Facebook Chat in 2008, the company revamped its messaging service in 2010, released standalone iOS and Android apps in 2011, and released standalone Facebook Portal hardware for Messenger calling in 2018. In April 2015, Facebook launched a dedicated website interface, Messenger.com, and separated the messaging functionality from the main Facebook app, allowing users to use the web interface or download one of the standalone apps. In April 2020, Facebook released a Messenger desktop app for Windows and macOS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digg Reader</span>

Digg Reader was a news aggregator operated by Digg. The reader was released on June 26, 2013 as a response to Google Reader shutting down. The reader was web-based and also had iOS and Android applications as well as a Google Chrome extension. The beta for the reader has received mostly positive reviews. On March 26, 2018, Digg shut down Digg Reader.

Wickr is an American software company based in New York City. The company is best known for its instant messenger application of the same name. The Wickr instant messaging apps allow users to exchange end-to-end encrypted and content-expiring messages, including photos, videos, and file attachments. The software is available for the iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems. On June 25, 2021, Wickr was acquired by Amazon Web Services.

Awareness Technologies is a Westport, Connecticut-based American technology company founded in 2002. The company provides security, monitoring, forensic, data loss prevention, productivity and analytics solutions for home, office, and enterprise.

Firebase is a set of backend cloud computing services and application development platforms provided by Google. It hosts databases, services, authentication, and integration for a variety of applications, including Android, iOS, JavaScript, Node.js, Java, Unity, PHP, and C++.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Google Fit</span> Health-tracking platform by Google

Google Fit is a health-tracking platform developed by Google for the Android operating system, Wear OS and Apple Inc.'s iOS. It is a single set of APIs that blends data from multiple apps and devices. Google Fit uses sensors in a user's activity tracker or mobile device to record physical fitness activities, which are measured against the user's fitness goals to provide a comprehensive view of their fitness.

mSpy Brand of mobile and computer parental control monitoring software

mSpy is a brand of mobile and computer parental control monitoring software for iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS. The app allows users to monitor and log activity on the client device.

Azumio is a mobile health company that specializes in biometric mobile technology. Founded in 2011, Azumio develops Apple iOS and Android health apps and services. Azumio has released 24 apps on iOS, 5 apps on Android, and 3 apps on Windows Phone. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Crashlytics was a Boston, Massachusetts-based software company founded in May 2011 by entrepreneurs Wayne Chang and Jeff Seibert. Crashlytics helps collecting, analyzing and organizing app crash reports.

Comparison of user features of messaging platforms refers to a comparison of all the various user features of various electronic instant messaging platforms. This includes a wide variety of resources; it includes standalone apps, platforms within websites, computer software, and various internal functions available on specific devices, such as iMessage for iPhones.

References

  1. "WebWatcher Downloads" . Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  2. "CNET WebWatcher for Mac" . Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  3. 1 2 Rubenking, Neil. "WebWatcher Review & Rating". pcmag.com. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  4. Norbury, Keith (13 April 2011). "The case against Big Brother at work". theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  5. Cohan, Peter. "Awareness Technologies Spies on Workers, Teens". Forbes.com. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  6. "4 services for monitoring your kid's online activities". dailynews.com. 8 November 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  7. "WebWatcher Named 'Best Internet Safety Tool' by About.com Readers" . Retrieved April 19, 2014.
  8. Rogers, Kate. "NSA-Style Surveillance for Parents Looking to Monitor their Kids". Fox Business . Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  9. 1 2 "'Stalkerware' phone spying apps have escaped Google's ad ban". TechCrunch. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  10. "Banned stalkerware apps keep appearing on Google search results". Komando.com. 2020-08-15. Retrieved 2021-03-28.