Title: Webkeys Prowler - Freeware
Post by: scuzzy on August 14, 2001, 10:05 hrs
Post by: scuzzy on August 14, 2001, 10:05 hrs
Recently, I learned of Webkeys Prowler (//%22http://www.webkeys.com/download.htm%22) through Fathers First (//%22http://www.fathersfirst.org/%22). After reading the intro at Fathers First, I decided to download Prowler and give it a try.
Prowler is a web filtering application which resides in the background, monitoring 100% web activity for Internet Explorer 4.0 & 5.0. So far, I'm impressed. If you have kids of any age who can access the web, this is one of those must-have tools.
Once installed, Prowler automatically loads whenever you start Windows. You'll know it's on duty by the bright-colored apple in the icon tray. One nice feature is that you can't close out the program without the right password. First, I tried deleting the program from the Startup Folder, but it wasn't there to delete. I tried to disable Prowler by using Alt-Ctrl-Delete, but it wasn't listed. I also tried End-It-All, but still couldn't disable it. Okay, how about MSCONFIG? Nope, that didn't work either. However, in a tribute to Startup Cop, it lived up to its reputation by kindly allowing me to disable Prowler on the next startup. Oh well. I wonder if there's a way to password protect Startup Cop?
Prowler is exceptionally well designed, easy to setup, and easy to use. The program allows the moderator to setup different users (each with name and password), along with several levels of protection for each user. Additionally, the level of sensitivity can also be adjusted. If a user database is not created, then the program assigns universal protection through what is known as "Default User". Basically, once prowler is installed, there is no way around the protection unless you know the moderator's password. One feature I really like is that it monitors every place visited on the Internet, and logs the date/time for each visit. Of course, the history log cannot be deleted without the right password. Heck, it can't even be viewed without the password.
I'll admit that I didn't try to visit hundreds of sites to test Prowler, but I did try one very well known "questionable" site. Prowler did not allow the page to display, but instead gave me a list of options, one of which would allow me access to the page using the password. Otherwise, forget it. Afterward, I checked the history folder, and found the questionable site URL with the word "DENIED" nestled in a bright red background. It clearly jumped out at me to tell me that somebody tried to go somewhere that was not allowed.
I didn't care for the fact that I was able to disable Prowler by using Startup Cop, but I must admit that this is one incredible program. The fact that it's free is a big plus, and it's also free of advertising and spam. It would be nice if it supported other browsers, too. But if you use only Internet Explorer (as most people), and you want to protect your kids from some of the garbage on the Internet, then this is a must-have program.
Take a look at the Virtual Tour of Webkeys Prowler here (//%22http://www.webkeys.com/index2.htm%22).
Alex Garcia
Prowler is a web filtering application which resides in the background, monitoring 100% web activity for Internet Explorer 4.0 & 5.0. So far, I'm impressed. If you have kids of any age who can access the web, this is one of those must-have tools.
Once installed, Prowler automatically loads whenever you start Windows. You'll know it's on duty by the bright-colored apple in the icon tray. One nice feature is that you can't close out the program without the right password. First, I tried deleting the program from the Startup Folder, but it wasn't there to delete. I tried to disable Prowler by using Alt-Ctrl-Delete, but it wasn't listed. I also tried End-It-All, but still couldn't disable it. Okay, how about MSCONFIG? Nope, that didn't work either. However, in a tribute to Startup Cop, it lived up to its reputation by kindly allowing me to disable Prowler on the next startup. Oh well. I wonder if there's a way to password protect Startup Cop?
Prowler is exceptionally well designed, easy to setup, and easy to use. The program allows the moderator to setup different users (each with name and password), along with several levels of protection for each user. Additionally, the level of sensitivity can also be adjusted. If a user database is not created, then the program assigns universal protection through what is known as "Default User". Basically, once prowler is installed, there is no way around the protection unless you know the moderator's password. One feature I really like is that it monitors every place visited on the Internet, and logs the date/time for each visit. Of course, the history log cannot be deleted without the right password. Heck, it can't even be viewed without the password.
I'll admit that I didn't try to visit hundreds of sites to test Prowler, but I did try one very well known "questionable" site. Prowler did not allow the page to display, but instead gave me a list of options, one of which would allow me access to the page using the password. Otherwise, forget it. Afterward, I checked the history folder, and found the questionable site URL with the word "DENIED" nestled in a bright red background. It clearly jumped out at me to tell me that somebody tried to go somewhere that was not allowed.
I didn't care for the fact that I was able to disable Prowler by using Startup Cop, but I must admit that this is one incredible program. The fact that it's free is a big plus, and it's also free of advertising and spam. It would be nice if it supported other browsers, too. But if you use only Internet Explorer (as most people), and you want to protect your kids from some of the garbage on the Internet, then this is a must-have program.
Take a look at the Virtual Tour of Webkeys Prowler here (//%22http://www.webkeys.com/index2.htm%22).
Alex Garcia