A tool that monitors all activity on a user’s computer including all internet related activity. Power Spy is a tool that logs all activity taking place on a user’s computer. First each and every keystroke that takes place is recorded and can be viewed later in a log format. Due to this keystroke logging feature it is also possible to view all information that was typed in to documents in Word and Text format. Similarly, the content of emails that have been typed is also available in the keystroke logs. Online activity is also monitored and recorded constantly with support for the following browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Netscape, AOL Explorer, Avant, Maxthon, NetCaptor, and SlimBrowser. It monitors and records activity from online chatting programs including Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, MSN Messenger, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, and Skype. Standard email clients such as Outlook, Outlook Express, and Windows Vista WinMail. Logging is done along with a timestamp and the Windows username of the user who performed the activity in question.

The interface is fairly intuitive with most of the tasks being performed without any required prior information. The program runs in the background as part of a Stealth / Invisible mode and is not detectable by a user.

Cons: Although the program description mentions that this is perfectly legal, there is still a question of privacy since all user’s using a particular computer may not be aware that their activity is being logged. There is therefore a question of fairness as well. Apart from this, there is always the chance of this software being misused if it were to fall into the wrong hands. This scenario is especially relevant for laptop computers which always have the possibility of being stolen or misplaced. There is a resource overhead for long term activity logs as the memory footprint increases and the program slows down.

Overall: 3 stars. The software does a good job of monitoring and logging activity on the computer. However that in itself brings up the question of privacy. The interface is decent and required tasks can be performed without too much effort.

Download: Power Spy 2009 8.17