Posted on 11/27/2005 11:19:44 AM PST by mtbopfuyn
I'm looking to buy software to monitor computer useage by teens. I'm leaning toward Spector Pro but wanted to get feedback from y'all. Any recommendations or comments?
Speaking as a 21 year old, this is a waste of time and money and is likely to backfire.
Sit down and talk with your kids as equals, if they're old enough. If they're not, just lay down the law. If you've done a good job until now, and you probably have, there's not too much to worry about. If you haven't, this is just likely to make things worse.
That's not true, if the kids are computer savvy. ;)
If you are honestly worried about what your kids are doing on the internet and have good reason to distrust their choices.
My suggestion... Get a hardware device that plugs between the keyboard and the computer. Password protect it and don't tell them you have it. Use it randomly.
There are a bunch of different devices like keyghost and keycatcher that will do the job.
Tell your kids that you will be monitoring their computer activity but don't tell them how or when. Don't be surprised by the content you find. They are kids after all.
Before I did this, I would look at their internet history files and cookie files to see what sites they are visiting. In their personal \Local Settings\history folder you can see the sites they have visited since the last time the history was erased. If there is nothing there to make you distrust them, I suggest you leave them alone.
Are you the password protected Administrator of their computers? Why not?
I have to tell you that while you may be a teenager, if you think the business world will come to allow this type of spelling and punctuation, you'll be sorely mistaken.
While I'm pleased that you've registered on this conservative forum, please promise yourself (and your parents) that you'll strive to become a proper writer (comma's and capital letters and all).
I have a job in a technical field, but the amount of writing I do is the amount they (your teachers, hopefully) warn you will be required of you in the real world.
Another technological measure which requires more savvy to use but which is far more subtle is a transparent packet/protocol analyzer like Ethereal.
Worked for me.
One other thing I did that worked like a charm...I downloaded a freeware program called Parents Friend that did it all. I let them see me install it and told them this software would monitor their every move. I told them I would be monitoring it regularly and the directory would be hidden and password protected so they couldn't hack it.
The next day, I uninstalled it. The threat of just having it on the PC kept them in line.
She does. Next objection.
I don't think it monitors keystrokes but it's a filtering service. You can check their website.
I don't use a key logger. I own a Netgear Firewall router. I can't see every letter that my kids type but I can see and restrict their access to websites that I find objectionable. I can also time and bandwidth limit the ports their computers are plugged into.
Like most here, I recommend that you be up front with your kids and tell them what you are doing and why.
NOt until they pay the bills.
Kids have zero "right" to privacy as long as their welfare is the responsibility of someone else (parents).
Get over yourself, kid.
If you prefer a software solution to a hardware solution look into BSafe's suite of virus and filtering products.
On Web http://www.bsafehome.com/
Doesn't bother me if he or the kids read what I write - and they do. I've nothing to hide, nor am I ashamed of what I've written.
Damn, why don't you just plant a chip in their heads so you can read their every thought. Good try but, try communication first.
oh c'mon. So you are a smarty farty with computers. You are talking about a mother who is just trying to monitor her kids. No need to show off :)
Heh, well, that wasn't my purpose really. Yes, I've been at this for 25+ years, My point however was that any savvy kid could punt it pretty quick. I was offering a solution that's unhackable. Router logs can only be faked using proxys, which by viewing a log you could detect since all hits are going to be to the same or similiar URLs.
All I can say is parents, please don't be so clueless. Your child may be an angel, but the trash and filth being posted at teen blogs is unbelievable. And your angel's eyes can read it all.
You better be watching.... very closely.
Anyone who's savy with computers knows how use & download spyware detection programs. And alot of computer-gamers use it on the principle that spyware cookies clog up thier bandwidth and cause latency issues. Odds are they will discover it, and the fallout will be just as bad as if you put a spy-cam up in their room.
oh, disregard - didn't see that it was up front. But all that means is that they will find other avenues that are more private.
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