Computer monitoring - what's the best program?

[ponyfool]

I was referred to this program, SpectorPro, but don't know anything about it.

Anyone out there using a good monitoring program? One that can't be removed by the end user? I don't care if they know it's there or not.

 

[dcarver]

Sorry PF, I don't know anything about this program. I will try immediately to engage a worthy female for reproduction of a teenage daughter so I can determine the merits of this application.

[SIZE=8pt]oh.. then again, never mind! [/SIZE]

 

[Old Michael]

I will try immediately to engage a worthy female for reproduction of a teenage daughter so I can determine the merits of this application.

Be sure to post some pics of your research. With captions to help us follow along.

 

[dcarver]

I will try immediately to engage a worthy female for reproduction of a teenage daughter so I can determine the merits of this application.

Be sure to post some pics of your research. With captions to help us follow along.

Sick Bastard! Ain't you supposed to be sleeping before the big ride? :glare:

 

[SockMonkey]

Interesting. I wasn't aware there was a consumer version of this product. I have a 10,000+ employee customer that uses the enterprise version of Spector (I know this because it's part of the software package installed on my Field Engineers' laptops when they work on projects for that customer), so it must do something well. I'm not sure if that's an endorsement per se, but one could assume that their IT department has at least some clue and has put the software through its paces.

 

[GunMD]

My son is 11 and I've been using Norton Internet Security for a few years now on his machine. You have to download a separate (no extra charge) plug-in to activate the parental controls. You can set several options as to what type of content is allowed and what isn't. It does a pretty good job of logging activity, too.

Then again, my kid is a bit younger than yours...so I suppose he hasn't truly put this software to the test just yet.

 

[slapnpop]

For what it's worth, my $0.02

Growing up as a Gen (insert late in alphebet letter here) youth with access to computers, my take will likely be different than yours.

I think at some level there is a primary issue of trust and parental responsibility involved. This software, to me, is a work around for proper parental involvement in your child's activities. If your child is not trustworthy of having access to a computer without mis-behaving, then they should only be allowed to access a computer when supervised. If you don't trust the child already, then no program in the world can stop them misbehaving if they have the access to a working PC. Even at 13, I could have gotten around your software any day of the week if I was alone with a computer. Even today, I could go a friend's house, burn a CD that's a boot-able web-browsing OS, and have all the mischief I wanted without oversight. The problem here is that not only would I be mis-behaving, but you would be false secure with your monitoring software only showing my legitimate activities.

Don't mis-understand me. I'm not questioning your parenting. I just think software of this nature is not the best way to handle the situation. You'll end up with a marginal computer, and an unrealistic view of reality.

Of course if your teenager has absolutely no computer talent, and you really just want to spy on the back end rather than directly address the issues, it looks like a good program.

 

[GunMD]

Some valid points, Slap. My kid isn't booting Knoppix yet, so I'm OK (for now). I also like knowing that he won't inadvertently stumble across inappropriate content. I truly do trust my son with his computer, but I don't trust everyone on the neenernet.

 

[slapnpop]

I also like knowing that he won't inadvertently stumble across inappropriate content. I truly do trust my son with his computer, but I don't trust everyone on the neenernet.

Point!

But, spector looked more like a spy on rather than a prevent type program.

 

[jwilly]

With 4 (19, 18, 15, 12) kids I have to agree with Slappy on this one. You need to be involved and see whats going on and talk to your kids about the dangers of the internet and not just try to block them from it. Like others mentioned, the software isn't fail safe and kids will figure out ways around it. I am by no means saying that your not currently doing some of this, but don't give yourself a false sense of security by using a piece of software.

It's scares me to think what my friends and I would have gotten into if we had the internet growing up.

JW

 

[03HiYoSilver]

I have heard over the years this product is one of the best of its type. It runs Stealth in the Background and records Keystrokes, ETC for future viewing when necessary.

You will probably have to install it as an Administrator of your computer, with your Children logged on as Non-Administrators.

 

[ponyfool]

I'm a good parent that is very involved with my kids, but that doesn't change the fact that I want to know what they're looking at on the internet. I don't let them have a computer in their room, it's out in the living room. They know that if they make a quick, furtive move when we walk in the room to change what's on the screen, they lose privileges for a week, etc.

I just want to know if anyone knows about this product or others like it.

Oh, they already have NetNanny on their computer that has an ever expanding blacklist of sites.

 

[LDRydr]

I have experience with SnoopStick. Easy to install, easy to monitor, including from your work computer. It can monitor for keywords such as SS#'s, phone numbers, or your address, in an attempt to keep them from sending them out via the Internet. It can even shut down their Internet activity remotely, like when they're not supposed to be on the PC when you're not home to monitor them.

Yes, trust is important. But, with my experience in computer investigations I know firsthand that young folks truly have no clue of some of the dangers lurking out there.

PS. I've finished with my evaluation need for it, so mine's available for sale if anybody is interested.

 

[weekend rider]

Whats the matter can''t trust the kld?? Gotta turn into a computer cop..

What is the world comming to bla bla bla...........

 

[Kaelaria]

Covenant Eyes hands down.

 

[mdisher]

Pony, you didn't specifically state what your goal was.

If you're trying to catch a cheating spouse or catch someone like a child doing something they shouldn't that might be the right tool.

If you're wanting to prevent them from accessing things you don't want them to access, it's probably not.

I have 5 kids of varying ages all of which use the computer daily (except the 6 month old). I highly recommend setting up Dan's gaurdian. It's free, very tunable and works really well.

It doesn't take much to run. Mine currently runs on 7 year old laptop under my desk and filters for the whole family, but excludes me/wife.

I would highly suggest Ubuntu for this, and there's a package that makes installation fairly simple.

If you want to go with all GUI tools and never have to touch a config file look at the Ubuntu Christian edition.

The bottom line though, is that there's about 800 ways to do this, and none of them are perfect.

 

[mdisher]

It's scares me to think what my friends and I would have gotten into if we had the internet growing up.

Exactly. And while I'm certainly and advocate for *free speech* and internet access, etc, etc. Blah blah, blah.

My 9 year old daughter simply does not need to see what's at "dicks.com" when she's trying to figure out how much the new Crocks cost at Dicks Sporting goods.

I'm not in favor of censorship, but I am in favor of categorization. There's no good reason not to have a .xxx or .porn root domain.

There are reasons we don't allow people to do certain things until certain ages:

- Smoke, drink, drive, join the military etc.

 

[sin_loki]

what is the best program? None. what is the best way to handle it? better parenting as per previous posts.

Since i am of the younger crowd, most anti anything software is defeatable in some form or way, because in have done it one or twice (maybe more...). one thing to remember is the computer is only as smart as its user(s) and it is a known fact that most of the "younger" generation are more computer literate then there parents but there parents that are getting on the tech bandwagon. gotta love MS DOS, basic and windows infallible boot disk :nerdsmiley:

with all that outta the way, forticlient is a SOB to get unlocked, and can be used on a activated on specific user accounts. so if you use it too, you can roam free (not unless your wife lock you down, if she does give me a holler)

 

[JasonB]

Good parenting prevents kids from walking into the local convince store and picking up a case of beer, pack of smokes, and Playboy. Then good parenting should have no problem controlling where and how kids surf the net. Ya right, put the protection on their computer. Heck my wife blocks my computer, for some reason she equates surfing porn 12hrs a day with being addicted!

Using a program to protect your children when you can't be there is good parenting. Using the program so you don't have to be there, well that is something else.