How To Track Internet use

Bob -

Sorry for the lack of info. Here's what I'm tryig to achieve. I have two teenagers that use the home network. We've taught them internet safety but I want to moniter what sites they visit as a check. I'd like something beyond seatching the temporary internet files and IE history.

Thanks for your help!

First, check your router to see if it supports site logging and password protection. If so that's a quick and easy solution that covers all connected computers.

Second, look to your firewall...some support password protection to prevent unauthorized changes...that may cover the clearing of the logs too.

Third, consider something along the lines of CyberPatrol. It has a stealth mode so that your kids would never know it's installed and it automatically logs all activity (including chats), which is password-protected. For now you could opt to have it block nothing, but if you find your kids 'slipping' you could block the content and have CyberPatrol display the standard browser 404 as if the site is down, not blocked.

Hope this helps,
John

I noticed that you let them use internet explorer, which I belive is a mistake. Please switch to Firefox or Opera and avoid the headaches of spyware that kids seem to attract to windows machines.

What is firefox and opera? And, where could you get it?

Opera and Firefox are two excellent alternatives to IE that generally have had fewer problems when it comes to surfing safely. You can obtain them for free:

http://www.opera.com

http://www.getfirefox.com

Either that or keep yourself protected like you would have to anyway (firewall + anti-virus + anti-spyware) and run in restricted mode while using Internet Explorer and avoid the headaches of installing another browser, slower surfing, high memory usage and sites that don't open well.

What you are suggesting here I believe to be illigal in Denmark, where I live. I sure hope so! No people - no matter their age - should be spied upon without a permit from the police based on suspicion of criminal acts.

Besides that I seriously doubt that you would like to be spied upon yourself - especially in this systematic way. Your children have a right to have their own privacy.

That?s just my opinion anyway.

/Mathias

Numerous countries have laws prohibiting you from installing monitoring software on the computers of others except in certain circumstances due to privacy and security concerns. However, he is the rightful owner and administrator of the computers which reside in his own home. As such he has the right to monitor what is done on his network. Parents monitor their children's actions, libraries monitor their patrons' actions, etc. and it's all perfectly legal. I'm not up on the laws in Denmark, but don't think, and certainly hope, that that would not be illegal there either.

Personally, I know my actions are monitored at work, when I use another person's network, etc. Because of this I never do any banking, write personal e-mails, etc that I don't want others to intercept...I wait until I get home to do that. In the case of children I believe that parents have the right to limit and oversee what their children do, though I am an advocate of being straight forward and telling them that their actions are monitored. The ultimate decision, though, is up to the parents.

John

Okay, so perhaps it is not illegal to monitor actions made on a computer you own. You are probably right about that. But in the examples you give, I asume that people using these computers know that they are being monitored, and I believe that it is - if not illigal - then at least morally questionable to monitor a person without letting the person know the he/she is being monitored. Reverse the idea and think about the smart youngster monitoring his parent use of a computer - now I don?t think the parents would like that at all .

If you really think you need to control your children in this manner, then be straight about it and tell them. It?s their home too and all people should have a right to privacy in their home. Can we perhaps agree on that?

Mathias

In my case I was not initially told that actions were monitored...they never said anything and it was not in the 'network agreement' that I signed. However, I assumed something would be in place and my suspicions were confirmed when I ran a scan of all active software, processes, and ports. They acknowledged it when asked and said they didn't care if people knew, but still don't disclose it up front. I wish they were forthcoming with that information (I believe it's only right to be straight forward about it) but I share the info when others question it.

John

That's a very good point. Sometimes parents think "OK this is my house", yes it is your house but only when the children are grown up. Children need their own privacy at their home.


Another issue in the parent control depends on what parents believe in and for what range? If a parent is very conservative, does he have to right to block anything beyond being conservative even an openion for instance. We know some parents go that far in restricting their own kids.

This was my way of thinking out loud

Thanks.
Mo

on employer-owned computers, John.

-- Dave K.

The parents are the network owners; they can view, limit, block any/ all content that they feel is unsuitable for their children. Now- if they are over 18/ of adult age, that's where the legality comes into play.

Here is a free tracking tool that works well. It is called Purple Dude Internet Watch. This is the link: http://www.purpledude.com/iw.php.