Kids and Computers.

[DEFYANT]

So everyone in the house has a computer. Younglings have the necessary parental blocks and firewalls...yada yada.. But I want more.

The best "net nany" is me - the parent. However, we all know if you stand over them, they will be on their best behavior. It's when you walk away the trouble begins. Not that I dont trust them - I do. They have all the "tools" on right and wrong... I'd just like one more added step in monitoring their internet / computer activities.

Long story short, I'd like to watch what happens on the screens of the kids computers remotely. To see on my screen what they see on theirs. I've poked around on the computers, but being better under the hood of my car than under the hood of a computer, I'm liable to break something.

One issue I can foresee is, my computer is running Vista. The others are Windows 7.

Any ideas?

[Breadfan]

You could run a VNC service on the PC. The kids would see it's there and could in theory shut it down, but it would allow you to login from a VNC viewer on another PC and watch/interact.

You can also use Windows remote tools built in, but that requires user confirmation on the receiving end, so they' know you're watching. With VNC it's been awhile since I've used it but don't think they know when you are or are not connected.

http://www.realvnc.com/ or http://www.tightvnc.com/ are version I have used. You put the server on the PC you want to view and the viewer on the one you connect from.

Another optoin, if you have a router like a linksys wireless router, you can turn on logging and it will record all URL's visited from a PC. You can review it nightly. Also, you can enable access controls on a router, such as dates and times the PC is allowed through to the Internet. The controls vary based on the router you have, but the user manual should be helpful.

Of course, there are ways around all of this and resourceful kids will pickup the tech easily...VNC can be shut down, and even if you password protect your router, hitting the reset button the back will return it to factory specs. :) Of course, then you'll know someone was messing with it.

[Stoneblue]

Key logger.

[ctrlraven]

Yep Key logger, I'll have to find the name of the one I used but it records all keystrokes, websites visited, chat logs (from such aol and aim instant messages) and takes a screen shot every so many seconds or minutes which you can adjust.

A key logger can be made to be invisible and would require you to press something like Ctrl L to bring up the password log-in to get into the program if the program is running which unless someone knows it's running they'll never know. A nice feature of the one I use is that it allows you to name the program/file.exe when installing it so only you know what it truly is so one of the younglings can't go to the Task Manager and end the task simply by knowing it's file name.

I want to say it's called BPK Key logger or "Perfect Keylogger". Another feature is that you can have it set up to email you daily logs of what it records.

If interested I can see if I still have my cracked version and just give you a copy of it. I'll have to check to see if it works on Windows 7.

Here is the website for purchasing it
http://www.blazingtools.com/bpk.html

[CRUZTAKER]

Net nanny becomes a real pita when you are being called by the kids every ten minutes....
"Hey dad!!!...I need a password to continue to this site...."

I tried it and lost my mind the first day.
Now he, at age 8, has his own laptop, but his user is set with only guest credentials. I am the admin and password protected.

True, he can surf wherever he chooses, but he cannot download nor install anything such as add-ons and active-x controls. Things that cause malware and virus'. Rebuilding the computer is too time consuming.

I just make him use it in the dining room where we can see his activity.

Besides....at 8 years old, he is a way off from forums and porn sites.
Boobs still make him go ewww :puke:

[Stoneblue]

http://download.cnet.com/Actual-Keylogger/3000-2092_4-10414894.html?tag=mncol
It's free. I trust CNET for downloads. There are others on the site so if you don't like this one try another. I like the ones that plug inline to the keyboard but they can be unplugged. Most also record keystrokes even when not saved or sent. Stealthy!

[Stoneblue]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10418359-93.html
Kind of shocking, google searches by childrens age. 7 and under porn rates #4. Age 8 to 18 #4 is sex. Not that it applies to your or my children. But 15 yo boys seem to be my best PC repair customers much to their parents dismay. Trust, But Verify.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

thank god my parents weren't like you

[Stoneblue]

Oh you might be surprised! And no I don't monitor their PCs, I'm way too lazy...

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

My parents to this day can barely even turn a computer on, and I am well aware of what I was up to on the internet as a youngin. I had America online way back when it was version 1.5 for DOS, before AOL even had the internet. I was the first generation that really started using the internet back when that was a big deal

[DEFYANT]

Thanks for most of the feedback here. I went with www.remote-control-pc.com

It enables me to view their screens in real time, and take control if there is a problem.

Best part is, it was free.

I am looking into the router and key logging for the oldest youngling.

[n00bkiller944]

Dearrrrr goddddd... How will they ever be able to watch porn? ;) Sorry if you don't like my humor but if my parents did that stuff to me I would have been much more likely to revolt in other more "real life" ways.