Which program??

I'm trying to find a program to track what my kids are doing on the computer. I'm a strong believer in the phrase, "In God we trust, all others we monitor."

I thought spyware was a bad thing to have, but from looking in the CoverOps section that is pretty much all I saw that fits. I want to know what they are emailing out and who they are sending it out to.

I tried doing a search to see if this type of question has been asked before but did not find anything. But I may have been looking the wrong way.

If anyone can point me in the right direction I'd appreciate the help.

Thanks.

 

Over 20 yrs of service in the Navy and I'm labeled a "Private E-2"

LOL I love it.

 

Why don't you have a heart-to-heart with your kids? Tell them what you are concerned about and WHY it concerns you. I've read that people are around 75% more likely to do what you ask if you tell them why you are asking them to do it.

The reasons are many to do this. For one, it will tell your kids that you are concerned about them, and care what happens to them. (finding out secondhand they are being spied on doesn't quite warm the heart like this would)
Secondly, it might bring into light a real problem they might become involved with. Stalking, predators, scams, etc.

Because while there are programs you can do this with, there are also programs that will expose this that THEY can use. It's really a no-win situation when you go covert-ops. What if they find out what you are doing and just decide to go down to the local library? And if they do do something that might be the start of trouble, why would they turn to you for help? Because you are their parent? I think that parenting is more than biological heritage, it is the showing of love, trust, and understanding. While you may be feeling these, you are expressing something totally different.

 

whether it is good or bad to monitor your kids, if my parents used to monitor me when i lived with them i would never forgive them for it, but without going off on a rant about that...

there is no replacement for supervision of a child, especially if they are younger. if the child is like <12 years old, maybe just watch them and make a rule they can't go online unless you are there. if they are older then that, i would think it may be time to start trusting them on the internet, i know they are being exposed to a lot of things this way and it is your job as a parent to restrict what you do/don't want them to see, but if they want to, they WILL access these sources, either at a friends house, library, school, etc.

i know i wouldn't want someone spying on me, not because i am trying to hide my activity online, but its a sense of privacy.

ok it went into a rant, enough of that, how old are the children/child you are monitoring? different software might be more useful at a different age, let me know and i'll give you my best opinion of software

 

I'll agree with the other 2 posts about spying on your kids. However, I am a single father and I know exactly where you are coming from. I requested a link in the "Interesting Websites" forum. The response I got led to a website that not only advertises what you are asking, but may give you more information about your concerns. I do understand your concerns, and I am not trying to be at all critical. The post is titled: Request for kid friendly link. Hopefully, this will help. I know kids can't be supervised every second and it may help "track down" any Malware they might accidently download. This was my purpose for educating them about safe-surfing.

All the best

 

Most IT pros share the views of the first two posters, in fact. I agree with them because they sound informed. If you are conservative it may be easy to dismiss their views as young kids ranting before they actually become parents. But they know what they are talking about. Just do a little more research before implementing too strict a monitoring system regarding computers. Rant over. You can put the computer in an open area of the house, instead of their room, like a living room or den, where the child is less likely to do bad stuff because mom or dad may walk by at any moment. There are drawback such as children do homework better if the computer is in their own room.

 

Just to add to this, most kids will find out ways to beat any monitoring program you put on the computer. Computer-savvy parents can, however, use the router, with good results. Programs like CyberPatrol don't actually work, the kid from The Family Guy could beat that thing with a little effort. Look at other solutions besides putting a program on the kids computer to monitor him.

 

Well, there is only one computer in the house and it is in the living room, with five people in the house that use the computer it wouldn't be fair to put it in one persons room.

I understand everyones concern about how the kids may feel about being monitored. But I think it is the best way to resolve the issues around using the computer, unless I lock it up and only allow it to be used when I am home. I think that would cause more problems then using a program that would do what I want.

My kids are that computer savy, sometimes I wish they were.

I thought the idea of the program being covert was so they wouldn't know it was there. I was looking for something that would operate in the background that they wouldn't see when they were online.

I know there are programs out there to do what I want, which is why I came here to find one.

I have the therapist waiting to help deal with the fallout from my prying eyes.

 

pls answer

 

Computer pros (famous ones like Leo Laporte) say all the time if you put a monitoring program on the computer, the kids today can easily find them. Even if they're in stealth mode. When they say otherwise, like recommend Cyberpatrol, they are usually appeasing somebody or plugging a product.

You want to filter what websites they go to, clearly. Try using your router. Filter what websites they go to and read reports. You may have a false sense of security, your kid should always end up one step ahead of their parental admins unless the parental admin is good. So if you really do this, do it right, or risk things like false sense of security and resentment (though all teens rebel something, why not something legit?)

Good luck. Ain't as easy as buying a program. Security is a process, not a product. The best computer security expert in the world I think is Bruce Schneier, a great read is Digital Security in a Networked World. Gives the reader a good idea of what computer security is (a process) and is not (a product). Not to rant, I'm just saying learn how to filter the internet using your router, and be good at it, before attempting to filter his internet.

 

OK, whatever, but remember who dug the hole you're going to be staring out of... What is the point of this whole excercise? What are you going to do with the information you gather? Sit on it and stew? You are setting yourself up for a big ****ing mess. ****ing therapist... my ass.

I don't think you know how much hate a child can have for their parent. Setting your own kids up....

Trapdoor spider for a parent
Spiders get stepped on, squished, and forgotten.

 

That was completely out of line man.

The poster asked for opinions on which program would best fit his situation, not opinions about "spying" on your kids.

I'm sorry that I don't have program suggestions for ya, just needed to point out that this is a "computer help" forum. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

Read beanier's response - didn't comment. Read suesman's response - have to comment.

Suesman is totally correct!

Salty25 - did you browser search the site I suggested?

Have you looked through all the MG's programs?

Also, you might want to reply to darkhorizon. He seems knowledgeable and willing to help - minus the sermon.

Good luck man,
Parenting is the hardest job out there.

 

[EDIT]Unecessary...inapproriate...unhelpful reply removed. This is a tech support forum...if you don't have a legitimate, helpful response to the thread starters question don't reply at all. We are here to help, not toss around childish comments. Additionally, watch the language. Vulgarity is unnecessary and only makes you look bad.[/EDIT]

 

Which is why it shouldn't be left up to a computer program... Has he talked to his kids? What about this suggests parenting?

 

Agreed. But it was the nature of your post that may be a little disconcerting.

I'll share a recent experience (last night).

My 11 yr. old daughter was online late last night. Someone IMed her. It was an 18 yr. old male. She told me immediately what was going on. When he asked N/A/L. She responded: None of your business. I don't know you and I'm not giving out my information. Ofcourse, I wanted to respond to him personally, but I quietly observered her handling the situation. I trust her judgement. Especially now that I have seen how she handled herself (Eventually blocking him from her list). It was hard to just sit by and watch, but I can't make all her decisions. She handled it and I'm satisfied.

The point was: This is a support forum, not a place to criticise others. I understand both points of view, add my 2 cents - but only if I am giving an answer to a question, and I try (not always successfully) to remain objective.

In the immortal words of Warmfire:

Peace

 

Learning As I Go-

I did look at the site you recommended, or the one that was recommended to you. Either way, I saw a program on there that was of interest to me. Thanks for the tip.

There wasn't a price on the program so I had to email them.

Darkhorizon-

My kids range in age from 16 - 22. Each one has their own thing they are into doing.

My concern is with the one that will give out the type of information any parent don't want them pass around. Sure I can block sites with the router, but that would punish the many for what the few does. I know society pretty much does that now.

I was able in the past to stop the actions I didn't like, such as the good old porn surfing by showing that I knew it was going on. Does it still happen? I'm sure it does but I know it's not here in my home. I can't watch them all day long, but if they know I'm watching then I can curtail or even stop the action. I know, the only way to make sure of stopping anything is to tie them up and put em in a closet, but there are laws against that stuff.

If beanier wants to come live in my home for a couple of days and tell me about what is b/s and what is not... come on over. I don't have to lie or pull wool over anyone eyes; if you don't like or believe what I say then don't read it.

I have to decide how to raise my kids. I lost that manual that came with them. Misplaced it when I was strutting around the hospital over the joy.

I wasn't looking for a one stop solution, just something to assist in the battle.

 

Check out our [size=-1]Covert Ops [/size]section[size=-1]

[/size]

 

I don't know what ISP you use, but I am still using my 6 mo. free AOL. It has parental controls which can be set to each user. If they are trying to access something that might be objectionable, they are prompted to "get parent's permission". The includes my screen name, as well as, my password. Also, the rule is: you can't have an account with anyone without giving me your password. I haven't had to use it yet, but if I want - I can log on as them and look at what they've been doing. It is more of a safety issue than anything else.

 

this page is all you need to know, take your pick:

http://www.spyarsenal.com/download.html

and i appoligize if i ranted to much earlier

 

don't like our covert ops section? we have a much larger list than that

 

actually, i haven't been to the covert ops section

*runs to check it out*

 

Always check our downloads , we're bound to have it. If not, submit it

 

Can someone explain to me how you block sites with a reuter? I have a number of people who stay in my home at times and I would really like to keep certain sites unavailable, not just porn but gambling, and just questionable sites in general. I have picked up trackers and such in the past just from going to look at coupons. I don't want to spy on where people go, just keep my computer from going there to begin with. Thanks, icemaiden

 

i have tried to deal with this problem recently. there are a number of problems with trying to impose control. the programs i looked at, didn't allow different levels of control, so more or less everything becomes blocked. opening their own limited accounts produced the same effects. son could not play on line games, hubby could not download music, etc. i always open a guest account for visitors though, and suggest you do the same. (presuming your system is anything like mine) much aloha and good luck