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[2007] Computer program to monitor kids at home

Tia

Tia

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Hi,
I thought I had saved, but can't find now, a past thread on suggested programs to install on a home computer to monitor your kids computer usage etc. it works in the background. Have a new computer and want to install something easy to use so I can keep an eye on a busy teen.
Thanks.
 
I haven't looked at others, but www.cyberpatrol.com is one that I like and use with my 12 and 6 yr olds. I think it costs about $35 a year. Downloadable from website.

Easy to use. Can monitor and limit by time of day (5-7PM), amount of time used - total hrs, and sites visited. Blocks complete "genres" of websites like porno, gambling, chats and so forth, or specific sites that you list. Prevents Googling of inappropriate words or topics.



Regards.
Joe
 
Another choice to consider

I have been using bsafe with great success. I think its about $50.00 a year.
I have it on 5 of my computers and I think it was about $125.00 for them all.

The tech support has been great for me.
I emailed them one nite at 10:00 P.M. and a techie got back to me in about 15 mins that late at nite.

It blocks groups, as well as portals, indivdual sites that you tell it, ect.

Go to the website and read up on it.


http://www.bsafehome.com


Joel :clap:
 
RichM said:
I've used Spector Pro by www.spectorsoft.com with great results.
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Click to expand...

Thanks everyone, now to decided.

Rich I was looking at Spector and Spector Pro, what doesn't the simpler version do that the other does that you like?
 
I use Safeyes to block unexpected porn pop-ups. Some of the myspace, facebook, xanga type of sites have a number of kids who think it's funny if porn suddenly pops up. It can also be used to limit hours of internet access as well as other stuff. It can send you an email or text message if someone tries to access forbidden stuff a certain number of times.

I have it on my desktop but have not been able to successfully install it on my laptop. Tried several times. Safeyes won't allow internet access until it is finalized and something on my laptop won't let safeyes access the internet in order to be finalized! I have tried shutting off everything I can find.
 
I believe the main difference between eBlaster and Spector Pro is the periodic recording of screen snapshots. I found this useful because when in AIM, it can go into Secure mode, especially after transferring a picture or some other file, and then Spector Pro (at least my version) stopped logging the IM session due to the Secure mode. But, with the periodic screenshots, I could still see what was being discussed. Spector Pro also logs internet search keywords,

Spector Pro also allows you to go directly to the machine and view the logged info. I believe eBlaster only supports sending periodic reports via e-mail.

Here's a comparison chart:

http://www.spectorsoft.com/products/compare.html

I believe most of the other products recommended here are mainly intended for the purpose of content-filtering with some monitoring capability whereas Spector Pro is mainly intended for monitoring with some blocking capabilities.


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I put Spector Pro on the main family computer and eBlaster on the laptop my son had is his bedroom. Spector Pro will only give you information on the computer it's installed on. eBlaster will record info on a different computer and send an email to you about the contents. The both work in the background. If I go in the Explore program and searched for Spector or Blaster, nothing would show up.

Personally, I think the programs work okay. They do record emails but very often the letters are not correct. I can still get the jist of the message, it's just not in completely normal English.

For me, it was money well spent as I found out some things about my kids that I wouldn't have known before.
 
northwoodsgal said:
Spector Pro will only give you information on the computer it's installed on.
Click to expand...

This is not actually true. You can install the Spector (Viewer only) on another computer and view the Spector logfiles from another computer on your network as long as you know where the files are located and have shared, network access to the folder. So, if you have multiple kids with multiple computers and multiple Spector licenses, you could view all their computers' logfiles from one central computer.

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Harold, I tend to agree with you. I've raised four kids and I've done my best to protect them from x-rated popups and in general adult themed or violent websites. I would not, however, think to read their email and IMs. Besides, if you've ever seen the drivel that teens write to each other, you'd be bored to tears in minutes. ;)

Deb
 
When our 16-year-old niece was living with us, it was the meetings she was setting via e-mail, IM and telephone up to buy drugs for the weekend that were of most importance to us. Fortunately, through our monitoring efforts, we were able to thwart all her attempts and catch her in numerous lies about her whereabouts and evening destinations. We finally had to have her move back with her parents as it was not safe, in our opinion, for her to (attempt to) be involved in things like that around our 3, 5 and 7 year old kids.


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With cell phones and internet the outside dangers are just seconds away, it's not like when I grew up in the 70's. These dangers come into your home to your kids without you having a clue. It's odd how kids think they know someone who they have never met, but someone says they know so and so so they chat.... it is so false .
 
When our 16-year-old niece was living with us, it was the meetings she was setting via e-mail, IM and telephone up to buy drugs for the weekend that were of most importance to us. Fortunately, through our monitoring efforts, we were able to thwart all her attempts and catch her in numerous lies about her whereabouts and evening destinations.
Click to expand...

Well in that situation it is necessary. I feel you should just use some judgement on your kids. You can tell sometimes when this is needed, and when it's a waste of money. If you raised your kids right, then this prolly isn't necessary. I do agree that it is a parental choice but I feel that it isn't necessary. There is also ways around blocks most of the time. When I was in High School (Last year), some kids who weren't computer geeks found ways around the school's blocks using websites specialized to get around them. I knew the school's tech guy and he said there was no way to disable these sites. So if your kid knows anything about computers (which most do), and by word of mouth, they could possibly get by it. I never had anything like this and i turned out pretty good.

Also, If you block your kids from this type of stuff (porn, violence), it will just make them more curious when they get out on their own (college).

Kids will always be curious. They hear stuff from their freinds and peers all the time. You can't shelter them forever. If you do, they may not turn out to be the most sociable people.

Just use your judgement.
 
My use of Spector had absolutely nothing to do with blocking anything and I don't even believe that blocking content was an issue in this thread. Per the subject, the OP asked about "Computer program to monitor kids at home."


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I heard that works realy well!!!!! haha
northwoodsgal said:
I put Spector Pro on the main family computer and eBlaster on the laptop my son had is his bedroom. Spector Pro will only give you information on the computer it's installed on. eBlaster will record info on a different computer and send an email to you about the contents. The both work in the background. If I go in the Explore program and searched for Spector or Blaster, nothing would show up.

Personally, I think the programs work okay. They do record emails but very often the letters are not correct. I can still get the jist of the message, it's just not in completely normal English.

For me, it was money well spent as I found out some things about my kids that I wouldn't have known before.
Click to expand...
 
Please note that this is a 2007 thread brought out of mothballs by a newbie who is likely to be setting up to spam us...
 
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