Computer Monitoring Software Tips
Read these 10 Computer Monitoring Software Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Computer Monitoring tips and hundreds of other topics.
Stealth Mode - Invisible Monitoring
Stealth Mode is a feature that comes built in to some computer surveillance software that will allow you to monitor a computer without being noticed. No matter where the user might look, a Stealth Mode monitoring program will hide itself from all suspected places a program might show up. For example, if one was to look, there would be no trace of a Stealth Mode program in Add/Remove Programs, no folder in the Programs Files directory, nothing located in the System Tray and no evidence in the Task Manager by press CTRL+ALT+DEL.
Note that not all parental monitoring software comes with a stealth feature. If this is a feature that you would like or that is required please make sure that you read the description of the software before purchasing or downloading.
Parental Monitoring Software
Parental Monitoring Software is software developed for parents and designed to reject unwanted websites not suited for children. Certain programs may screen websites by content, website address or site rating.
Parents can install this software knowingly to the user or unknowingly and monitor their activity; web page surfing, chat communication and downloads.
Some monitoring programs will allow you to monitor in real-time from a remote location. This means that you can physically watch the monitored user as they surf the web without them ever knowing. Certain programs will also allow you to configure it to send your result based on the criteria you provided, to an email address of you choice or a text message to you cellular phone.
Different Types of Computer Monitoring
There are many different types of Monitoring software packages available today that allow for many different applications to be monitored. An example of some of the packages are:
- Email Monitoring Software
- Chat Monitoring Software
- Web page Monitoring Software
- Keystroke Monitoring Software
Remote Computer Monitoring
Monitoring children by way of software applications can be a daunting task. Different commercially available software programs offer widely varying monitoring possibilities. The best monitoring programs will offer an array of features.
The most flexible monitoring software gives you the ability to monitor from a remote location in real time from any computer with an Internet connection. Remote monitoring means that you do not need to physically access to the computer you want to monitor. You can monitor your children, spouse or significant other while you're vacationing, on a business trip or just in another part of the house.
Monitoring Multiple Computers
Before you purchase an Internet monitoring software package make sure that there are no limitations to the number of computers you can monitor. If you already have a monitoring package, check to see if there are any limitations with it.
Next, if you are having the captured data sent to you via email, find out if you can set a unique identifier for each computer in the monitoring software so you can distinguish which results are from which computer. If you cannot, maybe you can set up a couple of free unique email addresses and have each computer send its data to it's own email address.
Why Do We Monitor Computers?
Usually computers are a surveillance target because of the large amount of personal and private information that people can store on them. Another reason computers are good targets is because of the many means of communication methods computers allow today
Anyone who can gain access to or remove a computer can obtain information that is stored on it. If someone is able to install software and/or a device on a computer system, they can turn the computer into a surveillance device. With the right software to monitor computer usage identifying user activity and tracking what is being done on the computer become a much easier task.
Computer Monitoring Software
There are many different uses for Computer Monitoring software. Some of these uses are as follows:
- Email Monitoring - Find out what types of email are being sent and to who.
- Instant Message Monitoring - Track what types of conversation are being had from both parties.
- Webpage tracking - Track Webpage surfing to determine what types of site are being looked at.
- Keyword Monitoring - be alerted when certain keyword are being typed, or being received.
Drawbacks of Computer Monitoring
Be prepared! Computer monitoring can be as damaging as it can be useful. Understand the reasons for needing to have and use computer monitoring software and be prepared for the results. If you are trying to investigate some mysterious activity that is going on behind your back, on your computer, be prepared to see material such as emails, chat messages and websites that may be hurtful.
Employers need to be prepared to possibly lose an employee or employees because of invasion of privacy. Long term employees are hard to keep and cost more to find.
As a parent, have a game plan ready when dealing with your children about computer monitoring. Remember, sometimes your children feel as though you are out to ruin their lives rather than protect them. When it is the bottom of the ninth, bases are loaded, and your child is batting clean-up, have a good curve-ball ready and avoid losing the game!
Free Monitoring Software
A quick search on the Internet for free monitoring software will show you that there are many options to choose from. There are many websites that contain shareware and freeware software titles with descriptions, screenshots and user rating of their software.
Shareware - the use of a program for a limited amount of time usually with a condition that the user pays a fee for continued use and support.
Freeware - software that is made available, free of charge. If you are not interested in paying for a copy of computer monitoring software here are some tips on finding a free one that will do the trick. Read the features that are available with a commonly purchased monitoring software program and make note of them. Use these to help compare to software titles that are available for free online. Read the reviews of the free software before downloading them. See what kinds of experiences other people have had and whether not they would recommend the software. If there are screenshots of the program interface available, take a peek. See if the program looks user-friendly or completely complicated!
Monitoring Software - What Should I Pay?
A quick search on the Internet will show you that you can expect to pay anywheres from $30 - $50 for a Parental Monitoring software. Some programs will allow for unlimited usage of the software with a 1 time purchase which means you can install it on as many computer as you wish. Some programs you can purchase for a 1 time fee however may only come with a limited number of licenses. Finally, some programs may operate on a subscription basis which means that you would be given pricing options based on a period of time. For example, a subscription option might be $50 per year, or it might be cheaper if you sign up for more than a year. Again this is only an example.
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| William Pirraglia |
