Finding out where someone has been on the computer

[Phrank]

Hello,

Aside from the Temporary Internet Files folder, is there a way that
one can determine where someone has been on a computer, or even if
someone has been using the computer? Unfortunately, I've got a
somewhat computer savvy and rebellious teenager, and I need to be able
to find out this information (I've tried various password protection
in the past, but other members of the family don't adhere to it very
well at all and leave everything open and logged on all the time
anyway, so that doesn't work for us.) I'd appreciate any ideas and
suggestions. Thanks.

Frank

 

[Alias]

Hello,

Aside from the Temporary Internet Files folder, is there a way that
one can determine where someone has been on a computer, or even if
someone has been using the computer? Unfortunately, I've got a
somewhat computer savvy and rebellious teenager, and I need to be able
to find out this information (I've tried various password protection
in the past, but other members of the family don't adhere to it very
well at all and leave everything open and logged on all the time
anyway, so that doesn't work for us.) I'd appreciate any ideas and
suggestions. Thanks.

Frank

Your problem isn't with the computer but with your relationship with your
teenager. If you don't want your kid to use the computer, there are a
number of things you can do:

1. Remove the power chord.
2. Remove the memory
3. Remove the mouse
4. Keyboard
etc.

Alias

 

[Guest]

Hello,

Aside from the Temporary Internet Files folder, is there a way that
one can determine where someone has been on a computer, or even if
someone has been using the computer? Unfortunately, I've got a
somewhat computer savvy and rebellious teenager, and I need to be able
to find out this information (I've tried various password protection
in the past, but other members of the family don't adhere to it very
well at all and leave everything open and logged on all the time
anyway, so that doesn't work for us.) I'd appreciate any ideas and
suggestions. Thanks.

Frank

 

[Hay]

There was a program call "Iopus Starr", if you can find
it, it does just that. It monitors everything that is
done on the system, keyboard strokes, web sites, chat,
etc. You may have to purchase it.

 

[Kevin]

You don't need any software or hardware to fix your problem. Move your
computer into a common area, like the living room or kitchen, and let your
headstrong teenager know that you will be monitoring their computer access.
If they don't like that idea, inform them that they are not living in a
democracy but rather in a dictatorship. Your word is absolute law. Period.
If that fails, try beating them repeatedly with a length of rubber hose,
tying them up and locking them in the basement for days at a time without
food or water and telling all their friends that they are gay. That usually
gets their attention.

 

[Phrank]

Thanks for the advice, but I truly understand the problems in my
relationship with my son. The computer is already in a common area,
and my son already knows that I am monitoring. I don't want to go
into the details of our relationship; it's not overly great, but I
guarantee I'm not a pushover. The problem I have with this computer
being in the common area is with schedules. My wife is a nurse and
works nights, I work days and go to school in the evenings, and my son
is oftentimes here when we're not. My wife just plain forgets to log
off when I had the password setup going, so that proved simply to be a
lot of work and effort on my part and no problem whatsoever for my
son.

Back to my original question, I'm not looking for any addon software
are hardware, I was simply wondering if there was a log or something
somewhere in Windows that would still give me a clue or a hint that
the computer was even used at a given time. Temporary Internet Files
folder is the best place, but if that gets 'cleaned' then the only
thing I have to go on is the fact that it's empty, and I'm the only
one using the computer that takes care of that stuff. But it doesn't
give me a time that it was emptied (as far as I know). However, there
are still subfolders in the Content.IE folder, and those have
associated times. Are those times the last time that something was
entered into that folder? Again, is there anything existing in
Windows that would give me a clue as to when someone was on the
computer? Thanks

Frank

 

[Johnny Lingo]

I can't remember if this works on XP home, but:

Start>Run>GPEDIT.MSC>Computer Configuration>Windows Settings>Security
Settings>Local Policies>Audit Policy then selct from list in right pane.
Or
Start>Run>SECPOL.MSC>Local Policies>Audit Policy then selct from list in
right pane.

 

[Phrank]

Outstanding, it's there. Ok, now how do I check out the audits?
Thanks!!!

Frank

 

[Johnny Lingo]

Event Viewer
Right Click "My Computer" and select "Manage" Then go to Event Viewer

 

[Phrank]

Thanks Johnny!!

Event Viewer
Right Click "My Computer" and select "Manage" Then go to Event Viewer