Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/63981
Advertisement Why Monitoring Software? By Madison Police Department Technology Committee Today, many homes have more than one computer. Despite this fact, multiple indi- viduals often share a single PC. Ultimately, the computer owner is the person that is legally responsible for all software installa- tions, music downloads and other contents stored on the computer. But monitoring software is a great way to help stay aware of what is happening on a machine as well as mitigate any potential legal problems. What to Look for in Monitoring Software Online monitoring: The software should have the ability to detect when a PC user accesses a social networking website like Twitter or Facebook. Some monitoring applications can capture blog posts, user- names and even passwords. Recording the transcripts of conversations that occur via chat and instant messaging clients is a fre- quently sought-after feature. Additional elements to consider are the tracking of file downloads, email correspondences, email attachments and web-based email. Parents especially might appreciate the ability to keep track of their child's inter- net access, filter content, block websites and log chat conversations as monitoring apps may help protect from internet pred- ators and cyber-bullies. PC monitoring and administration: Computer owners may want the ability to control the PC remotely. Common remote commands include the ability to disable or enable software, restart the computer or freeze the mouse. Filtering and blocking: Ensure the moni- toring solution you select has some type of filtering and/or blocking capabilities. These components can prevent users from executing applications, accessing pornog- raphy and even social networking websites. Reporting: Monitoring applications can log enormous amounts of information. A badly designed reporting interface can make even the most robust applications useless. Reports should be easy to navigate. It is common for the software to have mul- tiple built-in report features as well as the ability to perform custom searches. THIS MUCH POWER COULD GO TO YOUR HEAD. ©2012 Charter Communications. Limited-time offer, valid to qualified residential customers only who have not subscribed to applicable service within the previous 30 days & have no outstanding obligation to Charter. *Purchase of additional services required; price rolls to $29.99/mo in months 13-24; standard rates apply after 24 months. Available Internet speeds may vary by address; small percent of customers will receive lower than advertised speeds. Taxes, fees, surcharges, equipment, install extra. Service is subject to all applicable service terms & conditions, which are subject to change. Services not available in all areas. Restrictions apply. PC Magazine Report 9/11. March 2012 This cyber safety message is brought to you by Charter bravamagazine.com 29 WE'VE DOUBLED OUR INTERNET UPLOAD SPEEDS. We know the Internet is a two-way street, so we've increased both our upload and download speeds. Now you can upload 50 pictures in four-and-a-half minutes, or upload a 90 MB video in four minutes. No wonder PC Magazine ranked us the #1 Internet Service Provider in the Nation.