Computer Surveillance

[arstacey]

Can anyone recommend a good computer surveillance program? We need to be able to have something installed that will monitor everything done on a computer. We want to record screenshots, log keystrokes, record chats, web sites visited, and so on. Would like something that stores its data in a database and is deployable to over 100 computers. Anyone have any experience with this?

[TheCheekMaster]

yep, but why the deployment?

[arstacey]

we want to begin monitoring all the company computers since the associates can't seem to follow policy on their own.

[oracle128]

What you want to do is monitor network/internet traffic, not keystrokes. This is a lot easier, a lot safer (you're not at the mercy of trusting the client PCs), and it's more on the legal side (because you're not capturing people's private data (eg. online banking details)) than trying to record every single thing that occurs on every user's PC. Plus, you won't be using as much storage as you would doing it your proposed way (logs of every keystroke, sites visited, plus thousands of screenshots a day, would get quite large). Be aware that in most regions you are required by law to notify users they are being monitored. I think certain US states allow you to monitor clandestinely. But you should inform users anyway out of common courtesy (telling users outright that they'll be monitored is a lot safer than the backlash you'll get if you hide it).

As to the technical aspect of how you do it, it depends on what networking hardware is available to you, eg routers, domain controllers, ISA, etc.

[arstacey]

We would not be doing it in secret. In fact, they would be signing a form acknowledging their understanding that we would be doing so. What we are looking for is something along the lines of spector pro, but maybe not so expensive on a per machine basis. It reports everything to a central database from which we can run just about any type of report we need.

Unfortunately, they seem to be designed with a smaller business in mind as the best deal they could offer me was $69 per license if we order at least 10. Ordering 120 made no impact on the price and the $69 was only $10 off regular price. I am trying to find something a little more mid-size business friendly who deals in volume licensing. Not someone I have to buy 120 boxed copies of their software from.

[blueboy68]

This might be something to look at I think it has most things you want..

http://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=4306-3&affiliate=15602