Computer Accountability
WHAT IS ACCOUNTABILITY?
As the name implies, accountability software is when movement on your computer is monitored. The level of monitoring varies. The concept of which family members or employees know “someone is watching them” – someone who either cares for them or will fire them for doing certain activities online, will prevent people from doing anything a filter might miss.
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
There are several different options:
WEBCHAVER:
Webchaver monitoring:
Webchaver uses Covenant Eyes software which sends a report to your chaver/partner who sees if you have gone to any questionable sites over the past week or two. The report also shows the user’s most common sites and most common times online.
The cost is $4.99 per month
There is an option to get filtering with Webchaver, which costs an additional $1.99 per month.
SpectorSoft:
eBlaster:
Receive email reports of:
– Email and chats sent and received
– Keystrokes typed
– Files uploaded and downloaded
– General user activity
– Sites visited
– Online searches done
– Real-time notification
– General computer activity
– Block specific sites or people from communicating with your family or employee!
The initial cost of $99.
Spector Pro:
All what eBlaster does, plus the ability to view the screen from your computer, at your leisure.
The initial cost of $99.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
WEBCHAVER
ADVANTAGE:
– Automatically sends an email notification of user activity
– The email clearly tells you which (if any) sites the user went to which are questionable
– The email also gives a list of all sites the user went to, and the frequency the user went to the site
– Chaver/ partner does not see personal information
DISADVANTAGE:
– The user will know the software is on the computer.
SPECTOR SOFT
eBlaster:
ADVANTAGE:
– Ability to monitor ALL computer activity
DISADVANTAGE:
– Very detailed
– Does not differentiate between “good” and “bad” sites”
– Chaver/Partner has access to all of the user’s activity
Spector Pro:
ADVANTAGE:
– Ability to monitor ALL computer activity
– Can view any action that was done on the computer- including if a user attempted to uninstall the filter or Spector Pro
DISADVANTAGE:
– Very detailed, might provide more information than a chaver/partner would want to share!
– Chaver/partner can view all of the user’s personal information.
GENERAL TIPS:
PASSWORD:
– Have a secure password. Generally you make a password to keep unknown people out. Regarding this topic, you know who you are protecting – therefore make sure not to use a common family password.
– Some filters and accountability programs are connected to an email address. Make sure others do not have access to the email used to set up the filter.
– Share the password!
We recommend you enter in 4 characters and another member of your home or office enters another 4. This way no ONE person can access the administrative dashboard.
– Set up accountability with someone you know, yet not well enough to be able to access their email account!
