Keep track of all kinds of work on your PC

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Many of personal computer users may be wondering that if there is a way to track my computer activities when I am not using it. Especially when your children are using PCs. So why would we let them go online without proper protection. Also to identify unauthorized use of your computer. And according to the official policies of some companies, they are tracking their employees computer activities.

There is easy way to track your system by default called history checking. Just open window and press "CTRL + H", now you can see computer history list. But is it enough track every things. No it is not enough also it is possible to delete computer history. So that is why we need proper application to track all the activities.


Symantec offers a free software program called Norton Online Family, that makes it easy for parents to monitor activities and alerts them to potential online hazards like objectionable websites. There is a free version available, However you have to sing up before you download this software.




Main features of this kind of software:
  • Web monitoring & filtering: Record and track every website visited and the exact browsing time.
  • Social Network Monitoring
  • Chat Monitoring: Web Watcher records entire contents of chats, start time, end time, participants.
  • Search Monitoring
  • Screenshots: Allow you to take screen-shots of their computer screen to see everything they do including graphics and video.
  • Keystrokes: The Web Watcher key logger captures every single keystroke: What was typed, and who typed it. Key strokes are saved and organized by date, time, and by what program / application was used.
  • Alert Words: The feature solves the problem when you don't want to sort through every email, web page, chat, and keystroke recorded. When specific key words are typed as important, the software can trigger and take screen-shots with these alert words, automatically bringing important recorded activities to your attention.
  • Blocking: Web Watcher boasts of powerful web page filtering and application blocking capabilities. You can choose to block web content among appropriate 30 different categories, like adult, gambling, violence, shopping, etc. Besides, it blocks running specific programs or set schedules for use.

Some Other paid versions:
  • Keylogger
  • Spector Pro
  • ActivTrak
  • Detective Dominator
  • IntelliSpy

Some technical stuff

We can easily track technical even using Event Log:
Go to "Start" --> Open "Run" program --> Type "eventvwr" and enter

If you're using Windows XP Professional, there is a more reliable way to check computer history.
This can be done through the Auditor. To enable the Auditor, log on to the computer as an administrator.

Step 1
Better you create a system restore point before going further.

Step 2
Disable simple file-sharing. This can be done by clicking the 'Tools' menu on each of the shared folders. Click 'Folder Options' from the Tools menu, and then click 'View'. Uncheck last item on the list. Click 'OK'

Step 3
Press the 'Start' button and click on the 'Run' file. Type in 'gpedit.msc'. This opens the Group Policy Window.

Step 4
Access the 'Audit Policy' through Computer Configuration, then 'Windows Settings', then 'Security Settings', then 'Local Policies', and finally 'Audit Policy'.

Step 5
Double-click on 'Audit Object Access' and check the 'Success' check box in the Properties tab. Click 'OK'.

Step 6
Go to a folder that you want to keep track. Right click on this folder, go to 'Properties', access the 'Security' tab, and click the 'Advanced' button. An Advanced Security Settings window should appear. Go to the Auditing tab. Click 'Add'.

Step 7
Type in the word 'Everyone' in the box under the 'Enter the object name to select' dialogue. Click 'Check Names'. This checks whether you have entered a valid name. Click 'OK'.

Step 8
An Auditing Entry dialog windows should appear. Choose the folders you want audited. Check 'Full Control'. Then click 'OK' on all the dialog windows.

Now go to 'Event Log' and check the 'Security Log' again.

Good luck . . !! And don't forget to leave your valuable comments.

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