Keystroke logger is software installed into the computer to log or record keystrokes typed, including passwords, websites visited, chat conversations, applications used, and which even secretly records all the activities that take place on a computer. Definitely, there is privacy issues at stake here, people are wondering whether there are any laws regarding when they use Keystroke logger software, and is Keystroke logger legal or illegal?

First of all, it needs to be cleared that keystroke logger software itself is not illegal at all like any other utility software developed by a third party. The key logger developers have started and continued to create their programs exclusively for legitimate purposes for parents to protect teens from online abuse, and for companies to monitor employees during working hours. In spite of the surreptitious nature of keystroke logger’s delivery and installation, these actions are required authorizations or permissions. That is to say keystroke logger software is legal to install on any computer by the person who owns the devices.

Even so, key loggers are used to record information in an illegal manner which is the point leading to controversial issues. Hackers send key logger to others and steal piracy information by hacking into their bank, email, and online games accounts, etc. As far as privacy is concerned, the using of key logger is definitely illegal. The installation without computer owner’s permission or administrator’s knowledge is illegal as well.

  • How to make sure you use key logger but not be involved in any law issues?
  •  Install key logger software on the computers you own. Hint others of the key logger installed if they use your computer.
  •  It is completely legal manner that parents using key logger to monitor children’s online activity to make sure they don’t visit pornographic web sites or don’t make any dubious acquaintances.
  •  Employers keeping tracking employees’ computer activities may be controversial. Notify them of the fact that they are being monitored, and what is being monitored, it will be perfectly legal.
  •  Make sure you get the administrator’s permission if you want to install key logger software on a device which does not belong to you. 
  • Do not try to crack others personal accounts or password by using key logger, which is unscrupulous, indeed, illegal as well.

One of the biggest household controversies with regard to teen Internet use is how to find a balance between protecting kids and giving them a modicum of privacy that may truly be deserved. So parents go on a mission and come across several terrific options. One of their favorites is monitoring kids on Facebook.

A survey of 2,000 parents and teenagers by TRUSTe and Lightspeed Research found that 72% of parents check in on their teen’s social networking accounts at least once per month. That’s made easier by the prevalence of Facebook – 95% of parents and 90% of teens with a social networking account have one on Facebook, and “most of those teens are friends with their parents,” according to the study.

Considering the numerous cases of cyberbullying and unwanted sexual solicitations that occur within Facebook, it’s no wonder parents are worried about how much access is appropriate for their children. Following the ways below will help parents to monitor and restrict their kids on Facebook:

1. Creates a Facebook account and “friends” their children.

2. Once children accept the request, friends (parents) will be notified of status changes, new pictures, tagged photos, comments and posts that use certain language that may alert the parent to a cyberbullying incident or even a sexual solicitation.

3. If children reject the request or exclude parents from seeing certain wall posts and pictures. Parents can create two accounts: one for the family, and one for everyone else.

4. Find a middle ground by using parental control Keystroke logger software. Install keystroke logger software on home computer, parents can define their own rules including blocking certain websites and applications via keywords, controling the time of using Internet. Keystroke logger software will also monitor and record all Facebook conversations and Facebook pages children viewed, capture desktops screenshots by a specified interval time. Parents can know all children’s Facebook activities via Facebook spy solution even if they set privacy to parents on Facebook.

Remote computers are typically used by business, school system, public environment and home network. Spying and controlling on a remote computer has become extremely commonplace for the sake of safety issues of both network system and computer users. With The Remote Desktop feature in Windows, you can pretty easily access a computer running Windows from another computer running Windows that’s hooking up to a sharing network or to the Internet.

  • Turn on Remote Desktop in windows. Click the Start button, right click on Computer and choose ‘Properties’
  • Click on Remote Settings in the left panel of the Control Panel Window that pops up.
  • In the new window that appears, make sure that ‘Allow Remote Assistance to this Computer’ option is checked. Also, turn on any one of the options mentioned as per your preference: either allows connections from your network, or any machine.
  • Click Apply, OK. You’re done. You have now turned on the Remote Desktop tool that allows any machine to access your Windows 7 computer.
  • Log on to another computer, connect to the objective computer with remote desktop features. You can find out what’s your family, employees or others are doing in their computers.

Besides, many great remote spy and network monitoring tools online drive spying on remote computer much easier.

Note:

  1. When connect to a remote computer with Remote Desktop, that computer must be turned on and have a network connection. In addition, Remote Desktop must be enabled, you must have network access to the remote computer, and you must have permission to connect. For permission to connect, you must be on the list of users.
  2. If you choose to spy on the computer with remote spy software, make sure you have the right to install monitoring software on the computer and it’s legal for you to watch what other individuals are visiting.

What’s Google Safe Search?

To help parents manage Internet safety, Google builds SafeSearch Tool to assist them control the type of content kids see online. SafeSearch is designed to screen sites that contain sexually explicit content and remove them from search results. In a nutshell, it’s a child friendly safe search engine.

How To Use It?

By default, Moderate SafeSearch is turned on, which will help keep explicit images out of search results. If you prefer to change setting to Strict filtering to help filter out explicit text as well as images, you can modify it by clicking on Search settings at the top right of the Google homepage.

Refraining from kids may change the Strict SafeSearch setting without your knowledge, you can protect it with a password using SafeSearch Lock.

Sign in to your Google Account (Create one if you don’t have.)
Enter the Search settings page.
Click Lock SafeSearch below the filter levels.
Click Lock SafeSearch. Strict filtering is being applied to all Google domains and this step takes a moment.
You’ll be directed to a confirmation page once the lock is engaged.
Once locked, Google search results page will be visibly different with colored balls to indicate that SafeSearch is locked. The colored balls give parents a clear visual hint that SafeSearch is still locked. Once if you don’t see them, it’s quick and easy to verify and re-lock SafeSearch.

Google SafeSearch is not enough for Kid’s online safety

Google SafeSearch isn’t 100% accurate which owns the shortcomings below:

Google Safe Search works only on Google Search Engine. Kids can get around it easily by using Yahoo, Bing and the other search engine which have no search restriction.
Google Safe Search effects only on search results which cannot prevent those websites from opened by direct URL links.
You have to set the lock on each one if there is more than one browser, Safari, Firefox, Google Chrome or user account on your home computer.

For Complete Family Online Safety Solution

Third- party web filters and parental control software provide a much more complete family online safety solution. Web Filter blocks most of potentially harmful material you would rather your children not stumble across, which can not only generally does a good job blocking websites but also blocks games and applications. In addition, parental control software has professional monitoring, time controlling, and reporting function besides filtering which gives out comprehensive and technical kids’ online safety solutions for parents.

4 tips helping you keep kids asfe online

13 Jan 2011 Parental Control Software

Kids today are growing up with internet opened, they are being to approach the net and show curiousness to Internet at a young age. The Internet is an Information Superhighway, but it’s also the porn and predator parkway. Unfortunately, it makes kids vulnerable to porn, phishing scams, cyberbullying, and Internet predators. As parents, you need to be padding right alongside kids or at least observing kids carefully from the shore when they are surfing the net. Here are several ways you can help your kids surf Internet more safely.

Do homework at first

Social networking sites, chat rooms, iTunes, and IM are unfamiliar terrain to many parents. To create a safety Internet for kids, parents need to do some research and learn more about the Internet. Then differentiate what’s available for kids and what may lead to potential harm.

Specify standards surfing online

  • Block access to materials (text and pictures) identified as inappropriate for kids with web filter.
  • Permit access only to materials specifically approved as safe for kids.
  • Monitor your children’s activity on the Internet by storing names of sites and/or snapshots of material seen by your children on the computer for you to view later.
  • Set different restrictions for each family member.
  • Enforce time limits if necessary.

Educate your children

  • Ensure your kids follow the rules online. For example, the recommended age for signing up for social web sites is usually 13 and over.
  • Insist that your children never meet anyone in person that they’ve communicated with online only.
  • Ensure your kids don’t use full names but a nickname on the Internet.
  • Teach your children about cyberbullying.

Know what they do online

  • Sit down with your children and watch what they are doing.
  • Get your kids to explain what is going on. It’s also a good idea to regularly check kids’ browser history to know where they go online.

If you have limited time to do this, many kinds of parental control tools could help you to do the monitoring and recording work. Once installed, the parental control software, such as keystroke logger, will record the keystrokes typed, websites visited, chat conversations, and application used which are sent by email. Monitoring makes you more available to spot trouble that your kid may not know he or she is in.