Internet Safety

Tracking Usage on the Internet

Usage tracking can be broken down into three broad categories, each successively more granular.

1) Logon session tracking

This level of tracking is useful for telling when your child is connected to a service provider. For example, you may have rules about the amount of time spent on the internet during school nights or about what times the child may be on the internet. This information is sometimes available in detailed billing logs. AOL, for example, gives you access to current and previous month connection logs. MindSpring, on the other hand, provides only summary billing information which isn't useful for this purpose.

2) Web site access and file download tracking

This level of tracking is useful if you are concerned that your child may be accessing inappropriate web sites or downloading inappropriate material. Some browsers such as Internet Explorer provide history tracking which allows you to keep track of web site accesses over a specified number of days. Other sources of useful information on your PC include the browser cache files, file download directories, and temporary file directories.

3) Keystroke and mouse event tracking

This level of tracking is useful if you need more specific information about what your child is doing while connected to the internet or simply using the PC without an internet connection for that matter. For example, a common trick kids learn early is to appear to be doing homework while in fact being engaged in more entertaining activities. This is accomplished by keeping Word, PowerPoint, Cary Academy pages, etc. on the task bar and then bringing them up quickly when an adult is approaching. Keystroke monitors can provide evidence of that type of behavior. There is actually a good reason to consider using such a monitor which is in the child's own best interest. Sometimes kids get caught in the crossfire or collateral damage resulting from an internet usage abuse incident. In these cases, AOL and some ISPs tend to shoot indiscriminately with a shotgun approach and ask questions later. Having a keystroke monitor record can provide evidence to help protect your kids in this situation and to help you understand exactly what your kid's role was, if any.  You can find a list of such monitors at Winfiles shareware site.   An example of an application with a number of desirable features is Stealth Logger.

Last updated:  May 12, 2000

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