Access to someone else's computer without using theit computer

[swissdude]

Is there a program or application that lets me see what someone is doing on their computer without accessing their computer?

We are in a new office and want to monitor our employees - specifically 3 people before we can proceed with HR matters so we have proof

They bring in their own laptops

I need to monitor what they are doing - emails/facebook etc

Is there a program I can buy that let's me do this from my computer?

Thanks

[xendrome]

http://www.networklookout.com/ - Net Monitor for Employees Professional

Works pretty good for me.

[sc302 Veteran]

http://www.spectorsoft.com

I have used the CNE product for a few years now, randomized dll/exe that runs in the background. does not stay connected to the server 100% of the time (stealthy, hard to find). transfers small amounts of data to the server at a time. records chat, screen capture, emails (web emails as well as client email), when apps are launched, keystrokes, etc. You can also block sites, block apps, and other things with the CNE product, as well as see who copied what where (to help track data theft). Tons of stuff you can do with the CNE product.

http://downloads.spectorsoft.com/resources/Lit/DS_SpectorCNEInvestigator.pdf

[tsutton]

I REALLY hope you have told them that all of their actions are monitored in their contract when they agreed & signed for...

[Detection]

I REALLY hope you have told them that all of their actions are monitored in their contract when they agreed & signed for...

^^^ Yea, you can not just go hacking into employees personal laptops without their consent

If it were a company computer it would be different, but they would still have to have signed the contract saying they understand their activities were being monitored

[+primortal Subscriber²]

How are they accessing the internet? If its through a connection you provide then just get there IP addresses and look at the logs for the internet. Then you can see where there productivity is being spent on. As everyone else said, they need to be informed and acknowledge that they're internet access is being monitor. If not they could just turn around and sue you...

[+BudMan MVC]

"They bring in their own laptops"

And do you have admin rights on these laptops?

Personally, as a company if you can not provide them with company equipment -- what right do have to say what they do on their computers?

There would be one thing if they are just spending all day surfing porn, but emails and facebook.. Provide them with computers than you can dictate.

If you don't want them accessing personal emails and websites -- then block on your network they are using to access the internet.. If not -- you really don't have a leg to stand on.

BTW, its not going to be possible to install anything that monitors their computers on their computers without their consent if its their own machines.

Now what you can do is block/monitor traffic entering and leaving your network at your gateway to the internet, set up a proxy/content filter - many companies sell small appliances for small offices.

http://www.barracudanetworks.com

http://www.sonicwall.com

etc.. etc.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

Yea, you can not just go hacking into employees personal laptops without their consent

No, but if there's a computer/data usage policy, you CAN see your server logs, determine what's being access and attribute it to an individual machine.

Again, as per every thread like this, I ALWAYS say - get yourself a policy, get all employees to sign it, and then enforce it. The policy is of more use to your company than ANY software solution.

Part of that policy should be sites/services that must not be used, and also not bringing in "home" machines if appropriate.

[swissdude]

Hi, no they have their own internet set up. I'm a small business - 5 of us.

We supply equipment - but both of them like to come in with their windows computers coz they say its easier for them - students - and for their internet they use their own network that they pay together for. we have our own one but it's secure so they said they wanted their own one.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

And you allow this why?

[HawkMan]

They are employees, what they want is rather irrelevant. They're there to work, and if that means using your internet than so be it. with them havign their own computers and their own internet, you can't really do anything. do you even have any control of what they are doing well no, not without standing behind them watching over their shoulders.

[Nagisan]

If they are using their own computers on their own network and they never signed anything saying you are allowed to access it then legally no you cannot monitor what they do on that computer. The most you could do is change your company policy to allow you to either monitor their personal systems, or not allow them to use their own personal systems.

[+Nik Louch Subscriber²]

A lot of company policies are to not allow personal devices to be used within the workplace, full stop.

[Pauleh]

Is it me or does this thread seem a bit suspicious?

[sc302 Veteran]

Remember, what your users do on their own time is their own time. If it were company purchased laptops given to employess, you would be able to have control over the whole thing as it is the companies property. You loose control when it is their property on their own time, so you have to be flexable with that. You are better off monitoring on your network vs montioring what the individuals are doing, like budman stated sonicwall or barracuda will give you enough info to bury them if they are on the web and doing bad web related things.

[Singh400]

Did they sign an ICT Security Policy when they started? Otherwise you won't have a leg to stand on.

And they bring in their own laptops?! What the hell?

[+BudMan MVC]

"they have their own internet set up"

"but it's secure so they said they wanted their own one"

WTF??? :blink: I do not know what to say to that to be honest.. If they have their own machines and their own network -- not much you can do ;) Why don't you just let them work from home then ;) Or how about just let them surf whatever they want at home and just send them money to buy beer and smokes with -- heheheeh

This has got to be the craziest thread all week!!

How are these your employees and a place of business if you let them setup their own network and use their own machines?? Do you have any more openings?? ;) I could use some extra xmas, beer and smokes money ;)

[Treemonkeys]

You're going to want to be REALLY careful with the legality of what you are trying to do considering they are using personal laptops. It would probably be better for you to monitor their internet activity on your firewall instead of accessing their machines. There is absolutely no way you can directly monitor what they are doing on their own computer without accessing it but if your firewall is capable you can monitor what they are connecting to.

Hi, no they have their own internet set up. I'm a small business - 5 of us.

We supply equipment - but both of them like to come in with their windows computers coz they say its easier for them - students - and for their internet they use their own network that they pay together for. we have our own one but it's secure so they said they wanted their own one.

lol I just noticed this, chances are there is no legal way for you to monitor what they are doing unless they specifically agreed to be monitored on their own equipment and their own connection

[Blaze_Zewi]

Better start making new policy. One that doesn't include employee bring their personal computer to work.

[Electric Jolt]

lmao, okay I'm sure I'm not understanding this right lol. When you mean they have their own network, do you mean one of those 3G or 4G cards that both students pay for together? Or do you actually mean they decided on getting another internet connection hooked up at your workplace? Like why would you allow that?! If I owned a workplace and saw people at the entrance ready to setup FIOS, I'd be pretty shocked and alarmed. Did you just say "Oh hello who are you?" "Verizon people to setup FIOS" "Hey did anybody call Verizon for Internet?" "Yes we did, we're paying" "Oh ok well go set the thing up!" lmfao! Sounds like a second home. :p You obviously can't go back now. Might lose the employees when they have to break the contract with the ISP.

...Now if they have some wireless solution from Sprint like 4G, I don't see the problem. Obviously if it's their own Sprint plan and notebook, and they do their work, then you only need to worry about them watching porn or playing games. If they did, that is something that breaks other work policies like being rated X at work or not getting work done---general policies. But getting work done and not disturbing others by breaking general policies...I don't see a problem.

[+Warwagon MVC]

If they are using their own computers then you can't legally monitor them like others have said. Having said that, since they are running their "own network" I guess that's ok, you just can't monitor them. If I was running a business, hell would have to freeze over before I would let their personal machines come anywhere near my network.