Monitor Internet usage of an employee

[steve728]

My friend and I are VBA/VB programmers (Getting into .NET)
A few of our employees are abusing their Internet Access rights. Where can I learn how to create a program that will help me monitor WHERE they have been surfing to and how long they they have been surfing there? I don't want to fire them but I do want to bring to there attention that self discipline is necessary. I just want to get their pays worth!

Thank you!

Steve

 

[InnoTech]

the best way that i have found is to install VNC and connect remotely while you think this is happening. the setting on the program will let you either only "view" the goings on or "take over" the pc completely also allowing them to think that nothing is happening until you pull up a notepad and type "stop surfing, slacker!". lol

if you are worried about them knowing it is running in the background... well it all depends on the availible resources. i found that them knowing this was installed, allowed for better working and not surfing.

"Jack of all trades. Master of none."

 

[tetaguila]

make a web server and u will see all the sites that they visited.....

 

[manarth]

??
I do hope you mean proxy server.

Steve: a well written policy (clearly spelling out the possible outcomes of abuse) may be enough. Spell it out in big letters - SURFING "ON BAD SITES" WILL GET YOU SACKED (or whatever they happen to be doing, lol)

It may be worthwhile restricting access to a predetermined set of sites (you could combine this with time controls, so they can access everything during lunch, but only work-related sites during work hours).

The trouble with determining "how long" they've been surfing on a site: once the site downloads, there's no more network activity to monitor, so it's then hard to tell how long they sit staring at the site.
InterNETech's VNC suggestion is a good one (but does require input of YOUR time to monitor the situation).

Good luck - hope it works out OK!

<marc> i wonder what will happen if i press this...[ul][li]please give feedback on what works / what doesn't[/li][li]need some help? how to get a better answer: faq581-3339[/li][/ul]

 

[steve728]

Thank you Cyber Buddies. All this info really helps!

Steve