OK - you've heard or read about all the dangers the INTERNET presents to your children: so I'll not go into all that on this page. See sites like http://www.protectkids.com/ and others for all that type info. It is not our intent to advise parents of their responsibility to their kids but to merely provide a solution to those that want software to help keep tabs on what's going on. There are several different, valid opinions on how to protect YOUR kids: (1) You think that your kid will listen to your warnings: would never do anything on the net that would bring harm. In other words - you trust your kid completely and would never intrude on their privacy. Solution: talk to your kids from time to time and hope for the best. (2) You'd like to check up on what your kids are doing - just as a safe measure from time to time: you feel that you have a moral responsibility to do so. Solution: use this (or other similar) software to log what your kids are doing on the computer. Have the software set to log at all times (Windows startup) or just by manually activating from time to time. If you find anything disturbing - talk to your kids about the problem and possible restrictions that you might impose if continued. (3) You want complete control on what your kids do on the computer/ net. Solution: there is software, on the market, to log every site navigated to, every key stroke (key-loggers), ways to filter web search results, etc... This software (Kid Watch) does NOT fit into this category: we personally feel this goes a little too far (particularly the filtering and keystroke loggers) but your mileage may vary! (4) More... So what does this software do? In a nutshell - runs invisible to the user: takes snap shots (images) of the ACTIVE window at the interval you determine/ set. This allows you to preview (via the included Image Viewer) what the kids are doing; thus, giving you (the parents) insight on if any steps need to be taken to PROTECT YOUR KID! Features: * No install program - meaning that the software will NOT be listed in the Windows "Add/ Remove Software" option of the Control Panel. See install info towards the bottom of this page. * Does not show in the Windows "Task Manager" (on most systems) as a running application. * Is invisible to the user - option to make visible via the hot-key combo of "Ctrl+Shift+P" so you can view the logged files, set option values or close/ quit the software. * Option to set maximum files (snap shots) being saved - to manage required disk space. * Option to activate/ start the software at Windows Startup. * Option to set the interval that the snap shots are taken. * Snap Shot Viewer with options to view, print, delete, delete all the logged active screen snap shots (images). Technical stuff you might what to know: * Depending on the size of the active window that the software takes a snap shot of - this software requires approx. 68 Mb per hour/ 544Mb per 8 hours (approx 0.53 GB) if interval is set to every 1 minute. Be SURE you have the required free disk space where ever you place the file to run! * Do NOT rename the software exe file unless you do not have set to activate at Windows startup AND never intend to do so - this will cause windows to not find it to run. * If you want to move (and reset the location of the software) be sure to make visible (via the "visible" hot-key), set to NOT run at Windows startup, then close/ quit the running of the file. At this point you can re-locate the exe file and reset the values. * To uninstall - follow the above instructions (about re-locating) except delete the file and folder it resides in instead of re-locating. * This software uses the Windows clipboard so there is a possibility that it MAY interfere with user copying and pasting functions from time to time (if the user is copying/ pasting at the exact same time this software is doing it's thing). Setting the software's interval option, to a less frequent value, helps to minimize this problem. * Know that by setting the software to auto-delete the snap-shot files, after the folder reaches a set value (Snap Shot Management), that it will do just that. If you've viewed/ checked them or not: they are history! * The snap-shot files are saved with a "date-stamp" so to speak. They are named in this format: Nov 11_07__10_33_17.bmp - broken down the name means that the snap shot was taken (in this example) Nov 11th, year of 2007 (07), at 10AM (military time - i.e. 2 meaning @ 2AM, 14 meaning @ 4PM, 20 meaning @ 8 PM, etc...), 33 minutes after the hour, 17 seconds after the minute. * direct any questions or comments to mb@code-it.com Install instructions: * download the exe file file from the below link: this file is NOT an install program but merely the software's .exe file (it needs no supporting files;) * after download - place this file anywhere on the intended system. It is advisable to create a new folder (via My Computer - name it whatever you want) for this exe file (and the resulting active window snap-shots) to reside. If you are a Vista user - do NOT place in the "Program Files" folder as Vista does not allow messing with (writing to) this folder! * double click on the exe file to activate (it will be invisible) - make visible via the "Make Visible" hot key of "Ctrl+Shift+ p" - set to activate at Windows Startup (the preferred method) or not - set the "Interval" option (preferred value is every minute) - set the "Snap Shot Management value (I personally prefer the manual method but your mileage may vary - particularly if you have limited free hard drive space or think you will not remember to clean/ delete older files) * click the "Hide" button to keep activate and let it do it's "thing" - "Close" button to quit the software running at this time. * if you elect to not activate the software at Windows Startup - you can manually activate at any time by double clicking this exe file. * use the "Make Visible" hot-key to preview the snap shots or reset values at any time the software is running in it's invisible mode. This software is 100% FREE of cost, adware or spyware (receives/ relays NO data to any server). Has been tested to be compatible with Windows 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, XP & Vista.