Will
the Spector 360 Recorder (Client) work with Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows
2000, and Windows NT computers? What about Windows 98/ME computers?
Yes.
The Spector 360 Recorder (Client) will work with all editions of Windows
Vista, Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000, and Windows NT computers. Windows
XP Home and all x64 editions are not currently supported.
Additionally, Spector 360 can be installed on 98/ME computers provided a few
additional items are installed on the client computers (such as Remote
Registry Services and Remote Administration). Alternatively, the Spector 360
Recorder (Client) can be installed manually or via a login script.
Will
the Spector 360 Recorder (Client) work with Windows 95 computers?
Spector
360 does not officially support Windows 95. However, SpectorSoft has had
customers report successful installation of the Spector 360 Recorder (Client)
on Windows 95 machines.
Does
Spector 360 work with Citrix Presentation Server™ and Microsoft® Terminal
Services?
Spector
360 will record all Windows users that log in to the server using Terminal
Services or Citrix Presentation Server. When reviewing the data, simply set
the criteria to view the information by user, instead of by computer, and you
will be able to review the information from each Terminal Services or Citrix
user.
Can
Spector 360 be used in a Windows Workgroup Environment?
Yes.
This will work as long as each computer has one Administrator Account with the
exact same username and password (case sensitivity rules apply). When you wish
to administer the computers, you would need to logon to the Spector 360
Control Center computer using this account.
Will
Spector 360 work in a Novell Environment?
Spector
360 will work in a TCP/IP Novell Environment provided the underlying Windows
Network is configured properly.
Won't
Spector 360 fill up our hard drives with data?
It
is important to note that Spector 360 will be configured so that the
recordings are moved to the Data Vault and MSDE SQL Database (included
components in all Spector 360 software), thus effectively taking almost no
disk space on the local computer, because recordings are automatically
transferred from the local computers to the Data Vault and SQL Database
several times per hour. (In those cases where the computer being recorded
becomes disconnected from the network, such as a laptop traveling for
business, Spector 360 continues to record and keeps the recordings on the
local hard drive until the laptop reconnects to the network, and thus to the
Data Vault and SQL Database, and automatically transfers all its saved
recordings to the Data Vault and SQL Database at that point in time.)
The amount of disk storage required per day for each
computer being recorded will generally range from between 2 and 20 megabytes
per day, depending upon the types of events being recorded. For example, if
you choose not to record screen snapshots, the storage requirements go down
substantially, perhaps to below one megabyte per computer per day.
With
those computers writing to the Data Vault, won’t that be a lot of traffic on
our network?
You
would be surprised at how little traffic is generated. Plus, the traffic that
is generated is managed to minimize bottlenecks. By default, every 4 minutes,
each computer will automatically transfer recorded information to the Data
Vault and SQL Database for no longer than 30 seconds. No information is
recorded or sent across the network after a computer is idle for 3 minutes.
In eight hours, assuming a worst case scenario whereby
the computer is constantly being used and interacted with for the full 8 hours,
information is transferred approximately 120 times (every four minutes). Ten
MB divided by 120 transmissions equals approximately 83 KB for each
transmission.
Will
I have to set up appropriate permissions for the folder where Spector 360
stores its screen snapshots and email attachments?
All
screen snapshot and email attachment recordings are saved by the Data Vault
which is a Windows Service running with Administrator privileges. You will
need to change only the permissions for the Data Vault folder if you wish
non-Administrators to access recorded screen snapshots and email attachments.
Can
I install the software to many computers at the same time?
Yes,
Spector 360 provides the ability to install and configure many computers
simultaneously through the use of logical groups. Computers are assigned to
the same group and then an installation or configuration change to a group
creates an installation or configuration change to all computers in the group.
For instance, if you wish to install the same
configuration to all computers in the Accounting Department, you can create a
group titled "Accounting" and assign the appropriate computers to
that group. Spector 360 will then allow you to push out an identical
pre-configured installation to all of the computers in the "Accounting"
group.
Will
Spector 360 record laptops that are not always connected to the network?
When
the Spector 360 Recorder is installed on a laptop, it records activity to the
network Data Vault as does any PC. If the Client is disconnected from the
network, as is the case when a laptop travels, recording will still continue
on the Client and all events will be saved locally on the laptop. After the
laptop re-connects to the network, it will recognize that it once again has
access to the Data Vault and SQL Database and upload the previously stored
recordings.
Can
I re-configure the Spector 360 Recorder (Client) installation on several
computers at the same time?
Yes.
Spector 360 features a mass update tool which allows you to update the
settings on several computers at the same time, even if the computers are
turned off.
I
would like to install the Spector 360 Recorder (Client) while users are logged
off their machines. Is this possible?
Yes.
This is possible for Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows NT
computers. It is not possible for Windows 98/ME computers.
In addition, Spector Recorder (Client) installations can be scheduled for any
time of the day allowing an administrator to schedule an installation on a
Client computer, but the actual installation would not take place until the
computer is not in use.
Is
Technical Support available?
The
first year of Premium Maintenance is included with the purchase of Spector
360. Premium Maintenance provides you with both Technical Support and
Product Updates. Technical Support is provided via email and telephone as well
as through our online Knowledge Base. After the first year, renewal rates for
your Premium Maintenance package start at Euro 798, which entitles you to all of
the above PLUS an additional full year of product and version upgrades.
Can
Spector 360 be circumvented by our employees?
Spector
360 would be extremely difficult for an employee to circumvent for the
following reasons:
- The Spector 360 Recorder (Client) that resides on the user PC records in
the background and does not contain a user interface that an employee may
stumble upon. Thus, there are no Hotkeys by default, desktop icons or
System tray icons that might indicate the presence of the Spector 360
Recorder.
- Spector 360 does not show up in the Windows task list, and cannot be
uninstalled using the Windows Add/Remove function.
- Spector 360 is designed to use very few system resources and does not
slow down the desktop user.
- The recordings reside on the desktop only for a short period of time
before they are automatically and seamlessly uploaded to the Spector 360
Data Vault and SQL Database.
- Even if an employee did find a way to circumvent the software, you would
have the Spector 360 recordings archived that would provide proof of
exactly what the employee did to undermine your decision to monitor.
Should
we inform our employees that their computer and Internet activities are being
monitored?
Spectorsoft
believes that in the majority of installations, it makes sense to inform your
employees that monitoring software may be used. This is especially true if
your primary goal is to reduce or eliminate productivity loss caused by
inappropriate or frivolous surfing, or if you are trying to eliminate the use
of company computers to propagate sexually or racially offensive emails and
chats, or if you wish to eliminate company confidential information from
getting into the hands of the wrong people, such as your competitors.
Informing your employees of the fact that you are
monitoring, and demonstrating the comprehensive details recorded by the
software, together serve as a strong deterrent for the kind of behavior you
are trying to prevent.
However, Spectorsoft does recognize that there may be
some situations where it does not make sense to inform an employee in advance.
Such an example might be if you suspect an employee of embezzling and you are
looking for proof to substantiate or refute the suspicion. Another example
might be if you suspect an employee of using company computers to conduct
illegal acts that could pose liability for you if you don't take action to
stop it.
