WatchDog can be configured to run in a variety of environments. Please select the configuration that best describes your environment:
Home time restricting
WatchDog setup:
WatchDog’s default installation is ideal for those who wish to restrict access to their computers. You may wish to read the security guide to make sure that the users will not be able to get around WatchDog.
User creation:
When creating new users to restrict, select the Time Restrictions security template. This will enable most of the options you need.
Activities monitoring (home or work)
WatchDog can be configured to monitor user activities without them knowing about it.
WatchDog setup:
Once you have installed WatchDog, you will want to use Windows Login Authentication. This is to hide the WatchDog Login Screen, so they don’t know WatchDog is running.
User creation:
When creating new users, select Activities Monitoring as the security template. This will hide the WatchDog tray icon from users.
You may monitor login and logout times, websites, applications, key strokes and the screen.
Libraries
Libraries can use WatchDog to monitor what users are doing on their computers and stop users from taking too much time on the machines.
WatchDog setup:
You may wish to setup networking to allow library administrators to remotely configure all of your machines.
If you have an existing library patron database, you may be able to use the Import User Names feature.
The Time-Remaining Window will show users how much time they have left before they are logged out.
User creation:
When creating new users to restrict, select the Time Restrictions security template. This will enable most of the options you need.
You can specify that users may only use the computer for a limited amount of time before they are logged off (i.e. 30 minutes).
The option Close all open programs on Logout may be advisable if you do not want applications from the previous user displayed.
You can run WatchDog hidden from the users if you need as well.
Schools
Schools can use WatchDog to secure their machines and monitor their student’s activities.
WatchDog setup:
You might want to use Networking to let school administrators remotely configure the machines.
If you have an existing student database, you may be able to use the Import User Names feature.
The Time Remaining Window will show users how much time they have left before they are logged out.
User creation:
When creating new users to restrict, select the Time Restrictions security template. This will enable most of the options you need.
The student’s machines can be monitored for monitor login and logout times, web sites, applications, keystrokes and the screen.
The option “Close all open programs on Logout” may be advisable if you do not want applications from the previous user displayed.
You can run WatchDog hidden from the users if you need as well.
Cyber Cafes
Many Cyber Cafes are now using WatchDog to charge their patrons for using their computers.
WatchDog Setup:
The most common configuration for a Cyber cafe to use is a networking setup . One computer acts as a server, while all of the patron’s machines will connect to this server to update their configuration.WatchDog can handle thousands of simultaneous users.
There are several options for how users can log into their machines
- Cafe managers will sell time blocks to patrons. They will then add new users into the database through a WatchDog Parent login. Their time will not be renewed when it runs out. All client machines are automatically updated with this new information.
- Machines are setup with one specific login per machine. When a patron buys time, the network administrator can update their free time.
- Users can have their own accounts with Unlimited time . Cafe Managers can then bill the users according to how much time they use.
If you have an existing customer database, you may be able to use the Import User Names feature.
Non-networked configuration:
In a non-networked configuration, each machine has its own specific login database. The machine generally contains only two logins - the administrator and the patron login.
The patron login has Multiple Passwords enabled. The cafe managers can generate a list of X number of random passwords and print them out. Enable:Disable each password after use Reset time for each password When a patron buys time, the manager sells one of the passwords to the user. Once they run out of time, they cannot log back in with the same password.
The option “Close all open programs” for the Login screen may be advisable if you do not want applications from the previous user displayed.
The Time Remaining Window will show users how much time they have left before they are logged out.
