Question for anyone

[todd51]

Here's my situation:

Ok, well it's the last week of classes and I am extremely busy, so is my roomate. Well he has to use my computer since his PC has pretty much shut down on him and we have to try to re-install windows tonight.

I was gone all day today and he needed to do some article reviews for school, he has about 5 more to do, so if we can't get Windows installed again with Microsoft Office, I will be needing to share my laptop once again, or for that matter, all week.

When I came back later this afternoon, I went up to the little "Apple" icon in the upper left corner, and went to "recent items" since that is usually the quickest way to re-open my term paper I have been working on this week. Anyways, I discovered some "inappropriate" documents that were viewed also, must have been today when I was not here. I was just curious if there was any free software out there that can enable me to log recent activity on my computer. I dont' want to use a Guest account because I'm not sure if it was the roomate needing my computer, or if it was one of the others. Any advice?

 

[fleurya]

I can tell you from similar experience, if he's looking at anything that could be illegal. Don't even let him touch your computer!

I shared my computer with a roommate for a semester. One day I found a disk he left in it that had child pornography on it. Just about that tim he came back to the room. He said he "found it laying in a classroom" and was going to format it and use for himself. I knew he was lying and wanted to turn him in, but he took the disk and I'm sure got rid of it, so I had nothing. Plus, since he used my computer, he could take me down with him.

I decided not to even continue living with him and moved out. The next semester there was an article in the school newspaper about him getting busted for child pornography by his new roommate. I guess he was able to secure some evidence.

Anyway, I'm just saying don't risk it. You could end up in a lot of trouble. Even if it's not illegal, but you don't like it, at least you should confront him and tell him you can track what he views and never use it for anything other than school work.

Can't he go to a computer lab?

 

[GulfVetSAF]

You can do a google search on "key stroke logging" or "monitoring" software for a mac... there are a TON of logging programs available. Good luck

http://lifehacker.com/software/top/download-of-the-day--geektool-185802.php

 

[technologist]

I'm still flabbergasted by the number of people who let friends use their primary user accounts.

Letting someone use your account means they can
* Delete your files
* Delete your bookmarks
* Delete your software
* Read your files
* (maybe) read your mail
* (maybe) read your instant message logs
* (maybe) send mail/IMs in your name
* Change your home folder name, or otherwise screw up your account

And they don't have to do this deliberately, either. It's easy to mess things up on a strange computer.

Bottom line: Do not let anyone use your account. Not your friend, not your mother, not your boss. New user accounts are free and take fifteen seconds to set up.

 

[todd51]

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll look a little further into it!

 

[PapaNoHair]

I'm still flabbergasted by the number of people who let friends use their primary user accounts.

Letting someone use your account means they can
* Delete your files
* Delete your bookmarks
* Delete your software
* Read your files
* (maybe) read your mail
* (maybe) read your instant message logs
* (maybe) send mail/IMs in your name
* Change your home folder name, or otherwise screw up your account

And they don't have to do this deliberately, either. It's easy to mess things up on a strange computer.

Bottom line: Do not let anyone use your account. Not your friend, not your mother, not your boss. New user accounts are free and take fifteen seconds to set up.

Amen to that!

 

[GulfVetSAF]

Not to mention they could easily install the same software I mentioned below...

These programs allow the evildoer access to ALL of your personal information, passwords, EVERYTHING and they don't have to come back to your computer to get the info... a lot of those programs send an email.

This is why I NEVER use a public computer to log into any account (not even an instant messenger program)!

 

[johntalin]

I still have hard time relaxing about doing my important stuff online, like banking, financials related to stocks, social security numbers, etc.

 

[MaDDoG]

It is nice of you to help him, but what would you do if he corrupted all your data or wnet in and changed stuff, stole ideas etc.....not to say the he would though. Surely he can borrow a PC from the school or someone else.