How the Client Works

The Client

The Client Recorder is hidden software that records all activity at each network computer where it is installed. After you register and unlock your serial number, you can install one Client for each license you have purchased. If you have a 100 Client license agreement, you can install the Client on 100 computers. If necessary, you can  purchase additional Client licenses under your current serial number. More...

Use the Data Viewer (Monitor Users) to View Client Recordings

Client Licensing:

When you install the Client Recorder on a computer:

• The Primary Server reserves a license specifically for that computer.

• You can NOT move the license to another computer.

• If you uninstall the Client, you can only reinstall the reserved license on a computer with the same Windows computer name.   

Your installation is "unlocked" for a set number of Clients
when you register your serial number

What the Client Records:

The installed Client immediately begins recording computer activity:

• Chat/Instant Message Activity - Conversations in Chat Rooms and Instant Message (IM) exchanges.

• Document Tracking - Creation, writing, renaming, deleting or printing of a file.  

• Email Activity - Email sent and received; you can configure the Client to capture attachments, too.

• Files Transferred - Peer-to-Peer, FTP and HTTP file transfers.

• Keystroke Activity - All keystrokes typed, including hidden characters and true keystrokes.

• Network Activity - Communications on the Intranet or Internet.

• Program Activity - Every program opened and the amount of activity that took place.

• Screen Snapshots - Graphical snapshots of the Client computer screen.

• User Activity - A user's log on and log off times, and the duration of time spent in activity or inactivity.

• Web Sites Visited - Domains and URLs surfed by the user.

Like a surveillance camera, the Client takes
regular screen snapshots of activity

The Client also provides Keyword Alerts, Internet Blocking, "record" toggle hotkeys, and instant screen snapshot hotkeys. All settings are available through the Deployment Utility or Client Settings.

Stealth Operation:

Normally the Client runs in stealth mode, but you can configure it to be visible to the computer user. Either way, the Client operates in the background, monitoring and recording all computer events without causing degradation in computer performance.

How the Client Records:

The Client includes a Client Service and a Recorder component. These work together in stealth to record activity on the computer and report back to the centralized Data Vault and Control Center.

1. The Client service communicates with the Primary Server to establish licensing and with the Control Center to update its status.

2. The Client begins recording computer and Internet activity.

It saves recorded activity in 15 minute chunks and compresses, encrypts, and stores events in a hidden folder on the hard drive of the Client computer. (Data on the Client can only be read by a local Viewer.)  

3. Periodically, the Client attempts to upload recorded data to the Data Vault.  

If the Client service cannot make contact with the Data Vault, the recorded data remains on the Client computer until a specified time period passes or a maximum data size is reached. Then, the Client begins to delete the oldest stored data.

4. Once recorded events are pushed to the Data Vault, the Client deletes them from the local computer.

Meanwhile, the Client Service provides Client Recorder status (installed or not, recording or not, and which settings are in place) to the Control Center so that you can monitor, manage, and configure the Clients from the Control Center.