MSN contact logs

[Yoda]

Like many youngsters, my two teenagers spend quite a bit of time on MSN. They both have computers in their rooms and, to be fair, I know that MSN has saved me from huge phone bills as they can chat to their mates, make social arrangements and swop homework answers without recourse to the house phone.

It's my understanding that, on MSN, others can only enter the "chat" if accepted. However, I remain a concerned parent as to just who they are talking to.

I have no desire to look into their conversations (god knows I struggle to understand their communications when they're speaking, never mind typing in estuary-english-text-speak), but I would like to know who they have been on to.

Is there any way I can access MSN contact logs etc whilst I do my weekly housekeeping (Adaware, virus scaning) etc on their machines?

Regards,
Rich

 

[Steve]

If you go to My Documents, My Received Files, you should see folders corresponding to their MSN logins. Beneath these you'll find a History folder. If logging is turned on, you should find dated conversation logs.

 

[Clive795]

As Steve says you will only be able to view chat if logging is enabled for each user.

Without reading each chat log there is not a lot more you can do - knowing who is on their buddy list just gives you a list of names - no idea of who the person is or claims to be.

What may be of interest is that the 'My Received' files directory is the default location for files sent by other users. You may then see pictures that users have sent (and may wish you hadn't seen pictures users have sent !).

Bear in mind that logging is easily turned off and if something is happening that they don't want you to know about they will be able to hide it with ease. However my understanding of your post is not that you have concerns about your children but concerns about what others may do or say.

You are right that they need to 'agree' to add someone to a buddy list or chat session, the problems I come across are that many youngsters put so much personal info in public areas of websites (MSN offer space for pics and blogs for example) that a complete stranger with minimal effort can pretend to be a friend of a friend by describing favorite places, music and mutual friends, and gain their trust. Once they are on one buddy list they soon get onto others within the group.

Clive

 

[Yoda]

Thanks for the input guys, much approciated.

Once they are on one buddy list they soon get onto others within the group.

That's exactly the scenario that I'm concerned about. There's a case now in the hands of the police involving the the kids of someone I know and a peado with a record. Trying to learn from this, I'm just wanting to look after my two and (try to) eredicate any possible problems at source.