Daughter is 15 and discovered the password protection feature for her account.

Every couple of weeks i would go through her internet history and files etc
to make sure nothing untoward was happening. When i went to go look tonight i
see that she has implemented a PW and i can't access her acct without
deleting the password.

I can acess the files that are saved in the computer, but cant acccess her
browsing history etc.

Is there any other way to access her account or see her history? I would
rather not remove/change the password if possible.

gutsandglory wrote:
> Daughter is 15 and discovered the password protection feature for
> her account.
>
> Every couple of weeks i would go through her internet history and
> files etc to make sure nothing untoward was happening. When i went
> to go look tonight i see that she has implemented a PW and i can't
> access her acct without deleting the password.
>
> I can acess the files that are saved in the computer, but cant
> acccess her browsing history etc.
>
> Is there any other way to access her account or see her history? I
> would rather not remove/change the password if possible.

*grin*
The choices one must make in their lives...
Re-enact abilities shown in "Hackers", "Sneakers" or a host of other
spy/computer espionage in movies OR parenting... What to do?

You cannot talk to her about the situation?

Being sneaky often loses trust at a much greater rate (from zero to full
loss in a second) at some future date if the need arises... Just saying.
Honesty goes a much farther distance than other choices - even with
intelligent/independent teenagers.

You can access her files/folders as an administrator on the computer without
logging into her account. This will impose limitations on what you
can/cannot see.

If you want to actually log into the account to easily view things like her
email (if she uses something that stores the email on the computer - which I
highly doubt) or IM message history (if she keeps it, which I would say once
she finds out you are snooping - may have already if she passworded her
account - will cease) or Internet History (you can view this without logging
in - but it may be easier on you if you log in - if she doesn't just chaneg
her settings to keep zero and clear it when she logs off - which may be the
case already) - then you will need her password.

Also note - either way - if she implements some form of encryption other
than the built-in Windows EFS (if you have a version of Windows that can use
that) which relies on the user's password for some part and the user doesn't
have to do anything to use their own files unless that password changes or
something becomes damaged (like their parents changing their password on
them without telling them) - then even with her password or if you convince
her that she cannot have a password - she can encrypt files making them
locked for anyone without the proper 'key'.

I think - in the end - your best choice is to speak with her about this.

Is this a computer she bought with her money and uses in her apartment/home
that she pays the rent/mortgage on... In other words - is she emancipated?
Or is this a computer you purchased for her/for the family and she is using
in a home you pay the rent/mortgage on? It may sound rough and you may be
worried how the old 'not while you are under my roof' speech might come
across - but - that's parenthood, eh?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

with a daughter at that age, I would insist she tell me the password, and
never keep it a secret again from me, you are the parent and she is the
child, you shouldn't be monitoring her in secret, you need to watch out for
her, and let her know you are watching, there is no other way. if she
refuses I would restrict her access till she agrees. besides can't you look
at index.dat for her account as admin?

as long as she is living under your roof, YOU are responsible for her
actions on that computer, as she should already know by now.

"gutsandglory" wrote:

> Daughter is 15 and discovered the password protection feature for her account.
>
> Every couple of weeks i would go through her internet history and files etc
> to make sure nothing untoward was happening. When i went to go look tonight i
> see that she has implemented a PW and i can't access her acct without
> deleting the password.
>
> I can acess the files that are saved in the computer, but cant acccess her
> browsing history etc.
>
> Is there any other way to access her account or see her history? I would
> rather not remove/change the password if possible.

gutsandglory wrote:
> Daughter is 15 and discovered the password protection feature for her account.
>
> Every couple of weeks i would go through her internet history and files etc
> to make sure nothing untoward was happening. When i went to go look tonight i
> see that she has implemented a PW and i can't access her acct without
> deleting the password.
>
> I can acess the files that are saved in the computer, but cant acccess her
> browsing history etc.
>
> Is there any other way to access her account or see her history? I would
> rather not remove/change the password if possible.

Copy entire disk, boot the copy, bust password, do your forensics.
I like Linux "dd" command for copying one disk to another, but
everyone has their favorite method.

If you have physical access to a computer, many things are
possible.

Once both parties discover that physical access to the computer
is the key, then the fun begins...

Paul