Being the boss may sound great: a well considered job position with a large income. But being a boss also involves less enjoyable tasks, such as monitoring your employees.

Fortunately there are software apps like Activity Monitor which make this unpleasant task much easier for you. With Activity Monitor you can fully control what your employees, kids or whoever needs to be monitored do with their computer.

Activity Monitor watches over everything, from visited webpages to active applications, including any text typed into any window. You can even see the remote computer's screen in real time, run applications, open webpages and send messages to it.

Activity Monitor needs a client app to be installed on the computer you want to control, so make sure you do that when nobody's watching. After that, the client app runs unnoticed in the background.

Activity Monitor is certainly one of the most complete monitoring applications I've ever seen. Its wide array of features and ease of use make it a great choice for your monitoring needs.

If you'd like to control what other people (employees, young kids) do with the computer when you're not around, Activity Monitor features anything you need.

Download Activity Monitor 4.3 in Softonic

If you don't trust passwords to protect your computer, you should take a look at Rohos Logon Key.

With Rohos Logon Key you can block access to your computer using any USB memory stick you have previously configured with the program as access key. So, instead of a weak, easy-to-forget password, Rohos Logon Key uses a combination of hardware (the USB device) and software (the PIN code associated to that device) to protect the computer.

Rohos Logon Key is very easy to configure and use. It features a wide variety of configuration options with which you can not only customize security settings, but also graphic settings such as the welcome message or the logon screen Rohos Logon Key will use.

Some other interesting features in Rohos Logon Key include the Emergency login option in case you lose your USB key and the restricted access based on time limitations, which I personally find very handy to control the amount of time your children spend on the PC.

Rohos Logon Key is a comfortable and powerful alternative to traditional passwords you can use to protect your PC from unauthorized access.

Download Rohos Logon Key 2.5 in Softonic

ComputerTime is parental-control software that lets parents set limits on the amount of time and the time of day when their children can use the computer. The developer, SoftwareTime believes that the computer is an amazing tool for children, both for educational and social purposes. However, children need to have reasonable limits set for them, and that's what ComputerTime allows you to do, quickly and easily.

Download ComputerTime 2.0.3.58 in Softonic

PC Locker Pro is a program that locks and protects your computer when you leave. It is a powerful, easy to use tool allowing you to lock you computer by clicking just one button in the system tray or using a custom hotkey. Then PC Locker Pro will display a lock screen and protected your computer. The windows hotkey and mouse will be disabled. You only need to enter the password to unlock the computer. PC Locker Pro will lock the computer after incorrect shutdown.

Download PC Locker Pro 1.2 in Softonic

User Time Administrator lets you specify when exactly and how long the computer can be used and define users which will be allowed to use the computer without any limits. You can schedule time intervals and the number of hours each child can use the computer per day a week. It automatically logs your child out of their computer when it's time for lights out. Also you can prevent the PC usage until the specified date, after the specified date or between specified dates.

User Time Administrator can record all actions to a log file so you will know when and how much your child used the PC. The password control prevents unauthorized users to change settings and uninstall the product, the internal file guard system protects all important files so the program can not be deleted by unwanted person. The multiuser intuitive interface will help you manage this software easy and with pleasure.

Download User Time Administrator 2.8.1.1 in Softonic

Firewalls and VPNs protect the network from outside intruders, but little is done to prevent security breaches from the inside. Requiring users to logon to the network can prevent unauthorized access, but what about when the user steps away?

NaturalLogin Pro was designed to close this window of vulnerability. With NaturalLogin Pro, networks are not compromised when users leave their computers unattended. NaturalLogin Pro takes the burden of compliance off the user and brings to security a level of personalization and convenience never before possible.

With NaturalLogin Pro, users no longer have to re-enter their passwords each time they approach their computer. Users can be automatically logged on to their machine as they plug in their USB drive. NaturalLogin Pro recognizes users and determines their access privileges, preventing information from falling into the wrong hands. The result is convenient, personalized security for a variety of business and home environments.

Download Natural Login 1.00 in Softonic

If your PC is shared by many people, then you don't know what's happening to it when you're not there. Or maybe you administer a network of PC's used by several different users. Public Access Desktop makes your life easier by allowing you to make a foolproof workstation easy and safe for any public place.

Once installed and setup, it prevents anyone unauthorised from configuring the system or filling the hard disk with unwanted files. You can create an Internet Kiosk for cybercafes, library information terminals, in-store terminals or other public access PCs. Another option is a configuration designed to stop children accessing your home PC.

For most home usersd however, the most useful application is to completely disable access to the files installed on your PC and prevent users from changing PC settings while allowing full access to all necessary applications you specify. You can selectively enable to launch any program installed on your PC, not only the web browser, mail client and office applications but also any other software you specify. You can even specifiy a time limit for each user.

Public Access Desktop is a powerful program that puts professional network admin tools at your fingertips. However, it's not 100% secure and anyone with some hacking experience could probably circumvent it fairly easily.

Download Public Access Desktop 6.1 in Softonic

If you're ever worried about what's happening with your PC when you're not around then this is an ingenious solution.

If you've got a USB stick, dod you know you can use it for more than just portable storage? You can in fact use it to block people accessing your PC by installing USB PC Lock Pro and inserting it into any available USB port - nothing more. Once plugged in, it blocks everything from keyboard access to MSN Messenger messages and audio of any kind - so no need to worry about any embarrassing noises whilst you are away from the PC. Once installed on the stick, the upper part of the screen shows the main features such as the Presence and Security Status. Below this are a number of "Plugins" which you can enable separately depending on what you want blocked such as media player, messenger etc. Once set, the program sits in the system tray discreetly so that no one even knows its running.

If you're worried about leaving your PC for long periods of time and have a USB stick, this is an effective and simple solution although obviously, anyone who knows what it is can simply take it out and access whatever they want to.

Download USB PC Lock Pro 1.6 in Softonic

Access Controller is a desktop locking security utility you can use to protect your desktop when you are not near your PC. To activate protection, define a password in Options, and select the Lock command. Password protection can be automatically activated on boot or with a click of an icon in the system tray. You can also log access attempts and enforce a custom background image. Access Controller supports a simple messaging system to allow your visitors to leave short messages on your locked desktop.

Access Controller gives you two locking methods: with hiding your desktop and using a screen saver; and without hiding to allow others to see what is happening on your desktop. The second method is good for showrooms where you need to demonstrate something to your customers.

Download Access Controller 3.28 in Softonic

Public PC Desktop turns your personal computer into an Internet kiosk or a public access workstation by disabling access to files installed on your PC while giving full access to all necessary applications you specify including Internet Explorer.

Public PC Desktop supports multiple security modes providing you with an ability to specify the most acceptable type of access to a locked desktop such as username and password authentication, time-locked code (that allows users to access workstation for a given period of time only) or a combination of both. It is ideal for public libraries, Internet cafes, information terminals, in-store kiosks, or home PCs to limit children activities.

Download Public PC Desktop 5.4 in Softonic

Facial recognition is something we've all seen in movies, used to grant access to secret labs, high-tech computing systems or locked safe boxes. Now you can also use it to keep your PC secure while you're away from it.

Despite its cartoonish name, BananaScreen is an efficient tool that will protect your computer from unauthorized access in a very easy way. Simply install it, plug your webcam, record your own face and you're done. The program will lock the PC after the lapse of time you set in configuration options and immediately unlock it only if the same face that was recorded before sits in front of the computer.

BananaScreen did a good job during our tests, recognizing our face on every occasion and blocking other users. There's also the option to enter your own Windows password in case it doesn't work. However, and since it's still a beta version, we have doubts about its reliability. In fact, we've read comments from users who were able to fool the program by using a picture of the computer's owner.

Download BananaScreen 1.2.1 Beta in Softonic

PC TimeWatch is a parental control software that manages access to the computer. You can define a set of rules for every person who uses the computer. You define at what time and for how long a user can access the computer (logon hours), run applications or connect to the Internet.

Parents should discuss these rules with their children. Once the rules are accepted by everyone, PC TimeWatch enforces them automatically, thus defusing any conflict between parents and children. PC TimeWatch is very safe and you don't need to be a computer geek in order to use it.

Download PC TimeWatch 1.5.0.7 in Softonic

1st Security Agent is an excellent password-protected security utility to secure Windows-based computers. It works under any Windows platform and offers an administrative support for controlling which users are allowed to access your computer and the level of access each user may have. You can choose to restrict access to lots of Control Panel applet functions, including Display, Network, Passwords, Printers, System, Add/Remove Programs, etc.

You can also assign separate system profile folders to each user, providing each with their own custom Desktop, Start Menu, Favorites, My Documents, etc. Additionally, you can: disable Start Menu items, hide local and network drives, disable the DOS prompt, boot keys, real DOS mode, Registry editing, taskbar, task manager, and network access, hide desktop icons, and much more. You can apply password protection to Windows and restrict users to running specific applications only. Security restrictions can be applied universally or just to specific users.

1st Security Agent also supports Internet Explorer security that enables you to customize many aspects of the Internet Explorer Web browser. It lets you disable individual menu items, prevent others from editing your Favorites, disable individual tabs in the Internet Options dialog, as well as specific settings from each tab. 1st Security Agent allows you to import and export PC security settings, and offers a flexible and complete password protection. You'll find the program interface very easy to negotiate.

Download 1st Security Agent 7.4 in Softonic

Are your kids abusing the computer? Advanced Parental Control enables you to supervise and control how they use the PC and Internet. Easily create an allowed schedule for each user. You can also setup a time allowance for each user by day or week. If they reach the specified amount of time then they can no longer login.

Advanced Parental Control can block any application for any user and filter web sites based on keywords YOU specify. You can even record select activities including screenshots, keystrokes typed, web sites visited and more for complete activity monitoring. APC also includes System Restriction Tweaks ideal for limiting a child's access.

Download Advanced Parental Control 1.6 in Softonic

Locked! The latest in state of the art protection for your computer. Locked! combines simplicity of setup and use with a powerful two-tiered security system. Whether your system is powered off or on, Locked! securely protects your computer against access by others.

It's proprietary multi-level structure integrates deeply within the Windows architecture, working with and controlling access until you unlock it with a password. Entries from the keyboard and mouse are blocked. Resetting or powering off the computer will not unlock it. Features include Boot Lock, StartUp Lock, Power Lock, Admin Mode, Idle Activate, Preset Activate and automatic Shutdown.

Failed access attempts are logged. Offers optional password generation for additional users with the ability to restrict access times and duration. Includes the ability to take messages while you're away from your computer. Provides both mouse and hot key activation, multiple display options and display compliments.

Download Locked! 5.1 in Softonic

Clean Slate, developed to protect public access computers from malicious or inexperienced users. While not restricting users’ activities, Clean Slate will scour drives back to their original state upon reboot or log off. Clean Slate takes only minutes to install and needs no attention, ever, for most installations. Clean Slate restores the computer to its original configuration discarding unwanted user changes: including erased files, installed software, downloaded spyware and adware, downloaded viruses and Trojan horses, and altered icons.

Without requiring any effort from the administrator, Clean Slate automatically accommodates Windows Critical Updates. No need for complicated scripting, scheduling of downtime, and leaving computers on overnight. It just works!

These Windows Critical Updates are vital to protect not only the computer being updated, but also other computers connected with this computer throughout the local network and beyond. Clean Slate makes it easy to be a responsible Internet citizen by keeping all of your computers updated with the latest security patches. Again it requires nothing of you but to install Clean Slate.

Download Clean Slate 4.0.1428 in Softonic

Do you know that computers can be a real pain for your kids ? Sitting for a long time in positions that aren't natural for their body can strain their hands, wrists, back, and eyes. If you are concerned your child may be spending too much time online or playing games this type of software will offer a solution.

Kids PC Time Administrator allows you to set limits on how much time your child spends on the computer or online. You can share the same computer among your children by setting an individual time table for each child. Also you can prevent the PC usage until the specified date, after the specified date or between specified dates.

The Kids PC Time Administrator records all actions to a log file so you will know when and how much your child used the PC. The password control prevents unauthorized users to change settings and uninstall the product. It also prevents new software installation, disables the Task Manager, and restricts access to Control Panel applets.

Download Kids PC Time Administrator 3.4.2.2 in Softonic

Raise My Rights, enables limited user accounts to run certain programs as Administrator or any other user. The program creates shortcuts to programs handled by Raise My Rights. Those programs execute with the privileges of the specified account.

The encryption used for storing user data is Rijndael/AES 256-bit with "salt". Hashes of the handled programs are stored so if the program is tampered it will not be run.

Download Raise My Rights 1.3.2334.32225 in Softonic

DiskLogon is one of the most powerful and securest logon software. Like smart card logon software, it enables you to log on to your computer with a portable disk. It can save you the trouble of typing your user name and password every time you log on. All you have to do is to plug your portable disk in your computer, and you can log on to your computer quickly and safely. DiskLogon supports dial-up connection that can help you establish a secure connection before logging on. For commercial organization users, DiskLogon saves their much time to establish a secure connection and logon.

Download DiskLogon 2.5.1.42 in Softonic

Lock My PC is an easy to use and compact tool for quick computer locking when you leave it unattended. It shows a lock screen, disables Windows hot keys and the mouse. You can lock your PC with a hotkey or from the system tray. To unlock the computer you must enter correct password only. The program can log invalid password entry attempts and has option to keep your PC locked even if power failure occurs or someone switches it off and on.

Download Lock My PC 4.7 in Softonic