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Instant Messenger Controls
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The PC Chaperone Instant Messenger controls are available for AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Windows
Live Messenger (MSN), and Yahoo Instant Messengers
The options available for each messenger are identical and are divided into
Identification and Permitted Contacts, Messenger Schedule, and Conversation
Logging
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Identification and Permitted Contacts
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Messenger User Name
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This identifies the messenger user based on their messenger login name
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Permitted Messenger Contacts
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These options are used to limit the contacts the messenger user can engage in
conversations with
There are two options:
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1.
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Allow conversations with any contact
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This option allows the user to engage in conversations with any contact, including
any new contacts they may add to their contact list
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2.
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Allow conversations with only the listed contacts
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This option limits the user to conversations with only the listed contacts. Even
if the user adds new contacts to their contact list they will not be able to
have conversations with them until they are added to the list of permitted contacts
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1.
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Copying contact lists from other PC Chaperone messenger user configurations
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The Import / Copy button is used to copy contact lists from other messenger
user configurations
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2.
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Importing contacts from the messenger buddy list
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PC Chaperone includes tools designed to make adding contacts from the messenger user's
buddy list quick and easy
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1.
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Export the contact list from the instant messenger. Each messenger has its own process
for exporting the contact list that will result in a file that can be opened
using any text editor, such as the Windows Notepad
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2.
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Open the file created in Step 1 using a text file editor, such as Windows Notepad,
and remove all extra information, leaving only the contact user names. Make sure
there is only one contact per line and remove any blank lines
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3.
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Click the Copy / Import button and select the file from Step 2
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1.
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Stopping Internet predators
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Limiting contact access to a list of approved contacts is an excellent defense from
Internet predators, who may otherwise be able to contact the user, even if they
have not been added to the user's contact list
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Messenger Schedule
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PC Chaperone instant messenger schedules include four options:
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No Schedule Limits
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This option is selected by default and indicates that there are no schedule limits
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Never Permitted To Run
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This option is used to completely deny access to the messenger
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Maximum Hours Per Day
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This option maintains a running tally of the time the messenger is active.
Once the allotted time has expired the messenger will be closed and the user will be
unable to engage in conversations (See notes below)
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According to a Time Slot Schedule
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This option is used to set specific times when the messenger can be used. All of the time slots
highlighted in red are times when access will be prevented
This option also allows a maxium duration to be set. With this combination access can be
restricted to a maximum duration per day while restricting what times of the day this allotment can
be used
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1.
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Setting a maximum duration without setting the permitted time slots
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This occurs when the According to a Time Slot Schedule option is selected and maximum durations are set,
but there are no time slots set to permit access. As a result access will never be permitted
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1.
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When is the schedule active
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Instant messenger schedules are only active when there is an active conversation window.
This behavior may make it appear as if the schedule is not working properly since the
user can be logged in without any of their time allotment being used, as long as they
are not engaged in any conversations
By having the schedule active only when a conversation window is open the user can
keep the messenger running in the background and remain logged in without using their
allotted time
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2.
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The user will be warned before the program schedule expires
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The warning is first displayed 20 minutes before the schedule expires. It includes the option
to view the schedule as well as to override the schedule using the Administrator's Password
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3.
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Messenger schedules can be extended using the Administrator's Password
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The schedule extension is in the form of selecting a date/time to extend the schedule until. After this
period has expired, or the user logs off and back on, the normal schedule restrictions will be enforced.
As a result there is no need to reset the override once the desired period has expired
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4.
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Unused time allotments are not rolled over to subsequent days
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Tips and Hints
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1.
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Different maximum durations can be set for each day of the week by selecting the
"According to a Time Slot Schedule" option, even if there is no need to limit the schedule
to specific time slots. In this case all time slots are permitted
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Conversation Logging
- (Professional Edition Only)
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Instant messenger logging is used to record both sides of a conversation
Instant messenger logging includes the following options:
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Log Conversations With
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These options are used to identify which conversations will be recorded
There are two options:
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1.
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All permitted contacts
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This option will log all conversations
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2.
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Only the listed contacts
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This option logs conversations with only the listed contacts. If the user
adds new contacts to their buddy list conversations with the new will not
logged until they are added to this list
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Acronym Decoding
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When this option is turned on commonly used instant messenger acronyms, such as "lol", "brb", etc...
are automatically translated. The acronym and translation will both appear in the logged message,
with the translation appearing directly after the acronym, bracketed and highlighted in blue
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1.
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Privacy concerns
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Logging conversations without the user's knowledge may violate federal or state privacy laws,
even if the computer is not owned by the messenger user, the user is a minor,
or the computer is a corporate computer. This violation of privacy may also extend to
other parties involved in the conversation
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2.
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Importing contacts from the messenger buddy list
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PC Chaperone includes tools designed to make adding contacts from the messenger user's
buddy list quick and easy
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1.
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Export the contact list from the instant messenger. Each messenger has its own process
for exporting the contact list that will result in a file that can be opened
using any text editor, such as the Windows Notepad
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2.
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Open the file created in Step 1 using a text file editor, such as Windows Notepad,
and remove all extra information, leaving only the contact user names. Make sure
there is only one contact per line and remove any blank lines
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3.
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Click the Copy / Import button and select the file from Step 2
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3.
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Acronym decoding and profanity
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Many acronyms represent profanity and adult language. In order to accurately convey their meaning
PC Chaperone includes the intended profanity in acronym translations. As a result the conversation
log files may include profanity and adult language
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