How to Check Computer Activity: A Complete Guide for Tracking PC Usage
COMPUTER ACTIVITY TRACKER
Check recent activity on computers to ensure a secure and productive work environment
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This article will answer this common question: “How do I check recent activity on my computer?”. I will show you how to review recent activities using apps that come included with Windows as well as CurrentWare’s employee and computer monitoring software solutions.
Checking recent activity on your computer allows you to see how the devices in your network have been used, allowing you to investigate suspicious activity such as web browsing and changes to files during periods when nobody should have been accessing the PC.
In today's dynamic work environment, ensuring employee productivity and data security is paramount. CurrentWare offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to monitor computer activity effectively. With the release of version 11.0.0, several new features have been introduced to enhance monitoring capabilities and streamline user management.
Also Read: Internet Usage Policy Guide: How to Create and Implement It?
How Can I Tell if Someone Has Used My Computer?
If you are concerned that someone else has been using your computer, Windows includes free tools that you can use to check recent activity on your computer. If you discover events that occurred when you were not using your computer, it could be an indication that your computer was used without your knowledge.
Note: CurrentWare supports Single Sign-On (SSO), allowing users to authenticate using their existing credentials. This integration simplifies the login process and enhances security by reducing password fatigue and potential breaches.
Use Windows Event Viewer to Check Computer Events
Note: When you view the logs in Windows Event Viewer, you are likely to see a few event logs of errors that have occurred on your machine. This is completely normal and not an immediate cause for concern if your machine is otherwise running smoothly. The application records every event on your computer, including minor start-up and processing errors that have likely resolved themselves.
Windows Event Viewer is a utility that comes included with the Windows operating system. It’s intended to be used by system administrators to view event logs on local and remote machines, but it can also tell you when your computer has been turned on. If your computer has been turned on when you were not using it, that could mean that someone else was using your computer.
Windows Event Viewer logs various system events, including user logins and system startups. To check if someone has used your computer:
- Press the Windows key and type Event Viewer, then press Enter.
- In the left pane, expand Windows Logs and select System.
- In the right pane, click Filter Current Log.
- In the filter window, check Power-Troubleshooter under Event sources, then click OK.
- The center pane will display events indicating when the computer was turned on.
If you notice events at times you weren't using the computer, it could indicate unauthorized access.
If you are using Windows 10 Professional, you can also enable auditing of logon events in the Local Group Policy Editor. This will allow you to track which user accounts log in to your Windows devices.
If you would like to audit logon events for multiple computers, you can use enPowerManager’s logon/logoff tracking report for monitoring these computer activities at-scale.
2. Viewing Recently Edited Files
To see which files were recently accessed or modified:
- Press the Windows key and type Run, then press Enter.
- In the Run dialog, type recent and press Enter.
- A window will open displaying recently accessed files.
- You can sort these by Date Modified to see the most recent activity.
A secondary client database has been introduced to improve data redundancy and reliability. This ensures that activity logs are preserved even in the event of primary database issues.
Also Read: Workplace Monitoring Policy Template | Create & Enforce Policies
How Do I Check Internet Browsing Activity On My Computer?
Each web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Edge, etc) comes with its own internet browsing history. This can often be accessed by launching the program and pressing CTRL + H to bring up the browsing data of your device.
Unfortunately, if you or another user were browsing in a private browsing mode such as Chrome’s Incognito mode or Edge’s InPrivate mode you will not be able to see internet browsing activity from that time period using this method.
Fortunately, there are tools for monitoring computer activities that can track web browsing history even when private browsing modes are used.
Use BrowseReporter to Check Application Usage and Web Activity
BrowseReporter can track these computer activities:
- Internet Browsing: Monitor all websites that are visited, even when private browsing is enabled.
- Bandwidth Monitor: Bandwidth usage can be logged to troubleshoot slow internet connections and discover bandwidth abuse in the network.
- Application Use: BrowseReporter can be used to track Windows applications.
The fastest way to track web and application activity on your computer will be to perform a standalone installation of CurrentWare by installing BrowseReporter, the CurrentWare server, the CurrentWare console, and the CurrentWare client on the same device.
The reporting module has been upgraded to provide deeper insights into employee work patterns. New trend analysis helps identify productivity bottlenecks and areas for improvement over time.
How To Monitor Activity On Another Computer With BrowseReporter
If you would like to use BrowseReporter to monitor another computer, you can do so by installing the CurrentWare client on each computer that you would like to track. If you’d like to give it a try before purchasing a license, you can track internet activity for free with a 14-day trial.
If you will be managing multiple devices, you will benefit greatly from the included central console, as it allows you to manage all of your devices remotely rather than checking each computer manually.
Improve Employee Productivity With
CurrentWare’s Remote Employee Monitoring Software
Ready to get advanced insights into how your employees spend their time? Reach out to the CurrentWare team for a demo of BrowseReporter, CurrentWare’s employee and computer monitoring software.
- Improve Productivity
Track unproductive web browsing and idle time to detect time-wasting - Save Time With Intuitive Reports
User-friendly reports make it easy to understand employee computer activity - Enhance Visibility
See how employees spend their time, even on Terminal Server and Remote Desktop Services!
Also Read: Negative Effects of Employee Monitoring & How to Reduce Them
How to See When Apps/Websites Were Last Used?
BrowseReporter’s internet and application usage dashboards allow you to readily view each users’ last accessed time for specific apps/websites for greater insights into recent activity and resource usage.
How to Use This Feature
Software Asset Management
Monitor web and application utilization rates to uncover opportunities to optimize software spend by decommissioning or consolidating underutilized tools.
Monitor Productivity & Time Management
See how much time is spent on different apps/websites and identify any distractions or inefficiencies.
Optimizing Device Performance And Storage
Find out which apps/websites are used frequently and which ones are rarely or never used; uninstall or disable underused tools to free up space and resources on your device.
Cybersecurity & Liability
Check if any apps/websites have been accessed by users that should not be able to, or if users are accessing sensitive apps/websites at anomalous hours.
Also Read: Remote Employee Monitoring Software—Track WFH Teams
How Do I Check USB Device Usage On My Computer?
Checking USB device history is incredibly useful for performing a digital forensics investigation. If you are running a business it can be helpful to see USB activities on your network to collect evidence of illicit data transfers and the use of unauthorized devices by your employees.
If you are monitoring USB activities on a standalone machine and you do not need real-time alerts or detailed file transfer history, you can use Windows Event Viewer to view events where USB devices have been connected and disconnected from the computer.
If you would like more detailed information about how USB devices are used on your endpoint devices, you can use AccessPatrol for monitoring computer activities such as portable storage file operations and device usage history.
AccessPatrol’s USB tracking features
USB Activity Dashboards: Review aggregate and granular USB usage data of your entire workforce, including USB file transfers and attempts to use blocked devices.
The new application productivity grading system categorizes software based on its relevance to work tasks. This feature aids in assessing how application usage aligns with organizational productivity goals.
File Operations History: Generate reports on files that are copied, modified, created, and deleted to USB devices
Devices Accessed: Track USB device history to see devices that have been connected to the computer.
Email alerts can be configured in AccessPatrol to generate real-time alerts of USB device usage and file operations on the endpoints in your network.
Conclusion
There are a wide array of use cases for monitoring computer activities in your network. With the tips listed in this article, you will be able to track web browsing history, determine if someone has been using your computer, investigate employee data theft, and track logon events.
Frequently Asked Questions:
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Author
Alex H
Head of Customer Success & Support, CurrentWare
Alex, with over 10 years of experience leading high-performing customer-facing teams, heads Customer Success & Support at CurrentWare. He specializes in building scalable systems and proactive strategies that drive retention, streamline onboarding, and elevate the customer experience. Alex is deeply committed to guiding clients in maximizing the value of CurrentWare's suite of employee monitoring, employee productivity, workforce analytics, and data loss prevention solutions to achieve their security and productivity goals.
