senso cloud

[Jax]

Hi, we are looking at finding some software that sends an alert if a pupil searches a list of ban words and subjects. senso cloud has come up as a service to use for keystroke monitoring. Can I ask what you use in school for this? We have AB tutor, but this doesn't alert us if a student types in the word (IE) Porn

 

Thanks Jax

[IRL]

We use Netsupport DNA/Classroom cloud. You can filter down to what kind of alerts you want to be sent and to what people.

[filteringtech]

Impero will do it too.

[Garacesh]

Potentially out-of-date information, but about two years ago I slapped Senso and NetSupport DNA onto the same computers and started typing away on word, terms to do with drugs, violence, sexual language, "I want to kill myself", etc.

As much as NetSupport's support are the top of their game, Senso fared far better in a live environment for keyword monitoring.

 

Impero were heavily pushing class:room at the time, and I can't remember why but we deemed that unsuitable.

 

Maybe it's worth just doing a live trial, both on the same suite for a week, see what picks up what? NetSupport are pretty good about giving out trials, can't speak for Senso though.

 

 

That being said, Senso's remote control was, and still is, utter garbage. So if you want to roll out the teacher portion of the software for locking pcs/launching software/limiting internet/etc, I'd recommend NetSupport

Edited September 14, 2023 by Garacesh

[mrbios]

That being said, Senso's remote control was, and still is, utter garbage. So if you want to roll out the teacher portion of the software for locking pcs/launching software/limiting internet/etc, I'd recommend NetSupport

 

I've been using Senso for remote control, monitoring etc for some years now. It started off atrocious but for the past 12 months it's been really solid and responsive. Making sure it's properly unfiltered, webRTC is setup properly and its made an exception from any antivirus is essential to having a good time with it. (Recommend looking through the prerequisites on their support site)

 

The only issue i ever see with it anymore is HP laptops display drivers sometimes lead to the screen not displaying properly.... never looked into why that is though as it's such a rare use case for us.

 

 

On topic:

Senso monitoring is brilliant.

[Garacesh]

I've been using Senso for remote control, monitoring etc for some years now. It started off atrocious but for the past 12 months it's been really solid and responsive. Making sure it's properly unfiltered, webRTC is setup properly and its made an exception from any antivirus is essential to having a good time with it. (Recommend looking through the prerequisites on their support site)

 

It works.... ish, here. Which is the same as my last school. All of the urls they request fully whitelisted.

FWIW I'm glad it works so well for you - I'd rather it be good for someone, at least

[Iain.Faulkner]

We currently use Senso for the monitoring with a link into SWGFL for real time monitoring so someone on site gets a call if there is a category 1/level 1 (whatever you call it) incident. It does this really well. In previous schools I've also used Smoothwall Monitor, which is also a good product.

 

Without wanting to derail completely, I'm in agreement that Senso isn't particularly good as a classroom management tool. Broadcasting is poor, taking control of screens, locking screens all very poor and should be core features. We're discussing it with Senso currently as it's the same at both of our secondary schools and we're fighting constantly with the Computing staff to rip it out and replace it.

[mrbios]

We currently use Senso for the monitoring with a link into SWGFL for real time monitoring so someone on site gets a call if there is a category 1/level 1 (whatever you call it) incident. It does this really well. In previous schools I've also used Smoothwall Monitor, which is also a good product.

 

Without wanting to derail completely, I'm in agreement that Senso isn't particularly good as a classroom management tool. Broadcasting is poor, taking control of screens, locking screens all very poor and should be core features. We're discussing it with Senso currently as it's the same at both of our secondary schools and we're fighting constantly with the Computing staff to rip it out and replace it.

 

Oh that's one area that is consistently atrocious .... screen broadcast. That's a module that doesn't and hasn't ever really worked properly at all, especially if your teachers have multiple monitors.

 

It does seem interesting that so many have the same problems with senso control and locking etc.... I wonder if there's something i've done that Senso hasn't put in their tech docs. I know that i've taken all their IP addresses and DNs and put them all in a firewall rule that whitelists them all, even though you shouldn't have to grab all the IPs like that, i felt it helped negate some issues. You can grab them all from here: https://monitoring.senso.cloud/ also even though i shouldn't need to.

 

Not sure if this would help either of you, this is based on a Sophos XGS firewall but i've chucked all this in (the latter might not be needed at all, but went for a "sod it, make sure it's 100% unblocked" approach":

EDIT: Oh i also have a senso web category with the DNs in to match the above IPs in the exceptions, and then that is a web category exception to filtering too.

Edited September 15, 2023 by mrbios

[tom_newton]

One thing I would suggest is try and avoid keywords - they result in a LOT of false positives.

Most schools are finding the most effective route is a pro-active monitoring product (that's the terminology from the SIC KCSIE guidelines, some call it moderated, or managed). This allows DSLs to focus on their work, and not be bombarded with a load of junk alerts.

I am horribly biased, but I would of course recommend Smoothwall Monitor - we have decades of experience in this area, which we are happy to share

[filteringtech]

TOTALLY with you on the use of "Keywords", and I wouldn't let the 99% garbage reports we get anywhere near our very busy DSL lead.

 

To quote my provider's email:

 

a list we apply as default using some of the most prolific words that we do not want to be allowed in a search

 

Our local theme park is Pleasure Wood Hills. "Pleasure" is on their banned word list. That crops up quite a lot.

 

They also ban - Biological names of parts of the body, key terms in the history syllabus, some Computer Science terms, anyone called "Dick" or "Karim" and the names of a handful of 40+ year old women amongst other things.

 

The filter is context aware, which should make the words safe to search for.

 

The list is on a take-it or leave-it basis as it can't have anything removed. If they don't get with the program (KCSIE 2023), it will be a leave-it.

[filteringtech]

I don't have an answer, but I am completely conflated that if/when pupils (particularly older ones), get to know that when certain things are typed - they will be approached by school staff, that it will actually have a chilling effect on them seeking information on Childline or other reputable organisation before they are ready to talk to a member of staff.

 

We also have noticed quite a few what turn out to be "lean-overs" which is usually a "p***hub" search which in our case never turns out to be the pupil signed in but a "prank" by another pupil.

[mrbios]

I don't have an answer, but I am completely conflated that if/when pupils (particularly older ones), get to know that when certain things are typed - they will be approached by school staff, that it will actually have a chilling effect on them seeking information on Childline or other reputable organisation before they are ready to talk to a member of staff.

 

That's an understandable concern, however my experience has been the opposite. Last year we had a class searching for sensitive information, I think it was either for the PD lessons or for something they were doing in Drama. DSL got lots of notifications, went to the room and spoke to the teacher and a student overheard that conversation. She was quite open in saying that it made her feel really protected and safe knowing that these things were actively looked into.

 

Also bare in mind that you can make exceptions to the rules. Childline might be one you want to add as an exception if you want to keep confidentiality. For example if we had it monitoring staff we would have CPOMS and SIMS as exceptions as otherwise we'd get tons of false positives from those windows.

[Ex-MGSTech]

We were an early adopter of Impero from Version1...however after the sell-out the prices went through the roof!

 

WE moved to Senso when the guy that sole Impero was no longer bound by any contractual obligations.

I agree you have to invest time in following the setup processes, especially AV exceptions and port /web listings.

 

To be honest its been fairly solid and we also added Teams monitoring last year.

 

We have a team of DSL/IT Staff who are rostered to keep an eye on violations etc. and yes with any key logger you will need to tweak the rules to work for you.

The only issue we continue to have is wake on LAN as this required several "relays" to be on perminently to send the WOL signals out

I'd not go back to Impero....