Introduction
Ever wondered what’s been happening on your computer when you weren’t looking? Whether you’re a curious user, a concerned parent, or a professional investigator, LastActivityView by NirSoft can give you a clear picture. This handy tool shows you all recent activities on your Windows computer.
What is LastActivityView?
LastActivityView is a free tool that collects and displays information about the recent activities on your Windows computer. It pulls data from various parts of the system to show you what’s been done, like which applications were opened, which files were accessed, and even when the computer was shut down or started up.
Key Features
Easy to Use: Simple interface that lists activities in order.
Comprehensive Data: Shows a wide range of activities from different sources.
No Installation Needed: It’s portable; just download and run.
Export Options: Save the activity log in formats like CSV, XML, and HTML.
Using LastActivityView
Viewing Activities
When you open LastActivityView, it immediately shows a list of recent activities. For each activity, you’ll see:
Date/Time: When the activity happened.
Description: What the activity was about.
Filename/Process: The file or program involved.
More Info: Additional details, if available.
Full Path, Data source, extension
Filtering and Sorting
To find specific activities:
Click on column headers to sort the list by that column.
Use "Advanced Options" under the Options menu to filter by date or activity type.
Exporting Data
To save the activity log for later use:
Select the entries you want to save (use Ctrl+A to select all).
Go to the "File" menu and choose "Save Selected Items" (or press Ctrl+S).
Choose a format (CSV, XML, HTML) and save it to your preferred location.
Practical Uses
Forensic Analysis
For investigators, LastActivityView can help piece together what happened on a computer. You can see a timeline of user actions to understand events leading up to an incident.
System Administration
Admins can use LastActivityView to monitor employee computer usage. It helps ensure that company resources are used appropriately and can spot unusual activities.
Conclusion
LastActivityView by NirSoft is a simple yet powerful tool to see what’s been happening on your Windows computer. It’s great for anyone who wants to monitor and understand user activity, whether for personal, professional, or investigative purposes.
Akash Patel