Digital Signage Watchdog is a low-level software application for Windows based Digital Signage systems. It protects your Digital Signage from either malicious / accidental attacks, and application or software/hardware failures.
Watchdog is available as an upgrade to our system Sentinel software provided with our other software, or as an outright purchase for customers with their own or 3rd party applications which need the level of security and protection provided by this Software Watchdog product. It works alongside any Digital Signage application and can even utilise custom plugins for connection to and monitoring of specific hardware devices (including LCD /Plasma screens, system motherboards, hardware watchdogs, and Digital Signage security/conditioning systems).
– A lighter version of the software designed for users with existing remote monitoring/desktop sharing/ticketing systems, or who cannot connect their Digital Signage to the Internet. Signage Watchdog Lite provides most of the functionality of the Signage Watchdog Pro system, including the local security, automatic fault recovery, keyboard filters, etc except for connection to the PLUS! monitoring network. Instead it sends an email through your email servers to a specified address in case any of the monitored events occur to notify you. You can then use any remote desktop/ftp system such as LogMeIn, PCAnywhere, Gotomypc, Remote Desktop, SiteRemote, etc to identify and resolve the problem. However, you may consider upgrading to Signage Watchdog Pro for the benefits of an integrated system designed specifically for Digital Signage monitoring and Remote Digital Signage support.
– This provides you with the optimum protection for your Digital Signage. Once installed, it secures the operating system to prevent local attacks and failures using a combination of keyboard blocking, mouse blocking, System event Popup blocking, banned program interception, telemetry monitoring and application monitoring. To ensure you know about everything that happens, it also communicates securely with the PLUS! network as a regular ‘Heartbeat’ to provide you with live information, alerts and remote connectivity (see Remote Services Manager). And because it includes remote support access (Remote Desktop viewing and control, Remote File Transfer, Multicast updates, Remote Command prompt – all through firewalls or using mobile telephony), it also encrypts all the communications and provides secure access onto your Digital Signage, only accessible by your authorised staff.
Feature Comparison
|

Lite |

Pro |
 |
System Information
Provides a quick look-up for; uptime, total reboots, unexpected reboots, connectivity status and screen resolution |
 |
 |
|
 |
Network Information
Shows; the time of the last email, the time for the next scheduled email, unit name, target email address, network connection status and IP address |
 |
 |
|
 |
Recent Alerts
Displays a snapshot of the most recent alerts e.g. HDD over temperature, processor temperature etc. |
 |
 |
|
 |
System Log
Provide a full audit trail of every tracked event on the Digital Signage by timeline, enabling fast tracing of faults by your developers or support staff. |
 |
 |
|
 |
Password Protected
Using a secret key sequence known only to your engineers, or via secure remote access, you can instantly unlock all of the features for the Digital Signage to be worked upon during a site or remote visit, then with one button press, simply invoke all of the security settings again. |
 |
 |
|
 |
Automatic Clock updates
The system clock is regularly checked and updated if necessary in case of BIOS battery failure or hacking attempts to ensure accurate reporting and logging. |
- |
 |
|
 |
Automatic Software updates
All Watchdog functions are automatically updated as new versions become available via the network. |
- |
 |
|
 |
Automatic Volume Control
With more Digital Signage using sound prompts or voice to be Disabled-friendly, it is important to ensure that when the Digital Signage is installed it’s volume matches the surrounding sound levels as they change throughout the day. |
- |
 |
|
 |
Remote Multicast for Application Updates
Using Signage monitor, you can quickly rollout updates to your Digital Signage and applications using the Multicast facility. This enables file changes/updates, registry changes, etc to automatically rollout to your chosen Digital Signage.
|
- |
 |
|
 |
Heartbeat
Throughout every day, each Digital Signage regularly connects to one of our PLUS! network servers to confirm it’s operation, upload any error information, and perform a number of housekeeping duties. |
- |
 |
|
 |
Anti Blue Screen of Death (BSoD)
Stop your Digital Signage crashing and sticking on Microsoft’s debug screen known as the ‘Blue Screen of Death’ – automatically restart and be notified about the fault (note: if the OS cannot reboot due to hardware failure/corrupt image, the fault will not be reported, but instead the Digital Signage will show a lack of connection fault). |
 |
 |
|
 |
Remote Reboot
Although the Signage Monitor Watchdog software constantly checks and takes action in the case of faults, you may wish to remotely reboot the Digital Signage in case of software updates or servicing reasons, and the Watchdog provides a number of ways to do this (note if the OS is frozen this is impossible, however please see plugins for links to hadware watchdogs which can integrate with the software Signage Watchdogs) |
- |
 |
|
 |
Wake on LAN
If your LAN card supports it and your Router is configured correctly, you can remotely turn your Digital Signage on using the Site Manager program in case it has been powered down. |
- |
 |
|
 |
Monitored Levels
Provides your support team with an instant view of all core monitored levels so they can quickly track down any issues (or potential issues) and resolve them. Includes information such as system memory, temperature, battery levels, printer faults, Software/Hardware changes, Event Log events, Hard Disc capacity, faults and SMART data and more. (note plugins are available for specific devices). |
 |
 |
|
 |
Automatic Firewall Management
Automatically configure and control Windows Firewall and any uPNP enabled firewall/routers to provide instant changes for remote access. |
- |
 |
|
 |
Programmer Interface
Provides a method that your Digital Signage developers can interface to the Watchdog program for logging or monitoring events, connecting to specific hardware devices on a common interface and more. |
- |
 |
|
 |
PC Status
Provides information on all PC hardware, software and services |
 |
 |
|
 |
Triggers
Permits the setup of local triggers so that alerts are sent relating to : hardware or software changes and reboots. Physical and paging memory. Changes to the software operating system. Hard disk drive (HDD) usage. Printer problems. |
 |
 |
|
 |
Programs and Application Settings
Specify the programs which MUST be running to make your Digital Signage work, and include a list of programs you never want to run to prevent typical virus carriers or conflicting applications. Signage Watchdog constantly monitors the mandatory applications and ensures they remain on-top of other windows, and any failures or memory/resource leaks are automatically recovered from. |
 |
 |
|
 |
System Settings
Change Widows background and desktop image to hide operating system branding. Choose optimal Paging Memory settings, Change Windows Startup Logo. |
 |
 |
|
 |
Lock-Down Settings
Choose to activate any or all of the following :
- Completely replace the normal Windows Desktop with a secure Watchdog desktop, or choose from a combination of security settings
- Turn off Power Saving
- Turn off Screen Saver
- Disable Windows Auto Updates
- Disable Firewall Messages
- Disable Balloon Tips
- Automatic Logon
- Disable AutoPlay
- Disable Low Disk Space Warnings and Cleanup
- Prohibit Access to Control Panel
- Prevent Access to Command Prompt
- Deny All Access to Removable Storage
- Prevent Access to Registry Editing Tools
- Deny Access to Display Settings
- Prevent Access to Drives from ‘My Computer’
|
 |
 |
|
 |
System Lock-down Settings
Choose to activate any or all of the following :
- Disable any or all Mouse button clicks
- Disable the Taskbar
- Disable the Desktop
- Disable Task Manager
- Disable Windows Message Boxes
- Lock-Down the Explorer Shell
- Use Watchdog Shell Instead of Explorer
- Automatically Restart on System Failure (blue screen)
- Disable All Accessibility Features for Keyboards
|
 |
 |
|
 |
Keyboard Blocking
Enables any or all of the following key combinations to be blocked :
- NEW – Block CTRL-ALT-DEL in Windows Vista and Windows 7
- All separate Windows Key (WIN) combinations
- Shift+F10 – Contextual Menu
- APPKEY - Contextual Menu
- F1 – Help
- CTRL+ALT+DELETE – Restart Computer
- CTRL+ESCAPE – Start Menu
- CTRL+SHIFT+ESCAPE – Task Manager
- ALT+TAB – Switch Programs
- ALT+SHIFT+TAB – Switch Programs
- ALT+F4 – Quit Program
- ALT+SHIFT+ESCAPE – Switch Programs
- ALT+ESCAPE – Switch Programs
|
 |
 |
|
 |
Email Alert
Enables the configuration of SMTP email settings for recorded alerts. |
 |
- |
|
 |
Configurable Email / SMS Status Alert
Provides each engineer/administrator responsible for a Digital Signage an email and/or SMS text with details of the Digital Signage and fault event. |
- |
 |
|
 |
Plugins
Shows the status of any devices using specific plugins e.g. barcode scanner, sensors, webcams etc. |
- |
 |
|
 |
Remote Services Manager
Interfaces with our Remote Access and Management suite. |
- |
 |