spy software and computer monitoring software
Also known as "Computer Monitoring Software" or "keylogger", spy software secretly records a computer user’s activity by capturing all keystrokes, websites visited, chat conversations, printed documents. Some of these spy software programs can even be installed remotely without being detected by commercial anti-virus software. There are several different uses for this type of software, with two of the most popular being child Internet safety and spousal monitoring.
Many times spy software is confused with "spyware", but actually they are different. The main difference between them is the installation mode: the spyware is installed on the computer without the user’s knowledge, while, the computer monitoring software is installed directly by the user wanting to perform the monitoring.
Spy Software allows you to legally monitor your children, spouse or employees, it create reports for your eyes, and can be loaded intentionally by the purchaser.
Spying software can also be in the form of web based service. In this type of spying service the user is not required to download any standalone application, everything is saved and maintained on the web server.
The computer spy programs are designed to run in complete stealth mode, so it is completely hidden to others while using your PC. That is why they do not show any icons, program groups or any other mention of the program. The access to the recorded activity is made by pressing a set of keys together and then entering your password into a window. Also the monitoring activity is delivered to you by email.
Is there any difference between
spy software and computer monitoring
software?
Both these names can be used to describe
the same kind of programs. But some people
say that the difference lies in the fact
that spy software works without detection
and computer activity monitoring programs
warn the user that his activity is
monitored. But the border between these two
kinds of software is very vague.
Can a user find out that he is
being monitored?
Almost all computer monitoring software
works in the stealth mode. They are not
visible in the Task Manager; they don't
appear in the registry and are not shown in
the standard startup areas. Even a very
experienced user won't be able to detect
them unless he uses special detection
software up-to-date and the changes are
extremely low. Anyway the monitoring
activity and the email reporting address are
encrypted and no one can tell who made the
installation.
