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FROM: Joseph Fardella
DATE: May 23, 2000 TIME: 23:56:55 REMOTE IP: 63.23.128.165 |
CORPORATE SPYING SOFTWARE |
CORPORATE SPYING SOFTWARE
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During the course of this semester many discussions were centered
around security, and the defenses in place to protect privacy. Such
recognition of a problem is a good place to start, but it is not a solution.
A computer user must understand the types of spying software available,
so that he/she might be able to avoid unwanted situations. Such
software is used in the business environment to monitor employee
performance. Although, no organization will likely admit to spying on
their workers, it is a practice which is executed everyday. In an attempt
to make users aware of spying software, two spying applications will be
discussed: Invisible Keylogger Stealth by Amecisco, and Spector by
Spectorsoft.
Invisible Keylogger Stealth (IKS) uses a simple and effective process
to gain information on a user. The application monitors every keystroke
a user makes, while working on a computer. This is done by keeping a
log of the entered information. The log may contain confidential
information, such as your Windows login password, and every e-mail
message and document you type.
The process to begin spying on a user is very simple. To start
spying simply install the application on a PC, allow others to use the
machine, and evaluate there input later. The installation inserts a device
driver that intercepts the keystrokes at a very low level in the Operating
System. Due to the fact that IKS works on such an unsophisticated level it
can be installed using only 700k of memory, making it very difficult to
detect. Someone could sit down at your computer when your not looking
and quickly install this program from a 3.5 floppy disk. Then later they
could see all of information which you entered from the keyboard.
There are a few drawbacks to this application, which don’t make it
the choice for many spies. The person who desires the information must
have physical access to the computer. This is not always possible, and
allows for a high risk of getting caught. The application does not log
which websites a person is visiting, so information received from a
website will not be recorded. Finally, the major drawback to this
application is that it shows up in the Add/Remove Programs menu as
“IKS”. This is good news for the user, who can just remove the program
from their system, and then take measure to secure their information.
The next application which we will look at is called Spector, which
installs just as easily as IKS. It can capture keystrokes, and as an added
bonus it can take screen shots. This gives a spy visual proof of how a
user is spending their time. Spector can run in one of two modes:
“visible” in which the user knows he/she is being watched, and “ultra
stealth” in which the user has no idea they are being monitored. These
features make it much more powerful than IKS, and it is almost
impossible to detect. I does not appear in the Add/Remove Programs
menu or in the task manager, it can only be referenced by using a
keystroke sequence that you set. It cannot be detected by a file search,
because Spector attaches random dates to the created files to prevent
discovery. This application is perfect for employers who want to know
exactly what their employees are doing at the computer when no one else
is around. This is a very powerful tool for monitoring workers in a
business environment.
These applications account for just a small fraction of the spying
ability available. They also give rise to many questions regarding privacy
in the work place. Should employers be allowed to monitor e-mail,
movement on the web, and personal messages sent between coworkers?
Is this stepping over the line of personal privacy? Should attempts be
made to regulate privacy issues in the workplace?
Re: CORPORATE SPYING SOFTWARE
Posted by Prof Chi on June 19, 2000 at 22:22:21 at IP 202.112.36.196
Very interesting Re: CORPORATE SPYING SOFTWARE
Posted by Bougataya Mehdi on May 27, 2000 at 15:35:55 at IP 163.238.9.125
I think that everyone disagrees for the companies to spy on their employees. But an employee should be straight in his job. I mean that this employee should deliver the same quality of work weather his boss is watching him or not. So for a good employee the fact that his company is watching him should not be an issue for him. Re: CORPORATE SPYING SOFTWARE
Posted by Kit Woo on May 26, 2000 at 21:52:19 at IP 172.131.235.208
I think that company has good reasons to spy to protect themself. However, email privacy is important for everyone. Company should not allow to spy any employee email for any reasons.
Have nice summer! Re: CORPORATE SPYING SOFTWARE
Posted by Prof. Klibaner on May 26, 2000 at 18:50:33 at IP 163.238.125.136
During regular working hours an employee has an obligation to do the work he/she is being paid for. During this time frame employees might be able to justify spying because they are paying for productivity (or the lack of productivity). After working hours (assuming you are not collecting overtime) there is no legitimate reason to justify this spying. Re: CORPORATE SPYING SOFTWARE
Posted by mkhanum@hotmail.com on May 25, 2000 at 10:56:55 at IP 216.67.6.123
I think spying on someone is very wrong. But when you think of it in a business point of view, opnion changes a little. Emploers are paying lots of money to their employees, they also provide them with good equipmenst. Its fair for them to check whether employees are doing what they are supposed to or not. Of course this will make employess trust the emploer less but also they will be alert and work well. Re: CORPORATE SPYING SOFTWARE
Posted by Wai Shing Chan on May 25, 2000 at 10:15:11 at IP 152.163.204.53
It sounds scary to spy by someone. I understand the company has a good reason to do so because they want to protect themselves. However, it also shows that the company do not trust their employees. If the employees find out one day, it will destroy their trustee and obedience toward the company. Re: CORPORATE SPYING SOFTWARE
Posted by HOI CHUN YUNG on May 25, 2000 at 2:51:20 at IP 209.255.49.93
Personal Privacy is important, however this is not good to allow make law to protect whole personal privacy online and network computer group. Many company still have to monitoring their employee's personal data in purpose to protect company themselves. If employee doing something illegal or doing something influence their company. For example, send the virus to network, doing illegal business.
That will make big trouble and harm to those company. Re: CORPORATE SPYING SOFTWARE
Posted by Dennis Healy on May 24, 2000 at 15:58:02 at IP 152.163.213.193
I think you would be suprised if your employer was listening to your telephone cnoversations. Email and web use should be treated the same way. The logic behind the spying is that the companies own the equipment, and they are paying you... so they have a right to know what you are doing. With email growing larger than snail mail, this has to change.
