In response, some software companies have developed products designed to secretly track where a surfer has been and virtually everything a computer has been used to do. These softwares are collectively known as "spyware". Company owners can use it to check on their employees. Married couples could use it to check on their spouse. Parents can use it to see what their children are doing online such as obscene sites and such.
One such product, called eBlaster 3.0 from SpectorSoft (retailing at RM380) claims to record every keystroke a person makes, copy each piece of incoming and outgoing e-mail, log chat room conversations and take down every instant message relayed through Yahoo!, AOL and MSN.
A spy can control the type of information that will be logged. A summary of the log is periodically e-mailed to the spy, even copies of e-mail and so-called secret passwords. Spyware can also be set to prevent the installation of any spyware ActiveX controls from a webpage. It does this while not interfering with "friendly" ActiveX controls- so your browser can work correctly and you can have peace of mind!
You won't get any more annoying "Yes/ No" boxes popping up, asking you to install a spyware ActiveX control (which can increasingly be found in pop-up ads!). In fact, Internet Explorer will never even download or run the spyware ActiveX control!
In addition, decent spyware can prevent many of these spyware ActiveX controls from running, even if they are already installed on your system. The newest SpywareBlaster version can even block spyware/tracking cookies and does not need to be running in the background to provide this protection!
Most spyware does not show in task manager, it occurs as registry keys and dll files so all you see is an extra rundll32.exe entry at best. Usually, it applies itself, as a "plugin extension" to your browser, so it is just plain not listed at all.
Ninety percent of the internet related problems are traceable to poorly written spyware or spyware attempting to access the windows registry or msmoney, quicken, or other memory addresses it does not have permission to access.
With the current vulnerability of drives that install that a good spyware remover and immunizer is as important to smooth operation of the PC as a good antivirus, firewall, and keeping windows updates current.
Spyware doesn't always work properly however, especially when it comes to company firewalls. Another concern is that although the "spy" may be receiving the information, so may be the company who provides the spyware (although there are claims that all information that go through a spyware company's computer is automatically deleted). You should also know that if you receive your spyware reports at work, so is your company. As your employers, they also have the right to check on your incoming e-mails.
Programs like this raise other questions involving trust and privacy issues. Usually a spyware will inform you not to install the software on any computer you do not own lest you want to risk being alienated by the parties you are spying on. If you so choose to notify people, a spyware can be configured to post a warning to the user whenever the computer is turned on. It is doubtful that anyone would want the notification feature unless they have serious suspicion on the parties involved. It is human nature for most people to sneak around and spy on family and friends or employees rather than disclose that they have installed spyware on their computer- an announcement that's almost guaranteed to start a fight.
There is however, a better way of doing things.
If you are concerned about what your children or family members are doing on the Internet, talk to them. Ask what they are doing online. Let your children know what you consider appropriate or inappropriate. Make sure they know when it's safe to give out personal information.
If you have issues with your spouse, don't let it simmer.
For employees, all you have to do is to give them ground rules on what they can or cannot do online during company time.
Software such as spyware should be only be used at last resort. Having someone discover that you've been spying on him or her is a very efficient way of destroying whatever trust remains between you and them in a very fragile relationship. Let that trust be a reservoir of trust that may be crucial to salvaging and maintaining a relationship.
