"Secretly Record Everything Your Kids,
 Spouse or Employees Are Doing
 on Your Computer While You are Away!" 

That previous sentence was part of an advertisement distributed on the Internet that should raise privacy concerns for many. In the domestic violence section of the Peoples Law Library, we note ways in which you can decrease the ability of others to find out what you view on the Internet.  

What is the problem?
An initiative started by some large corporations to investigate and monitor their employees' Internet use has become an activity that has grown to include smaller companies and even the private sector. Some of these "snooping" programs are very easy to find, readily available, and some are even free to download from the Internet. These insidious programs may be on your computer without you even knowing it. They don't show up under Task Manager and are often hidden in emails and installed without notice. It's even easier for these programs to be installed if the people who want to spy on you have access to your computer.

What's the big deal with these snooping programs? 
They can record every website you visit and all the images and movies you have viewed, sometimes even WEEKS after you have been there. They can allow others to read your email, even after you deleted it. Snooping programs can even record all of your keystrokes giving others access to your messages, credit card numbers, and even passwords. A few of these programs even send encrypted screenshots every minute or so via email to those spying on you so they can virtually watch you use your computer as you are using it.

What can I do about this?
If you think that someone may be interested enough in your computer use to install such spying programs (be it your boss, husband, wife, girlfriend or boyfriend), there are ways to detect them. There are professional versions of tracking programs that cost over $100 or as little as $39. There are also some shareware and freeware programs you may try. (Shareware and freeware are software distribution methods; shareware programs let you use the program for a certain amount of time to try it out and then if you like it they ask you to pay for it. Sometimes there's more to shareware than that, but that is how it usually works).  Freeware programs are just that--free. 

These three programs listed here are just a few of many available to help protect you and maintain your privacy. Remember though, these anti-spying tracking programs are only as good as the programs it knows how to spot.  You should update your tracking program frequently because new snooping programs are being written all the time.

• Who is Watching Me, a shareware program from Trapware, is free to use for the first 90 days after you install it.  After 90 days, if you want to keep using it, you should pay $24. The product is updated regularly and detects over 100 known snooping programs.

• SpyCop is a popular commercial tracking company, which make products for a wide variety of relativity inexpensive products both for corporate and personal use.

The Peoples Law Library does not endorse or recommend any these programs in particular or even the use of these programs. We are only offering information about them as a public service to help you protect your privacy, especially in instances of domestic violence. You may find other solutions that are equally good or better. If you have additional tips, please share them with us at privacy@mdjustice.org.

Source MLAN

Last Legal Review 2/4/02 (MLAN/AC/DD)

About this website. The Maryland State Law Library, a court-related agency of the Maryland Judiciary, sponsors this site. The website was developed (1999-2007) as part of an access to justice initiative by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) in collaboration with a number of legal services providers serving low and moderate income Marylanders.  In the absence of file-specific attribution or copyright, the Maryland State Law Library may hold the copyright to parts of this website. You are free to copy the information for your own use or for other non-commercial purposes with the following language “Source: Maryland's People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org. © Maryland State Law Library, 2007.”

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