Employee Monitoring - Frequently Asked Questions.
1. So - Employee Inspector is a spyware?
No. Spy programs, or "spyware", always have two typical program functions:
- Pre-configuration of the monitoring module ("agent", or "client") is possible, with an executable file as a result. This file, when installed, hides itself - i.e. doesn't display any messages, create windows on the screen. It is impossible to notice whether the particular PC is being secretly monitored or not. Of course, the user is not aware of being spied until the consequences show up.
- Spyware always has built-in means of remote installation; usually, the pre-configured module is installed into the target computer remotely. Then it, in fact, steals information, and sends it via email or some other way to the person who installed the spy program.
Remove these two functions - and you will get a monitoring program instead of spy software. If it is impossible to make stand-alone, executable, monitoring module, and if you should have administrator privileges on target PC to install the program - then it is monitoring software, not spyware. Besides, there are legal.
And last, but not least, is the fact that spyware is always used illicitly and behind the user's back here monitoring is performed by a person who has no right for it. Unlike spyware, legally used activity monitoring programs, like Employee Inspector, are seldom used furtively.
Though in many states it is officially permitted not to let employees know about monitoring, companies, especially large ones, rarely make a secret out of it.
2. Is it legal to monitor employee's activity on his computer?
Yes, according to the Spy Act passed in October 5th 2004 by US houses, installation of advertising or data gathering programs, without authorization or the computer owner's consent is prohibited, but it is still legal to install any program you want to your own computer. Main part of the Spy Act is about adware and spyware related software and website which use to gather user information for advertisment. So, it's 100% legal for you to install and use activity monitoring software onto computer you own.
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