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Legality of Keyloggers and How to Tell if You’re Being Spied on

A keylogger is an eavesdropping device that records keyboard and mouse activity. The more sophisticated programs track visited websites and can record everything you see and do on your computer.

A Los Angeles radio talk show host tells her listeners, “Spy on your boyfriends with a keylogger to see if he’s cheating…” (In 2002 this radio DJ displayed ads for keylogger software/spyware on her webpage.)

Unfortunately, that advice isn’t ethical.

Spying on a boyfriend, girlfriend, ex-spouse, or other unsuspecting victims with a keylogger is a felony offense in America. It violates eavesdropping laws, is akin to tapping someone’s phone, and can result in a jail sentence, as in this case: http://billpstudios.blogspot.com/2008/01/ex-husband-gets-jail-time-for-keylogger.html

If you have reason to believe you’re being spied on, contact your local law enforcement agency. Depending on their resources, they might be able locate the keylogger program on your computer and figure out to where the information is being sent. Identifying the perpetrator with the help of law enforcement will allow you to press charges.

The use of a keylogger is legitimate only when an employer has reason to believe an employee is divulging trade secrets, or when the corporate policy regarding privacy allows for workplace surveillance, or if the computer user is clearly notified that their on-line activities might be monitored. It’s also reasonable to use to make sure your children aren’t being targeted on-line by wrongdoers.

However, whether or not keyloggers are fair to use to spy on your spouse is debatable, even if you share a computer.

Reduce your risk. WinPatrol offers keylogger detection with their free version:
http://blogs.pcworld.com/tipsandtweaks/archives/006395.html

How to tell if a keylogger has been installed on your compter:
http://www.life123.com/technology/computer-software/keyloggers/keylogger.shtml

Copyright © 2010 Scott Petullo



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