How can i know if my computer is being surveilled?

Question

I suspect that my boss can see exactly what i do and where i go on the Internet. If i go into my email account can she see that too? Wouldn't that be invasion of privacy? How can I know if my computer is being surveilled to beging with???

Answer 1

Install ZoneAlarm. With firewall like this you can see which programs are going out from your computer. Also, it won't allow any programs to check your computer what programs you have at the moment (for example if she have Look@Lan or similar programs).

Firewall, Spywares (aside from antivirus) are good pieces of programs which will guard your computer and your privacy as well.

Answer 2

Your company computer according to current laws is wide open to not only your boss but IT personal and security personel.

Most companies monitor Internet usage. Typically they look for keywords and websites visited or for too many hits on a website that doesn't appear to be work related.

Some bosses will read employee's email. System administrators often read employee email if that employee is sending or recieving large volumes of email and other red flag actions such as really large attachments or attachments of certain types. Supervisors other than your direct boss are also known to periodically read employee email.

Bosses also sometimes listen to the voicemail of employees. A few more paranoid companies can and do log every incoming and outgoing phone call. The most paranoid actually record them.

Many companies today uses keystroke loggers and other intrusive software to monitor exactly how much time you are spending on certain tasks on the computer. To me this is going way beyond employer rights and is a very invasive action. Far as I'm concerned production is the only valid means of evaluating employee performace. Ability to work well with others is another important factor. Niether of these have anything to do with keystroke loggers. The only valid use for a keystroke logger is if the company suspects illegal activities and wants to stop them. For example if you are making drug deals using IM on company time then the company can be confiscated under the Ricco laws. As such the company has a valid reason to want this stopped imediately. That aside from company reputation. Stock traders might be monitored for inside trading as another example.

To detect such software you have to have root or admin access on your machine. You can install what is called a sniffer and watch for what you are doing/saying being sent out to external machines. This requires a good bit of technical knowledge to use and can get you in big trouble if your caught using one. You can also do memory walks and see what applications are running. Software like keystroke loggers are not going to show up in a ps or in the sytem task list in windoze. You can discover them with a tedius memory walk. The easiest way is to look for non-destructive keyboard polling. You find that and you've often found either a screen saver or a keystroke logger.

Answer 3

While you are at work even if you work on a computer all day your boss has every right to watch your every more. This ensures the company that you are doing adequate work and that you are doing what you are suppose to be doing. in the start menu click on run in the box that pops up click msconfig when the window pops up click on start up and see what is running in the background eliminate the regular programs and anti virus etc. if you see something that looks out of the ordinary if may have found the program for spying. but there isn't much you can do about it, unless of course it is your computer that you bought and paid for and use at your job.

Answer 4

Usually they can monitor what websites you visit at the router level, depending on the router and the ability of the administrator.

As far as email goes, an administrtor can forward all mails to a watchdog account. Where they can then view if need be.

You have NO privacy rights if you are working on an employers computer. They have the right to audit/monitor you at will.

Answer 5

You have to give your permission for your computer to cooperate with another that wants to see what you are doing.

Maybe you are just being paranoid ? Why should they want to spy on you ?

Your employer is quite at liberty to keep logs of your online activity while you are working, and using their computer, network connection, etc. They can then check to make sure you are adhering to company policy in that regard.

Answer 6

A boss has the right to watch what you do during the period he/she is paying you lol duh I know if I owned a business.... I would have reports and stuff all the time sending me info about what websites are being visited... and times and everything. Employers like to higher and keep quality people that will do what they are supposed to do even when he/she isn't around.

Answer 7

unless you know your way around a computer, you won't really know for sure if you're being surveilled...monitoring software is supposed to be "stealth." you can go to the windows task manager and go through every single process, maybe you'll find it there

Answer 8

wow you can do that ohhh hi boss youre the greatest