spy software, basic features

spy software, basic features

spy software, basic features

Spy Software also known as computer monitoring software or "keylogger" is a computer program which secretly records a computer user by capturing all keystrokes, websites visited, and chat conversations.

This software is installed directly by the user wanting to perform the monitoring. Other types of Spy Software programs can be installed remotely without being detected by commercial anti virus software. That makes the difference between Spy Software and Spyware.

Spy Software allows you to legally monitor your children, spouse or employees, it often creates reports for you, and can be loaded intentionally by the purchaser. It is actively used by concerned parents, worried spouses, government offices, corporate network administrators, and educational institutions. Spyware is often stealthily installed along with other software installations - it piggybacks onto your system - usually without your knowledge at all. Spyware reports captures information about your favorite websites, your interests, and much more to the creator of the spyware rather than you.

There are several basic features typical of the majority of the spy software.

Keystrokes recording option allows to record secretly and backup all keystrokes that are typed on your PC, while being completely hidden from the user. You will not only find out which keys were pressed, but which windows they were pressed in. The keystroke recorder can also be set to monitor only specific users, meaning that you can keep an eye on your children but avoid recording your own keystrokes. Keystroke recorder as a rule works in a stealth mode. It can hide itself from every Windows operating system, no other users will be able to tell that you're using a keystroke recorder to monitor them. Keystroke recorder sometimes can scan your system for anti-spyware products, and prevent them from interfering with the monitoring process.

Instant message or/and chat recording option allows to find out and to block all unsuitable chatting. Typically the report contains information about used application (AOL, ICQ, AIM MSN, Yahoo IM and chats), title of chat room or Instant messenger, date and time of the record, actual chat and IM conversations, including both sides of conversation), and user names. Whether it is a child having inappropriate talks with strangers, or a cheating spouse, or undisciplined employee, the content of conversation will be captured and report sent.

Program activity, files and documents dealing can also be recorded by spy software programs. Typical information captured contains name of program or application launched, date and time of last visit, time the program was open. The report on files manipulation has type of file, name of the program used to open files, day and time of operation, what was copied or printed, created or deleted, file paths.

Capturing and reviewing e-mail is one of the most common features of all spy software. Spy software is able to see actual content of the sent and received e-mail, type of e-mail (e.g. Yahoo mail, Hotmail, MS Exchange, POP, SMTP, AOL email etc.), the names and addresses of sender and recipient, subject, date and time and attachments.

All the network activity is recorded and depending on the software can contain information of network port(s) accessed, domain names and IP addresses, all connections with their duration and time, bandwidth used to send and receive data via network port. There are records of Web URLs and domains visited, type of file viewed, date and time of last visit, total time spent on the domain and URL and more.