28th Feb 2009
Understanding the Basics of Computer Surveillance
Physical surveillance is an important part of any home or business security system. The use of cameras and microphones to capture sound and images form the basis of any strong surveillance strategy. But often there is a gaping hole in many businesses which can lead to data loss, reduced worker productivity, and exposed intellectual property. What happens on computer systems throughout the business network can have a significant impact on the security and integrity of even the most protected company.
Enter: Computer Surveillance. Businesses have increasingly been using various types of computer surveillance to monitor internet use, file downloads, email traffic, and phone calls. Some even periodically record the screens of employee computers. And there are valid reasons behind these seemingly overly intrusive measures. It has been shown that employees are spending significant amounts of company time sending personal email, interacting with social networks, and browsing websites unrelated to their job. This reduces productivity per employee significantly, but there are even more serious concerns. Employees who may be engaged in illegal activities over corporate networks or send explicit sexual images to individuals inside or outside the company present a huge risk of legal trouble or unwanted publicity.
Computer Surveillance generally takes the form of a software application that is installed on an employee computer. This software can be installed directly on the machine or remotely from a server somewhere in the network. Once installed, the software will track keystrokes, record browsing activity, log mouse movements, and even capture what is on the screen at certain intervals. The administrator will have access to this data through special web portal, to which all captured information gets sent. Armed with this information, an employer is better able to take corrective action if a certain employee is found to be abusing company resources.
In many cases, the employee will never know they are being monitored. The software generally runs in stealth mode, hidden from view even by the most learned computer experts. In some instances, even a reinstallation of the operating system will not eliminate the application. Though it is legal for businesses to record employee activity without notifying them they are doing so, many lawyers will suggest that a business make its employees aware that they are being monitored and should stick to work-related activity on their computer systems. This warning may be all that is needed to eliminate a large amount of unwanted behavior.
Computer surveillance isn’t always intentional, however. Some programs are installed for surveillance purposes against the will of the employee or employer. These programs are referred to as “spyware”, and can cause many problems related to computer usage and network performance. They are not installed on purpose, but rather are accidentally given access to the system due to improper vetting of websites visited or files downloaded. Spyware programs send data about the users activity outside the network to their home servers, often to be used for marketing purposes or to learn about user habits. This carries a huge risk for businesses, as it provides a way for private corporate data to leave the company without notice. Anti-Spyware and Anti-Virus applications should be deployed to protect against unwanted surveillance of computer activity with the workplace.
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