Tracking software

Tracking software may mean:

• Tracking cookies
• Email tracking
• Chat log
• Instant messaging manager

web sites visited, keystrokes typed and so on.

• Employee monitoring software
• Parental controls

Controversy

Tracking software has been a source of controversy. While companies claim that the programs are used to protect children and enforce computer policies at workplaces, there has been strong criticism that this invades users' privacy. Other critics say that these software programs, especially with their keylogging capabilities, can be used for malicious purposes, such as identity theft and unauthorized access to other systems.

Often, one side of a company's operations will sell tracking software, while another side would consider tracking software to be spyware and offer programs designed to remove the programs. There are hundreds of responsible vendors of computer monitoring software such as ActMon and SpectorSoft, who explicitly forbid the use of monitoring software as spyware. Many companies also support detection by anti-spyware programs.

See also

• Computer surveillance
• Spyware