Computer surveillance, also known as computer infiltration, is the act of spying on a computer system without the knowledge of the user. The spying may be done through the internet, through email or chat programs, or even when the computer is turned on and booting up. The ultimate goal of this activity is to gather data that can be later used in identity theft. In other words, it aims to steal your identity!
To understand how computer surveillance works, it’s necessary to have an understanding of how computers work and why they are important to have. A computer has two parts – the input and the output. It acts as a sort of computer system bus that sends and receives information from external sources. Some cables connect various computer systems.
Input:
This refers to the information that the computer system requires to function. It could be anything from user input such as keyboard strokes, mouse movements, images, and videos, etc., to software applications and device drivers. Output: This refers to the information the computer needs to process the input information. This could include stored data, received data, etc.
A computer surveillance system is used to gather information from a computer system without the knowledge of the user. This information is sent wirelessly from the computer to a remote site where it is decoded and analyzed. The decoded information is then used for a variety of purposes including determining passwords, monitoring computer use, and conducting targeted Internet search and browsing. The system also enables the monitoring of email and instant messaging as well as recording and storing of chat and web-based conversations.
Spyware:
Spyware is a program developed to monitor and collect information from a computer. There are many types of spyware like web bugs were keylogger, snoop ware, malware, and so forth. Spyware can affect not only computers but also the Internet and email of a computer. These harmful programs can send or receive data, freeze computer activities, record emails, create pop-ups, show advertisements, and perform other inappropriate activities.
Computer surveillance is necessary nowadays because computer systems have become a vital part of businesses, homes, and other organizations. With more people now relying on the Internet for shopping, banking, communication, and other purposes, computer misuse is on the rise. It has become easy to steal financial and personal information through malicious software like keyloggers and spyware. To prevent these from happening, computer surveillance is important. Through regular monitoring of computer systems, employers can prevent employees from wasting time, money, and resources by using this technology.
Computer Monitoring
It is usually done with the use of monitoring software. This type of software program is installed into a computer and can detect any suspicious activities. The presence of spyware and other harmful software on a computer system indicates that the computer system is under surveillance. Once these are detected, the owner will usually be notified through email, phone calls, or other notifications.
There are many companies today that specialize in computer monitoring and can easily detect and remove spyware from computer systems. Some are even available for free to help ensure that the privacy of the user is maintained. Free versions of computer monitoring software can be downloaded from the Internet. Other versions may need to be purchased to fully function. Regardless of which type of monitoring software is used, it helps to have one if computer surveillance becomes a concern.
In most cases, computer monitoring for spyware detection is done by running a specific program or series of programs. For example, anti-spyware programs sometimes run as a scan and then repair registry files. This repair is often used to prevent further damage from occurring to the computer. However, spyware repair programs are also commonly used to clean a computer’s registry of any unwanted information that may have accumulated over time.
As most anti-spyware programs are designed to run as background processes, they may not always be visible to the user. Some of them may run silently in the background using up system resources and slowing down computer performance. Others are more noticeable in terms of generating pop-ups that advertise certain products and services. Users need to make sure that they are aware of which programs are running on their computers and which ones they should block because they may be malicious.
Benefit
Employers may use computer surveillance for spyware detection, to determine whether or not an applicant is reliable or trustworthy. They may conduct tests to determine the computer skills of job applicants as well as the level of job satisfaction that each candidate receives from his or her work. Companies also monitor employee computer systems without the employee’s knowledge to determine what information is being transferred and accessed on company-owned computers. By blocking harmful spyware, the employee computer systems will become safer for employers to use. The costs of computer surveillance for spyware removal will therefore be recouped many times over by saving money on unnecessary legal fees.
