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28 December 2007
"Need More Than Just A Password Stealer? You're in luck, WebWatcher does much more than just steal passwords." I, um, suppose it's cost-prohibitive for business to use this kind of software on their employees? Right?
Well. My paranoia has increased tenfold. No scratch that: by several orders magnitude. Whole logarithmic scales of self-consciousness have been leapt, Richter-like, in a single bound. And with that, good night.
There has been at least one case where "whistleblowers" have used such surveillance software to document the activities of the malfeasant, and turnabout were persecuted for invading the privacy of the bad guys.
I can't recall the exact cite; it was some well-meaning IT guy trying to prove that some highly-placed public employee was doing fuckall for work on the public dime.
They don't need your password. All your web browsing that is not https is clear text IP and can be logged for Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPPA or other complience issues. It's done a lot.
My mum had a program like this installed on our home computer when I was in high-school/college. I suppose she's paranoid and snoop-y. It pissed me off when I found out - I mean, if she cared so much why didn't she just ask me?
Lots of passwords are stored in cookies, and can easily be un-encrypted with freely downloaded tools. Don't do stuff at work that you don't want your employer to see. Don't do stuff on wireless that you don't want your neighbor to see.
I wish my life was interesting enough to be paranoid about.
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