[Tfug] OT: Windows "Tracking Software"

[Bexley Hall]

Hi, Brian,

> Quoting Bexley Hall <bexley401 at yahoo.com>:
> > You can install software to track a user's *computer*
> > activity (i.e., not just "internet" activity).  I
> > want to know how to detect, disable and/or remove
> > such tools (presumably, anything that does this
> > and is designed intelligently will leave a very
> > small fingerprint!)
> 
> The only safe way is to *re-install* the operating system. 

I don't believe that.  Recall, my premis is that this is
not something that snuck onto the machine but, rather, is
something that was deliberately *installed* on the machine
(e.g., by an employer)

> Once your system has been *compromised* you cannot *trust*
> what it reports back to you.
> 
> Anything claiming to remove all spyware is selling you
> *lies*.

Again, I think you're looking at this as malware-spyware.
If, on the other hand, you think of this as a legitimate
application (e.g., FrameMaker, AutoCAD, etc.) that you want to
*identify* and *remove*, you'll come up with a different
answer.

When I get back to town (read:  back to my address book!)
I'll check in with some friends who work for companies that
use exactly these things and see what they are called, how
they are installed/deinstalled, etc.  Perhaps I can take a peek
at a system configured like this to see what sort of footprint
it leaves...

--don