Is your boss spying on you?
Is your boss spying on you?
PressContact Blog · 7 minute read
Is your boss spying on you?
How employers can monitor your phone, keyboard, camera and microphone
Did you know that your boss can watch what you’re up to when you’re working, especially if you’re using the company’s equipment or networks?
That’s their legal right, but they also have to play by some rules, be transparent, and tell you about it. This way, you can trust them and they can avoid legal issues.
**[MORE: BEST WAYS TO KEEP SNOOPS OUT OF YOUR COMPUTER](https://cyberguy.com/tech-tips-tricks/best-ways-to-keep-snoops-out-of-your-computer/)**
Productivity collides with privacy
Factors such as employee morale and the potential for power abuse warrant careful attention from both employers and employees. So, finding a middle ground that ensures security and productivity while preserving individual privacy and trust is crucial.
Employment contracts and policies
Company handbooks often explicitly state that employees should not expect privacy when utilizing company resources. Agreeing to such terms provides a clear legal framework for workplace monitoring.
Shockingly secret ways your boss can monitor you
In today’s digitized work environment, understanding the various ways your boss can monitor you is essential. Let’s delve into the wide range of software and methods companies utilize to keep tabs on your workflow and activities.
### Invasive employee monitoring software
You should be aware that some software invades your privacy as an employee by capturing screenshots, logging keystrokes, and taking webcam pictures without your consent.
Let’s start with [Teramind](https://www.teramind.co), which tracks everything you do on your computer, from your screen to your email. It can also record your keystrokes and your Zoom sessions. Your employer can watch what you are doing in real-time or review the recordings later.
Next, there’s [Veriato Cerebral](https://veriato.com) software that uses artificial intelligence to analyze your activity and measure your engagement. It takes video snapshots of your screen and pairs them with your keystrokes. It also monitors how productive you are and how much time you spend on distracting activities.
The third software to tell you about is [Hubstaff](https://hubstaff.com). This software tracks how much time you spend on your tasks and records your activity levels. It also logs your mouse movements, keystrokes, URLs, and apps. It can also track your location through geolocation features if you use a mobile device.
Then there’s [StaffCop Enterprise](https://www.staffcop.com). This software provides a comprehensive framework for surveillance, data collection, and reporting. It can record audio and video from your computer, control your remote desktop, capture images from your webcam, and extract text from screenshots and documents.
Moving on to [Spyzie](https://spyzie.io), which as the name indicates, spies on you with software that tracks your activity and location through your smartphone. Your employer can see where you are and where you go during your work hours, including any stops or detours you make along the way.
Finally, there’s [CleverControl](https://clevercontrol.com). The key word here is control. This software not only monitors how long you are active on your keyboard but also allows your employer to secretly activate your camera and microphone to record your surroundings. It can also log your keystrokes and capture screenshots of your screen.
**[MORE: “VIRTUAL EMPLOYEES” ON THE RISE IN CHINA, SHOULD YOU BE WORRIED?](https://cyberguy.com/top-stories/virtual-employees-on-the-rise-in-china-should-we-be-worried/)**
Extreme cases of spying on employees
Imagine that you are working hard at your job, but your boss does not trust you. He or she wants to know everything you do, even when you are not at work. Here are some real-life examples of extreme cases of spying on employees.
* A boss secretly puts a GPS device on their employee’s personal car and tracks where they go. This is very creepy and violates their right to privacy. According to the [Electronic Frontier Foundation](https://ssd.eff.org/), this is illegal in most states in the US.
* A boss snoops on their employee’s personal email and social media accounts. This absolutely invades their privacy. According to the [American Civil Liberties Union](https://www.aclu.org/issues/privacy-technology), your boss needs a good reason and your permission to access your personal communications.
* A boss records their worker’s activities or conversations through hidden cameras or microphones without telling them. According to [Workplace Fairness](https://www.workplacefairness.org/workplace-surveillance/), your boss needs to follow federal and state laws that regulate video and audio surveillance in the workplace.
* A boss follows or observes an employee without them knowing. According to the [National Conference of State Legislatures](https://www.findlaw.com/state/criminal-laws/stalking.html), most states have laws that protect you from unwanted and repeated surveillance by another person.
**[MORE: TOP PORTABLE DUAL-MONITORS FOR WORKING](https://cyberguy.com/tech-tips-tricks/top-portable-dual-monitors/)**
How to detect workplace spying and monitoring
There are some ways to detect if your employer is using spying software to monitor you, depending on the type and level of monitoring they are doing.
**1) Check your Task Manager and Activity Monitor:** Look for unfamiliar active processes. You can access the Task Manager on Windows by pressing **Ctrl+Alt+Delete** and selecting **Task Manager.** You can access the Activity Monitor on Mac by pressing **Command+Space** and typing **Activity Monitor**.
**2) Check for unknown installed software:** Some spyware tools may install themselves as applications. You can access this list on Windows by going to **Start Menu** > **Settings** > **Apps.** You can access this list on Mac by going to **Finder** > **Applications**.
**3) Check the system tray icons:** Some spyware tools may show themselves as icons in the system tray. **Hover over or click** on any icon to see its name and status.
**4) Check for VPNs and proxies:** Some spyware tools may use [VPNs (virtual private networks)](https://cyberguy.com/privacy/best-vpns/) or proxies to hide their network activity.
* **Windows:** **Start Menu** > **Settings** > **Network & Internet** > **VPN**.
* **Mac:** **Apple Menu** > **System Preferences** > **Network** > **VPN**.
**5) Check the browser extensions:** Some spyware tools may use browser extensions to monitor your web browsing activity. Check your extensions in **Menu** > **More Tools** > **Extensions** (Chrome), **Menu** > **Add-ons** > **Extensions** (Firefox), or **Safari** > **Preferences** > **Extensions** (Safari).
[**MORE: BEST VPNS FOR BROWSING THE WEB**](https://cyberguy.com/tech-tips-tricks/best-vpns/)
Best practices
* **Know the policies and laws:** Research your company’s policies and local laws.
* **Use personal devices:** Keep personal and work activities separate.
* **Secure your communications:** Be mindful of who might be monitoring.
* **Speak up:** Open dialogue may be possible in some workplaces.
Legal and career implications
* **Unauthorized access:** Illegal in many jurisdictions.
* **Breach of contract:** Could be a breach of your employment contract.
* **Intellectual property:** Tampering is illegal.
* **Data tampering:** Another potentially illegal action.
Alternative courses of action
If you ever need to store a personal appointment in your company calendar, you should categorize that personal event as private so it is only visible to you. If you have a choice between using a personal or corporate VPN, one better option would be to [use the personal VPN](https://cyberguy.com/tech-tips-tricks/best-vpns/).
Also, the best way to avoid issues is to use personal equipment. If you need to use personal accounts, bring an iPad or use your phone, but avoid personal data on company equipment, as that data would also be backed up on company servers. Lastly, consult a legal professional for advice focused on your specific situation if monitoring seems excessive.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Workplace monitoring is not just a matter of legality but also one of ethical responsibility and transparency. Employers have various tools at their disposal to track employee performance and behavior, ranging from time-tracking software to more invasive measures like keystroke logging and video surveillance. However, it’s crucial for both parties to understand the balance between maintaining productivity and ensuring employee morale. Open communication, clearly stated policies, and a comprehensive understanding of local laws can help create a work environment that respects both corporate interests and individual privacy.
**Do you think your boss has the right to spy on you? How would you react if you found out? What would you do to protect yourself? Let us know by commenting below.**
[**FOR MORE OF MY TECH TIPS & SECURITY ALERTS, SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE CYBERGUY REPORT NEWSLETTER HERE**](https://cyberguy.com/newsletter)