Computer Software Monitoring - Is It Ethical?

Computer monitoring software is used to spy on acan view their activities from a remote computer, if
person's internet activities. There are softwareyour working or on vacation.You can even see what
programs nowadays that can track everything athey are doing remotely from another computer in the
person does on the computer - record instanthouse you have access to.
message conversations, log emails sent and received,Catching the cheating spouse. This is where it can get
record all visited websites, so on and so on. Thedangerous. I had once caught my exgirlfriend
programs can be hidden from the unsuspecting user,exchanging rather erotic emails with some guy over
and they usually have no idea they are beingthe web. Sure enough, she was having an affair. She
monitored. Only the person who installed it, and is doinghad forgotten to log off her yahoo email account, and
the monitoring, will know where it is, and how towhen I was checking my yahoo email, she was still
access all the devious activity, if there is any.logged on.
There are three primary uses for computer monitoring.You can imagine I felt hurt and betrayed. This ultimately
To monitor your child's internet activity, spy on yourled to our break up, because she started dating the
spouse or partner, or track your employees activitiesguy. I just think how would I feel if she was the one
at the workplace (if you own a business).Is it ethical? Inspying on me? I would feel very betrayed that she did
most cases I believe it is, in others there is a gray area.not trust me. However, there is something inside all of
In the case of monitoring our children, I do believe weus, that just has to know the truth. If you use computer
as parents have every right to know what they are upmonitoring on your spouse or partner, be careful your
to. The internet can be a very dangerous place fornot caught. If your more computer savvy than them,
kids, and has become a haven for sexual predators.most likely they will not know. If you are the faithful
How do you think your teen would react if they foundone, you certainly have a right to know.
out you were watching them? They would probablyEmployees at the workplace. You want to make sure
go ballistic on you for betraying their trust.your employees are actually working and not goofing
I would suggest just telling them that you will beoff at their workstations. With computer monitoring
keeping an eye on their activities, and explain why. Yousoftware, you can monitor multiple workstations at
do not have to tell them you are using spy software,once. Is it ethical? Well, only the employees who have
just one warning to tell them you know what's goingsomething to hide would say no.
on, should suffice. It's our duty to protect our kids andYou are trying to run a business, paying workers , you
ensure their safety in any way we can. Just give themrun the show. You have every right to know where
a warning that you will be watching and set limits onyour hard earned money is going. I would personally
their internet use. Make their working computer in thejust let them know upon hiring, that all workstations are
living room or den, a computer in their bedroom ismonitored for productivity.
asking for trouble. Even when your not at home, you