Spector Pro

If you are wondering what a keylogger is, it is helpful to compare it to something like prescription drugs.  It can be very beneficial to take these medications when you are ill and when you take them as prescribed by a doctor.  If someone takes them improperly, then it becomes harmful and even illegal.  It is the same with keylogging programs like Spector Pro.  If used properly, Spector Pro can help keep children safe from predators and computer networks safe from malware accessed via "questionable sites" at work.  If used improperly, however, it can present a severe risk to your personal and financial data.

What is Spector Pro?

Spector Pro is classified as a keylogging program.  These are designed to track each and every keystroke on whichever computer they have been installed in.  Not only is Spector Pro legal, it is very well regarded among experts.  It was, for instance, PC Magazine's Editor's Choice for parental control software.  Spector Pro performs the following functions:

• Records every keystroke, allowing the monitor to capture passwords and user names, among other information.
• Captures both sides of all chats and IMs.
• Records all sent and received emails.
• Reviews each website, including MySpace and Facebook.  This is a benefit to parents because they can see whose profiles their children are looking at as well as which photos their children are posting.
• Find out which programs are run and which websites are visited.
• Notifies you when your child visits a site you would deem harmful or when your child uses inappropriate language.
• Allows you to block your child from visiting certain sites or chatting with certain people.
• Takes screen shots.  You can set the program to take a screen shot every second or every time your child launches a program, clicks the mouse, or performs a specific action.  The pictures are then able to be played back so you can see what your child did in the exact order he did it.

As you can see, each of these features would be invaluable to parents who are concerned with their children's welfare and safety.  For instance, if you are notified that your child is visiting unsafe sites or chatting with strangers, you can immediately take steps to keep your child safe.  Employers can monitor employee accounts to make sure their system is being used for work purposes only.  The applications, then, are tremendously helpful when used in the intended manner.

What Risks Does Spector Pro Pose for Your System?

Having Spector Pro on your system does not impact its performance in any way, though in some cases, you may find your computer running a bit more slowly than usual.  It may also disable other programs, including pop-up, cookie, and ad blockers, and many "snoopware" detection programs. This is done to allow it to run covertly; after all, it would do little good if your child could detect it and disable it.  Again, though, this quality makes it almost impossible to know if it is on your system without your consent.

When used improperly, Spector Pro can capture your credit card information, your user names and bank account numbers, your personal information, and other sensitive data.  Because it can also disable cookie and adware blockers, you may find yourself confronted with more of these on-screen pests.  This, too, may create security vulnerabilities in your system.

How Does Spector Pro Become Installed?

Unlike Trojans, which are disguised as email attachments, video codecs, or other applications and can enter your computer covertly, programs like Spector Pro must be installed directly.  This is most often done by parents or employers, but it can also be done by suspicious or spying spouses, friends, family members, employees, and others.  They need physical access to your computer only once to install it, and then they are able to monitor your data from any location.

Can You Remove Spector Pro?