Tracking software is becoming more advanced and can monitor internet access, keystrokes, location, and movement. IP tracking monitors web usage patterns, while time tracking monitors specific user activity. Downloading tracking software without consent is illegal, but GPS tracking is popular for lost or stolen devices. Smartphones have motion detection software that can be activated by emergency personnel, but commercial programs can track usage and location.
Tracking software, which is software installed on a device to transmit information about that device’s location or history, is becoming more advanced as technology develops. Early monitoring software was designed to monitor individual Internet access by keeping a record of the sites visited and the time spent online. These types of software programs remain popular, but Internet history is no longer the only type of monitoring that is done. Content tracking programs keep logs of your keystrokes and can log substantial entries into websites and applications, for example. On mobile devices, the software can be used to track location, motion, and movement, among other things.
Most monitoring software is internet-based, which means it works through or through an online web browser. Internet Protocol, or IP, tracking software is the most direct example. When a computer connects to the Internet, it is assigned a temporary IP address, usually made up of numbers, which serves as that computer’s online identifier. An IP tracking program installed on your computer will monitor where the address is seen online and track any web usage patterns associated with it.
Time tracking software works in a similar way. Usually, time tracking monitors how much time a specific user spends online and how much time the user spends on a particular site. User-based tracking is usually done based on login identification, rather than IP identification.
IP tracking programs can be intentionally installed on a computer by someone such as a parent or spouse, or they can be downloaded surreptitiously from a website, usually without the computer user’s knowledge or consent. Surreptitious downloads are usually designed to capture sensitive information that users can type over the Internet, such as email passwords or bank account information. Most jurisdictions have strict laws that prohibit downloading any tracking software without the direct consent of the computer owner. However, these laws can be difficult to enforce when downloads may not be noticed until serious damage has occurred.
Computer owners may also choose to install tracking programs on portable computer equipment designed to track physical location if it is lost or stolen. In this case, the software sits dormant on a computer until the device is reported missing; then, the software is activated remotely and can provide instant location tracking. This type of tracking feature is popular with companies that issue laptops and handheld computers to employees, particularly when they deal with sensitive personal or financial information. Most tracking software is based on GPS tracking software technology which means that your device does not need to be connected to the internet or even turned on in most cases for tracking to work.
GPS tracking programs are also popular in cell phones and other portable technology devices. Most smartphones come with optional motion detection software, but in many jurisdictions this software can only be activated by emergency personnel, such as police or medical teams, in the event of a crisis. However, some commercially available programs and applications allow phone users to download tracking programs that can track the phone’s location in space or monitor its usage, including numbers dialed, text messages sent, and websites visited.
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