Spying for dummies

Ok, not a catchy title to my blog post, but that's what I came up with. I've been "watching" this drama unfold now for months, both online , on TV, and in the paper. Last week I Googled "Laptop Tracking" and came upon an ad from Nside Track, how to find your stolen laptop. I registered on my desktop computer, downloaded the exe file, then transferred it and installed it on my laptop. Needless to say, this program works. And works well. i set it up with my gmail (Google) account  to "Send" me updates, such as screen shots, location, mac address, ip address, and of course, activate the internal web cam and take a picture every one minute. How it works:

The Google map feature located my laptop to within 3 houses of where it is, a feat that I still have yet to figure out. Below is from Nside Track:

• Track your laptop
• Receive Google Maps images pinpointing your laptop's location 
• Take webcam pictures of the thief using your laptop 
• Take screenshots of the thief's activity on your stolen laptop 
• No Monthly or Yearly Fees
• Access your laptop remotely with your cellphone to encrypt folders and files or lock it down
• Access your stolen laptop remotely from another computer to encrypt folders and files or lock it down 
• Access your stolen laptop remotely to type a message for your laptop to read aloud at full volume

All of the above works quite well, and for only a one time fee you can license the program for keeps. The only thing i find a bit disturbing about it is that I could have "installed" it on someone else's computer without them even knowing it. My AVG program didn't find it a threat, Windows firewall never asked for a port being open, and the program runs as a service, no icon on your desktop, or in your start up menu.

The possibilities of using this to "spy" on someone are endless! Your husband, wife, kids, boss, girlfriend, boyfriend, enemy, or just about anyone your curious about and can access their computer are all fair game. Recently, Arlen Specter has introduced a bill to include web cam surveillance under the federal wiretap law already in place. In essence, if you use this (or other programs like it) on someone else's computer (Or your own?) it will be considered a felony.

Me? I think it's a great program, technology at it's best. Here is what is sent to me via my email address every minute of every day,(can be adjusted remotely)

FRAN-PC NsideTrack Location Report
Your computer was last seen at lat: 39.950147 long:-75.253389 (+/- 44 meters).

Click map to open Google Maps

Current IP Address: xx.xxx.xx.xx
Currently connected to: FezNetwork(xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx) sig quality: 94
Your computer can see these wireless access points:

Access Point Signal %
FezNetwork 99
JonesFamily 60
leslie 39
2TGA3 24

Current Web Cam Image

Current Screen Shot Image

Cheers..