Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Enterprise, Software, Odds and ends
Big Brother! ActyMac DutyWatch spies on your employees
Employers: do you want to know exactly what your employees are doing every second of the day on their Macs? Would you like to be able to log every keystroke they make, take screenshots of their Macs every once in a while, or even take pictures of them with the iSight that's built into their Mac to make sure that they're working? If so, ActyMac DutyWatch is just your cup of tea.
Without your employees knowing, you can monitor everything they post, open, and use. DutyWatch captures all keystrokes and logs every program that is launched or quit. If an employee uses certain keywords, DutyWatch sends you an email so you can scrutinize that person even more closely. DutyWatch also records every email, chat, website visit, or web search. Make sure that your employees aren't reading TUAW on your dime!
In the example above, your employee Michael has been spending a lot of time watching QuickTime movies and IM'ing in Adium. Of course, he'll lie to you and tell you that he's been watching training movies and texting the Miami office, but you've got just the proof you need to fire him. That'll get those other slackers in line!
You can purchase ActyMac DutyWatch for US$99.95 direct from the website, and quantity discounts are available.
In the example above, your employee Michael has been spending a lot of time watching QuickTime movies and IM'ing in Adium. Of course, he'll lie to you and tell you that he's been watching training movies and texting the Miami office, but you've got just the proof you need to fire him. That'll get those other slackers in line!
You can purchase ActyMac DutyWatch for US$99.95 direct from the website, and quantity discounts are available.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Toni said 11:09AM on 4-09-2009
Now this is the most American mac application I've ever seen...
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Tom Goetz said 11:19AM on 4-09-2009
Why do you promote an atrocity like this?
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Jonathan said 11:24AM on 4-09-2009
Now, how do we subvert this?
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Andrew Scott said 11:24AM on 4-09-2009
This looks like a great way to go to war with your employees.
Vile.
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mark said 11:28AM on 4-09-2009
If you are so out of touch with your employees, and their assignments, you have bigger issues as a manager then needing this program.
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Buckingham said 11:52AM on 4-09-2009
Yes. If you have come to the point where you're logging your employee's keystrokes, you have bigger problems.
As for the Russian thing: Years ago we had a development project that we tried to outsource. There were bidding teams from India, Russia, and Vietnam, and all. The really odd thing about the Russian teams are they all offered webcam access to each programmer for the job. The thing is nobody really cares what you do as long as you submit the deliverables on time. I'm guessing it's a workplace culture thing.
Mathias Bengtsson said 11:28AM on 4-09-2009
Well, my first though was that this could be used for other means than spying (e.g. I'm a student, so I could check my OWN activities in front of the computer to see how much I really study), but then I saw the price tag. It'll take a lot of slacky employees to be worth that.
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Ed said 11:56AM on 4-09-2009
Use wakoopa.com instead - it's free. :-)
Nailbunny said 11:31AM on 4-09-2009
If the developer really wanted to cash in, he'd make this app really easy to detect and then sell a companion app that would allow said spy'd-on employees to plug in their own data to their boss's reports. Charge maybe $150 for the employees app and keep the boss's app the same price.
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Apple Nag said 11:33AM on 4-09-2009
ActyMac is a Russian company. Would you trust Russian spy software on YOUR company's computers? Sure it might report to the admin, but does it also report back to Russia?
I wonder if Little Snitch can stop this crap.
Can anybody find a privacy policy on their web site or anything that indicates they're from Russia? I found out by doing a whois on actymac.com. Would you feel comfortable giving them your credit card number even if you did want to purchase this stuff?
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Apple Nag said 11:43AM on 4-09-2009
Registrant:
Intelus,Ltd.
Viborgzkaya nab 29 office 412
St.Petersburg, St.Petersburg 190040
Russian Federation
SCOTT said 11:50AM on 4-12-2009
@Apple Nag...how racist are you?
in this day and age how can you hold your head up and live with any pride if you are going to be a racist pig...the Russians are people too...
they are not a communist country any more and have vital important people
I have known many Russians here in the states and find them to be great people...and I am disgusted that you would just assume them to be crooks because they are from Russia
YOU MAKE ME SICK
Apple Nag said 12:27PM on 4-12-2009
Just speaking from experience, not from a racist point of view since I do have some Russian heritage. The only software I've personally ever encountered from Russian companies has been related to cracking security and violating privacy, so yes, I'm biased against Russian software, not racist. That's not to say there aren't good companies producing great software. I just haven't had the good fortune to encounter them. And by the way, the Russian friends I have are the ones who make all the jokes about Russian software. They too are appalled by this software. Finally, Russia is still subject to export restrictions by various countries so I guess governments are suspicious too.
So let me rephrase this to bring the focus back on the software and the company rather than the nationality ... would you buy software from ANY company that does not publish a privacy policy or contact information on their web site, particularly when the software is a keystroke logger, takes pictures using your webcam, and many other privacy violating functions? It is designed to be stealthy, not even letting an employee know they are being spied upon.
I would want to be very certain the software couldn't phone home, including checking for automatic updates because I don't trust any company that designs this kind of software. I also wouldn't work at a company where the employer is so out of touch with my work ethic that they feel they need to resort to junk like this, regardless of whether they informed me that it was present.
I agree with other posters who state that if an employer or parent has to rely on this kind of software, they've got a huge problem on their hands that this program won't solve.
The book, 1984 by George Orwell is required reading when it comes to being spied upon and the necessity to fight such activities.
jln said 11:36AM on 4-09-2009
I'm not even sure it is legal in some countries. I have to check for France but I think employees have to know they're being spied for it to be legal. Which almost makes this app useless...
If I'd ever need something like this to fire one my employees, I'd start with firing the one who recruited him...
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THJ said 11:44AM on 4-09-2009
Always assume that that everything that goes through your company computer and/or company network is actively being reviewed by your boss.
If you are in a regulated industry and have gotten burned with leaks and/or HIPAA/SOX fines, this is a godsend.
Just in general, if your employees are spending 1/2 of their time on non-work activities, you can cut their pay accordingly.
Yes, I'm fully aware that this will be low-ranked into oblivion, but it had to be said, IMO.
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ryan said 12:27PM on 4-09-2009
how much is being deducted from your pay from this comment?
Get back to work said 11:49AM on 4-09-2009
As a mid-level Mgr for an American manufacturing company, I welcome this App. Roughly 35% percent of our staff is worthless - now I can prove that to my boss (and hers if necessary).
Bitch all you want slackers, but you are precisely the reason why China is gutting us like the fat hog we are. Employees should not be engaging in ANY personal activities on company time, on company equipment - period. You were hired to do a job, not text your friends and watch YouTube.
And for the record, Apple's built-in parental controls are useless - thanks ActyMac for this long-needed application!
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atuck said 12:23PM on 4-09-2009
You shouldn't be allowed to spy on your employees without letting them know. Give fair warning and then hold them accountable after that.
Ed said 11:59AM on 4-09-2009
If you really feel like you need this app in order to "motivate" your team, you are probably the reason why they underperform.
Companies that deliver stellar performance are those companies where employees aren't treated as "drones".
Instead of spying your team, create a creative atmosphere and motivate them - if you can't, you are the wrong guy for the job.
bp said 12:35PM on 4-09-2009
I second the comment about needing to positively motivate your employees.
"Get back to work" if you're actually a manager, as someone who is directly responsible for more than 200 people, I strongly suggest you re-evaluate your methods -- trust me, it will benefit you in the long run. Employee morale is the most valuable thing you can have. Make people WANT to do their job, make them feel secure, and what they produce will be 10x better than anything produced under your authoritarian methods.