{"id":3271,"date":"2007-10-30T19:59:49","date_gmt":"2007-10-30T17:59:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onsoftware.en.softonic.com\/niche-software-spying-and-surveillance\/"},"modified":"2025-07-02T02:41:44","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T09:41:44","slug":"niche-software-spying-and-surveillance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/niche-software-spying-and-surveillance\/","title":{"rendered":"Niche software: spying and surveillance"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GeorgeOne of the great things about working for a software portal is that you get to see a lot of software that passes other users by. From Palm OS applications for monitoring your car’s fuel consumption<\/a> to games set in fashion boutiques<\/a>, I’ve seen it all. But few niche software categories are as unusual (or potentially worrying) as the programs designed for surveillance and spying.<\/p>\n

Most programs in this genre offer somewhat unconvincing reasons for why you should install them. Key-logging applications suggest that their main use is “not for spying<\/a>” but to help you remember all your passwords, license keys and email addresses. And how about a program which can send you photos from a remote cell phone, the description for which suggests “…if you are not at work you can monitor an operating machinery or supervise your office”? Yeah.<\/p>\n

Actually, there are perfectly legitimate reasons for using this sort of software: keeping tabs on your kids’ computer use or your home while you’re away (though a mobile phone camera-based surveillance system is no substitute for a nanny) are both decent things to do. But remember that a key-logger or a camera app won’t actually stop bad things from happening, so much as record them when they do. Still, if you’re interested, here are my top surveillance apps at Softonic:<\/p>\n