Key Logging Capers Part Two – Three Reasons why it is a Problem

For those concerned about spouses who may be cheating via the internet, key logging software can be a great way to check it out. It will give you a clue as to what your partner is doing online and whether or not there is a bigger problem. There are, however, problems with key logging software of which you should be aware. Three problems, in particular, are cause for concern.

First of all, key logging just isn’t quite the best way. For instance, there are programs out there that will allow you to record in great detail what your partner is doing on the computer. Such software will get you captured screen images, typed keywords, files he or she has opened, files that have been allowed, and even both sides of chat conversations. Key logging software is not a bad first step, but as opposed to these other software applications, key logging only gets you what was typed from the computer on which it is installed. You would not see both sides of a chat conversation, read incoming emails, or know exactly what websites he or she went to if the addresses were not typed in directly. In such a situation you are only getting half the story and it may be difficult to figure out exactly what is going on. In such a case you can end up either falsely accusing your partner or not be able to collect enough evidence to completely confirm your suspicions and confront him or her.

The second problem with key logging software when trying to catch a cheating partner is how easily it can be detected. Spying software is made to run stealthily in the background so that the person who is being spied on will not be aware. On the other hand, many key logging programs were designed for use by businesses to keep their employees on task. Part of the solution, in that case, is not hiding the fact that the employees are being monitored. Therefore, many key logging software programs are fairly easily detected so that your spouse will know that you are checking up on him or her. The drawback of that is two fold: one, you may not find out what is or was going on and two, you will likely upset your partner if it turns out he or she was not doing what you initially suspected.

The third problem with key logging software is that it may be hard to get it in where you need it. If your partner uses his or her own computer, you may have a difficult time getting access to it for a long enough time to get software installed. In addition to the problem of time, is the problem of access. If you have to install the software to find out what is going on, you will need to know how to get onto your partner’s computer. Sure, the key logging software can load the information to your computer for retrieval, but you will still need to be able to get it on his or her computer in the first place. Though this is a problem with many key logging applications, there are some that can help. Some of the newer spy and key logging programs are made so that they can be installed as a sort of virus. You need only email the program to the computer on which you would like it installed. When the user opens it or looks at it, he or she will automatically have it installed on his or her computer.

With our world increasingly relying on computers and the internet, it only makes sense that extramarital and cheating affairs would find their way there. You may even have suspicions that your spouse or partner is cheating by communicating on line or even by having a cyber affair. Like with any affair, you likely want to find evidence so that you either know you have reason to leave that person or so you can confront him or her for some sort of explanation. Key logging software is a popular way of seeking out such evidence. There are, however, problems with it. There are better software applications for this purpose, it can be difficult to get installed if you have limited access to the computer you need to log, and it can be very one sided since you only see what is typed on the computer on which it is installed.

Pound Those Pop-Ups

Advertising is part of what makes the internet a profitable investment for companies. Without advertising, in one form or another, the web simply could not be the free service it generally is. One form of advertising on the World Wide Web is the pop-up ad. This kind of advertising works when you open a certain website. As you open it, another window opens to display an advertisement. To close the advertisement, you either have to click on the ad or close the new browser window that has opened for you. You can also experience a version of this called a pop-under. This opens a window under your current browser window. This means you will not see it until the window you are using has been closed.

In the early days of the internet, simple banner ads on websites were profitable enough for companies. However, as the internet increased in popularity, and the dot com crash of the nineties happened, banner ads began to stop generating the cash they once were. As a result, pop-up ads became popular. They are harder to ignore. These ads also have a higher click rate, and they are more difficult to close, making them that much more likely to close a sale.

The major users of pop-up ads are pornographic websites. Sometimes the pop-up ads can get a bit more persistent with these kinds of sites. Instead of a single window opening, multiple windows open. As the user attempts to close each window, another one opens. The only way to stop this is to close the browser or shut the computer down. Another more persistent type of pop-up is usually referred to as “mouse trapping.” This type of ad fills your screen and removes all icons and menu bars so it is impossible to kill the ad. The only way to get rid of this ad is to shut the computer down, as access to other open windows, web pages, and programs is eliminated. The static image ad is also quite common. In this variation, the ad stays in one location as long as a particular program is open. This is most common with music programs and websites.

Working on the internet is not the only way to get pop-up ads. Some software programs have pop-up ads. If spyware has infected your computer, you may also be experiencing pop-up ads at random intervals.

Not only are these ads annoying, the more persistent forms of pop-ups ads can be damaging to your computer with improper shut downs of certain programs. Moreover, some of these ads can carry malware, which can be very harmful to your system. It is important to stop these ads at all costs, if for no other reason than to save your sanity.

There are several things you can do to combat pop-up ads. The first line of defense is your browser itself. A number of different companies make browsers that eliminate pop-up ads before they ever begin. Gecko-based browsers, including Mozilla Firefox and Netscape versions seven and eight, are very good at stopping pop-up ads before they even start. A Gecko-based browser is an open source web browser layout engine. It is considered to be the second most popular type of search engine layout. Other companies that make browsers that eliminate pop-up ads include America Online and Internet Explorer. Not all versions of these browsers, though, support pop-up blocking technology, so it is important to check before you install.

Another thing you can do to combat pop-up ads is install an add-on program. Several toolbars and software programs claim to block pop-ups. Yahoo’s toolbar, MSN’s toolbar, and Google’s toolbar all claim to block pop-ups. The freeware programs KillAd and NoAds close the windows before they open. Other software programs including Super Ad Blocker, Pop-Up Stopper, Pop-Up Sentry, and Proximitron work in a similar fashion.

Many users are unaware of pop-up blocking technology. As a result, people continue to fight with pop-up ads on a daily basis. Armed with this new knowledge, though, you can be among the intelligent and begin fighting your pop-up ads with a new browser or a software add-on program.