SpyCop and SnagIt 6

[FanJ]

I did a full scan with the latest SpyCop database.
SpyCop came with the following report (never alerted on this before).
SnagIt is a screen-capture program.

[hr]

SpyCop Search Results for 08-14-2002 15:01:52
Spy Programs Found:
SnagIt (Timer Controllable Capture)
SnagIt (Timer Controllable Capture)
SnagIt (Timer Controllable Capture)

Files Which may be Part of Above Spy Programs:
C:\Program Files\TechSmith\SnagIt 6\SnagIt32.exe
C:\Program Files\TechSmith\SnagIt 6\SnagIt32.exe
C:\Program Files\TechSmith\SnagIt 6\Studio.exe

[hr]

So I sent it in to the SpyCop-company.
Their reply:

[hr]

"Hello,
SnagIt can be used as a spy program. A feature in version 6 allows it to record snapshots of the screen, silently, as regular intervals."

[hr]

Interesting topic.
A nice program that could be used that way.
Sort of a "grey-zone"?

[Mike_Healan]

They have a point I guess, though I'd make it clear it was a warning only. You can use quite a few innocent programs to spy on folks.
I once wrote a batch file that loaded notepad every time the computer started and recorded a time stamp to tell me if someone had been using my computer when I wasn't around. Doesn't mean notepad should be flagged.

[snapdragin]

hi Jan!

i've never used Spycop.

Irfanview also has a feature in it's Capture Method called Automatic - Timer Delay which can be scheduled to take a screen capture up to every 600 seconds, i think it does it silently too.

i agree with Mike though, that in this case it isn't so much a program that is basically innocent but with spying capabilities that would be the culprit as it would be the person that programed it for such a thing.

i should give spycop a try..see what it does. :)

*Jan...is spycop similiar to spybotS&D and AdAware then?

[Prince_Serendip]

I've never used SpyCop either. Anyone have a link for it? I have a question per FanJ's post:
{QUOTE-> "Hello,
SnagIt can be used as a spy program. A feature in version 6 allows it to record snapshots of the screen, silently, as regular intervals."
<-QUOTE}
Is this a User feature or could a third party use it? Thanks.

(Personally, I use ScreenHunter.)

[FanJ]

{QUOTE-> quoting: Mike Healan link=board=22;threadid=3042;start=0#20533 date=1029473859]
They have a point I guess, though I'd make it clear it was a warning only. You can use quite a few innocent programs to spy on folks.
<-QUOTE}

Mike, I agree with you.
I have to admit that I didn't know that it could be used this way.
Indeed, it's a fully innocent, nice program.
I too consider it only as a warning.


For links with respect to SpyCop:

SpyCop website: http://www.spycop.com/
It is also mentioned here on the Wilders-site:
http://www.wilders.org/spyware.htm
You will find there links to screenshots.


Snap:
SpyCop is not the same as SpyBot S&D.

Prince:
I have not used SnagIt that way; I have to look at the Helpfile. But my guess at the moment is that it could not be used by a "third party". But that you could use it to silently monitor what someone else is doing on your machine by taking silently screenshots at certain time-intervals. And that is one of the kinds of spyware that SpyCop tries to detect, just like it tries to detect a keylogger program with which you could monitor what someone else is doing on your machine.