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"?
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.
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?
I've never used SpyCop either. Anyone have a link for it? I have a question per FanJ's post: Is this a User feature or could a third party use it? Thanks. (Personally, I use ScreenHunter.)
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.
