Haddii aad tahay maamulaha nidaamka, markaa isha ku hay emailkaaga shaqaalahaaga iyo isticmaalka PC waa hawl caadi ah, oo kuu ogolaanaysa inaad la socoto wax soo saarka, iyo sidoo kale inaad hubiso in faylasha khatarta ah aysan galin shabakadaada. Isla sidaas oo kale ayaa khuseeysa waalidiinta^{(applies to parents)} iyo macallimiinta, sidoo kale, kuwaas oo laga yaabo inay rabaan inay isha ku hayaan isticmaalka PC-ga ubadka ammaankooda.

Nasiib darro, waxaa jira waqtiyo software la socodka aan la soo dhaweyn ama la mahadin. Hackers, snoopers, ama maamulka IT-ga oo xad dhaaf ah ayaa dhamaantood u riixi kara xuduudaha aad u fog. Haddii aad ka welwelsan tahay sirtaada^{(worried about your privacy)} , waxaad baran kartaa inaad ogaato kombayutarka iyo email la socodka ama software basaaska adigoo raacaya tillaabooyinkan.

La socodka Guriga, Dugsiga, ama Shaqada^{(Monitoring at Home, School, or Work)}

Kahor intaadan bilaabin inaad eegto sida loo ogaado noocyada kombayutarka iyo la socodka iimaylka qaarkood, waxa laga yaabaa inaad u baahato inaad go'aamiso xuquuqdaada. Shaqaale ahaan, xuquuqahaaga gelitaanka shabakada, iimaylka, ama isticmaalka guud ee kombuyuutarka ayaa aad u hoosaysa, in kastoo aanay taasi macnaheedu ahayn in aanay jirin xuduudo aan laga gudbi karin^{(boundaries that can’t be crossed)} . 

Waxaa laga yaabaa inaadan lahaan karin qalabka, waxayna ku xiran tahay heshiiskaaga, loo-shaqeeyahaaga ama dugsiga ayaa laga yaabaa inay xaq u leeyihiin inay galaan xog kasta oo ku saabsan isticmaalka PC-gaaga. Iyadoo ay jiraan siyaabo lagu kormeero tan, waxaa laga yaabaa inaadan awoodin inaad joojiso ama ka shaqeyso agagaarka. Isla sidaas oo kale ayaa lagu dabaqaa goob waxbarasho, halkaas oo kontaroolada adag ee PC iyo isticmaalka shabakada ay u badan tahay.

Waa xaalad ka duwan gebi ahaanba PC-ga gaarka ah ee shabakada guriga, si kastaba ha ahaatee. Kumbuyuutarkaaga, xeerarkaaga - ilaa aanay ahayn qalabkaaga. Waalidiinta, tusaale ahaan, waxa laga yaabaa inay meel dhigaan software-ka-la-socodka si ay carruurtooda u badbaadiyaan, laakiin sidoo kale waxaa laga yaabaa inay lamaanayaasha xadgudubka ah, ama tuugta xaasidnimada ah ay kumanaan mayl u jiraan. 

Haddi ay tahay guriga, dugsiga, ama xafiiska, waxa jira dhawr siyaabood oo aad ku hubin karto nooca caadiga ah ee kumbiyuutarka ama la socodka iimaylka ee dhici kara.

Hubinta Software Monitoring Email^{(Checking for Email Monitoring Software)}

Haddii aad rabto inaad hubiso la socodka iimaylka, ka fiirso marka hore inaad isticmaalayso koonto iimayl shaqsi, shirkad, ama waxbarasho. Xisaabaadka shirkadda ama waxbarashada, maamulaha nidaamku waxay u badan tahay inuu awood u leeyahay inuu galo iimayladaada mar kasta, iyada oo dhammaan iimayllada lagu dhex mariyo server sugan oo laga yaabo inay sidoo kale xakameeyaan.

Haddi ay arintu sidaas tahay, waa inaad had iyo jeer^(always) ka fikirtaa in iimayladaada si uun loola socdo. Waxaa laga yaabaa in si firfircoon loola socdo, halka iimayl kasta la hubiyay oo la galiyay, ama la socodka ayaa noqon kara mid gaar ah, oo leh macluumaadka marka aad dirto oo aad hesho iimaylka (iyo sidoo kale kuwa qaata ama soo dirayaasha) si gaar ah loo galo.

Xataa la socodka firfircooni yar, maamulaha koontada iimaylka ee shirkadda ama waxbarashada ayaa wali dib u dajin kara eraygaaga sirta ah si uu u galo iimayladaada mar kasta.

Hubinta cinwaanada iimaylka^{(Checking Email Headers)}

Caadi ahaan waxaad go'aamin kartaa haddii iimaylladaada lagu dhex marinayo server-ka iimaylka ee shirkadda adoo eegaya cinwaannada iimayllada^{(headers for emails)} aad hesho. Tusaale ahaan, Gmail -ka , waxaad ka eegi kartaa madaxyada adigoo furaya iimaylka oo dooranaya summada menu ee saddex-dhibcood ah^{(three-dots menu icon )} ee dhanka sare ee midigta ah. Laga soo bilaabo fursadaha, dooro Show Original ikhtiyaarka ah.

Markaad eegto madaxyada, madaxa la helay^(Received) ayaa tusi doona halka imaylku ka yimid iyo serfarka iimaylka la isticmaalayo. Haddii iimaylka la dhex mariyo server-ka shirkadaha ama lagu sawiro shaandheyn, waxaad u qaadan kartaa in iimaylka uu yahay (ama la geli karo) lana kormeerayo.

Isticmaalka Proxy Servers^{(Using Proxy Servers)}

Haddii aad isticmaalayso macmiilka iimaylka miiska sida Microsoft Outlook , waxa suurtogal ah in iimayladaada lagu kormeero server-ka wakiil. Server-ka wakiil ka ah waxa loo isticmaali karaa in lagu galo xogta qaarkood, iyo sidoo kale in loo gudbiyo adeegayaasha kale.

Waxaad ka hubin kartaa goobaha wakiilkaaga Windows 10 gudaha menu Settings Windows^{(Windows Settings)} (haddii aad marin u leedahay kan).

1. Si aad u bilowdo, midig-guji liiska Start oo dooro ikhtiyaarka Settings .

1. Dejinta Windows, dooro Shabakadda & Internetka^{(Network & Internet)} > Wakiil^{( Proxy)} . Haddii aad isticmaalayso server wakiil, kani waxa lagu qori doonaa qaybta Adeegsiga adeegaha wakiilka^{(Use a proxy server)} .

Waxa kale oo suurtogal ah in goobaha boostada ee Outlook loo qorsheeyay in lagu dhex maro server-ka iimaylka wakiil gaar ah. Tan waxa la dejiyay marka sanduuqa boostada akoonkaaga lagu daro Outlook kaas oo, aaladaha shirkada, ay u badan tahay in si toos ah laguugu habeeyey.

Nasiib darro, sida kaliya ee lagu tijaabin karo kan (adigoon maamuluhu geli naftaada) waa inaad dirto oo aad hesho iimaylo inta u dhaxaysa akoon shaqsiyeed iyo akoon aad ka shakisan tahay in lala socdo. La socodka madaxda iimaylka, waxaa laga yaabaa inaad awoodo inaad ogaato haddii server-ka wakiil la isticmaalo iyadoo la isticmaalayo madax- helay^{(Received )} ama X-Forwarded-Forwarded^{(X-Forwarded-For )} .

Hubinta Software-ka Dabagalka^{(Checking for Monitoring Software)}

Habka caadiga ah ee la socodka dhijitaalka ah waa iyada oo loo marayo software lagu rakibay kombuyutarkaaga, la socoshada dhaqdhaqaaqaaga shabakada, software-ka aad isticmaasho, iyo xataa makarafoonkaaga, kamarada webka, iyo isticmaalka kiiboodhka. Ku dhawaad ​​wax kasta oo aad ku samayso PC-gaaga waxa lagu geli karaa software sax ah.

Raadinta calaamadaha lagu eegayo, si kastaba ha ahaatee, way ka yara adkaan kartaa. Had iyo jeer ma jiro summada waxtarka leh ee ku jira bar- hawleedka Windows si aad u raadiso, markaa waxaad u baahan doontaa inaad qoto dheer qoto dheer.

Hubinta Maareeyaha Hawsha Windows^{(Checking Windows Task Manager)}

Haddii aad ka shakisan tahay inuu jiro software ku jira Windows PC gaaga kaas oo duubaya hawshaada, waxaa laga yaabaa inaad rabto inaad hubiso liiskaaga hababka socodsiinta marka hore adoo isticmaalaya Maareeyaha Hawsha^{(Task Manager)} . Waxaa jira meesha aad ka heli doonto liiska dhammaan software-yada socda ee PC gaaga.

1. Si aad u furto maamulaha hawsha, midig-guji liiska Start menu oo dooro ikhtiyaarka Manager Task .^{(Task Manager)}

1. Daaqadda Maareeyaha Hawsha^{(Task Manager)} , waxaad ku arki doontaa liiska abka iyo adeegyada socda. Haddii kale, u gudub tabka Faahfaahinta^(Details) si aad u hesho liis cad oo dhammaan faylasha la fulin karo^{(executable files)} . 

Nidaamyada socodsiinta ee leh magacyo aan sifayn ahayn waa inay kor u qaadaan shakigaaga (inkasta oo aan had iyo jeer ahayn). Iyadoo laga yaabo inay caddayso waqti qaadasho, waa inaad isticmaashaa makiinadaha raadinta si aad u baarto geedi socod kasta oo markeeda ah.

Tusaale ahaan, ntoskrnl.exe waa sharci (oo lama huraan ah) nidaamka Windows. Haddii aad ku aragtay student.exe (app ka la socodka adeega LanSchool ee dugsiyada) liiska, si kastaba ha ahaatee, waxaad u qaadan kartaa in lagu eegayo.

Waa inaad sidoo kale raadisaa software-ka isku xirka fog ee caadiga ah, sida VNC , LogMeIn , ama TeamViewer . Barnaamijyadan wadaaga shaashadda^{(screen sharing apps)} waxay u oggolaanayaan isticmaalaha fog inuu la wareego kombuyutarkaaga, isagoo siinaya awood ay ku furaan abka, qabtaan hawlaha, duubaan isticmaalka shaashadda, iyo in ka badan.

Daaqadaha sidoo kale waxay leedahay adeeg desktop fog oo u gaar ah^{(own remote desktop service)} , taasoo u oggolaanaysa kombuyuutarrada kale ee Windows inay arkaan oo xakameeyaan PC-gaaga. Akhbaarta wanaagsan ayaa ah in isku xirka RDP ay caadiyan u ogolaadaan hal qof inuu daawado shaashad isku mar. Inta aad soo gashay, isticmaale kale waa in aanu awoodin in uu eego ama xakameeyo kombayutarkaga.

Isagoo eegaya Isku xidhka Shabakadda Firfircoon^{(Looking at Active Network Connections)}

Maamulaha habsocodka waa hab wanaagsan oo lagu hubiyo software la socodka firfircoon, laakiin tani waxay shaqeysaa oo keliya haddii software-ku hadda shaqeynayo. Goobaha qaarkood (sida deegaanka dugsiga), waxaa laga yaabaa inaadan ogolaansho u haysan inaad furto Maareeyaha Hawsha^{(Task Manager)} si aad u eegto meesha ugu horeysa.

Inta badan software-ku-qorista sida caadiga ah waxay ku shaqeysaa inay ku duubaan xogta gudaha una diraan server ama maamule meel kale. Tani waxay noqon kartaa mid gudaha ah (shabakaddaada) ama server-ka ku salaysan internetka. Si tan loo sameeyo, waxaad u baahan doontaa inaad eegto isku xirka shabakada firfircoon ee PC gaaga.

Hal dariiqo oo tan lagu sameeyo ayaa ah in la isticmaalo la socodka kheyraadka^{(Resource Monitor)} ee ku dhex dhisan . Barnaamijkan yar ee la yaqaan ee Windows wuxuu kuu ogolaanayaa inaad ka aragto isgaarsiin kasta oo firfircoon, mid soo galeysa iyo mid baxaysa, oo ka socota PC-gaaga. Sidoo kale waa app inta badan ku hadha kombayutarada shirkada iyo waxbarashada

1. Si aad u furto Kormeeraha Kheyraadka^{(Resource Monitor)} , ku dhufo midigta liiska Start oo dooro Run .

1. In sanduuqa Run , ku qor resmon oo dooro OK .

1. Dooro shabkada Shabakadda^(Network) ee daaqada Kormeerka Kheyraadka . ^{(Resource Monitor )}Halkan waxaad ka arki doontaa liiska xidhiidhada firfircoon. Geedi socodka leh sanduuqa Hawsha Shabakadda^{(Processes with Network Activity )} , waxaad ku arki doontaa habraacyada diraya iyo helitaanka xogta, ha ahaato gudaha ama adeegyada internetka ku salaysan.
   
   Sanduuqa Hawsha Shabakadda^{(Network Activity )} , waxaad arki doontaa hababkan mar kale la taxay, laakiin leh xidhiidhada firfircoon (oo leh ciwaannada IP) ee liiska ku jira. Haddii aad rabto in aad ogaato dekedaha loo isticmaalo samaynta isku xidhka, ama ka furto dekedaha kombayutarkaga^{(open ports on your PC)} hab-socodka ay si firfircoon u dhageysanayaan isku xirka, eeg sanduuqyada Xidhiidhada TCP^{(TCP Connections )} iyo Dhegeysiga^{(Listening Ports)} .

Any connections to other devices in reserved IP ranges (eg. 10.0.0.1 to 10.255.255.255 or 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.255.255) means data is being shared over your network, but connections to other ranges points to an internet-based administration server.

You may need to research some of the processes listed here to identify possible apps. For instance, if you spot a process that you don’t recognize with a number of active connections, sending and receiving a lot of data, or using an uncommon port (typically a 5-digit number), use a search engine to research it further.

Spotting Keyboard, Webcam, and Microphone Logging

Software-ka la socodka kombuyuutarku kaliya maaha in la diiwaan geliyo isticmaalkaaga mareegaha-waxa ay caddayn kartaa in uu yahay shakhsi aad u badan. Halkii ay suurtagal tahay, abka kuwan oo kale ah ayaa (oo laga yaabaa) la socon kara kamaradahaaga mareegaha oo ay la socdaan isticmaalka, ama duubi karaan dhammaan furayaasha firfircoon ee aad samayso. Wax kasta oo aad ku qorto, tiraahdo, ama ku sameyso PC-gaaga waa la duubi karaa oo la baari karaa hadhow.

Haddii tani dhacdo, waxaad u baahan doontaa inaad isku daydo oo aad aragto calaamadaha. Inta badan kamaradaha shabakadda ee gudaha iyo dibaddaba^{(external webcams)} waxay muujiyaan iftiin (sida caadiga ah LED cagaaran ama caddaan ah ) si ay u muujiyaan in kamaraduhu uu firfircoon yahay. Isticmaalka makarafoonku^(Microphone) way ka dhib yar tahay in la ogaado, laakiin waxaad hubin kartaa waxa makarafoonku ka ogaanayo menu -ka dejinta codka .^(Sound)

1. Si taas loo sameeyo, midig-guji astaanta codka ee aagga gelitaanka degdega ah ee bar-hawleedka. Laga soo bilaabo fursadaha, dooro Open Sound settings .

1. Liiska codka , Tijaabi jiidhiyahaaga makarafoonka ^{(Test your microphone )}ayaa^(Sound) kor iyo hoos u dhaqaaqi doona iyadoo codadka uu qaaday makarafoonkaaga.

Haddii aad ogolaansho u haysato inaad sidaas samayso, waxaad xannibi kartaa gelitaanka makarafoonkaaga ama kamarada^{(block access to your mic or camera)} gudaha menu Settings Windows.

1. Si aad u gasho liiskan, midig-guji liiska Start oo dooro Settings.

1. Menu Settings^{(Settings )} , dooro Privacy option. Qaybta makarafoonka^{(Microphone )} , dami abka Oggolow inay galaan makarafoonkaaga^{(Allow apps to access your microphone )} oo Oggolow abka desktop-ka inay galaan slide-yada makarafoonkaaga^{(Allow desktop apps to access your microphone )} si ay u joojiyaan dhammaan gelitaanka makarafoonkaaga. Haddii kale, waxaad xannibi kartaa abka gaarka ah adiga oo dooranaya slider-ka ku xiga gelitaanka abka kasta.

1. Qaybta kamarada^{(Camera )} , waxaad joojin kartaa gelitaanka kamarada adiga oo dooranaya Oggolow abka inay galaan kamaradaada^{(Allow apps to access your camera )} oo Oggolow abka desktop-ka inay galaan^{(Allow desktop apps to access your camera)} slide- yadaada. Waxa kale oo aad joojin kartaa abka gaarka ah adiga oo dooranaya slider-ka ku xiga gelista kasta.

Tallaabooyinka kore waa inay kaa caawiyaan inaad xaddiddo waxa qof arki karo ama maqli karo, laakiin waxaa laga yaabaa inaad u baahato inaad qaado tillaabooyin dheeraad ah si aad u xannibto isku dayga keylogging^{(block keylogging attempts)} .

Ka-hortagga Kormeerka Dowladda^{(Protecting Against Government Monitoring)}

Hababka aan kor ku soo sheegnay waxay si fiican u shaqeeyaan si loo ogaado nooca kormeerka aad ka filan karto guriga ama shaqada, laakiin waxay u badan tahay inay ka shaqeeyaan si loo ogaado la socodka dawladda. Meelo ka mid ah aduunka, hawshaada dhijitaalka ah waxay u badan tahay in la duubo oo faafreeb lagu sameeyo.

Ka-hortagga kombuyuutarrada noocan oo kale ah ee internetka waxay noqon kartaa mid adag, laakiin ma aha wax aan macquul ahayn. Qaar ka mid ah shabakadaha gaarka ah ee ugu wanaagsan^{(best virtual private networks)} waxay ka shaqeyn karaan meelaha adduunka oo faafreebka intarneedka uu yahay mid caadi ah, laakiin sidoo kale waxaad isticmaali kartaa Tor^{(use Tor)} si aad uga gudubto xannibaadaha oo aad u ilaaliso qarsoodigaaga.

Nasiib darro, sida kaliya ee si dhab ah looga hortagi karo wakiilada dawladda inay la socdaan isticmaalka dhijitaalka ah waa inaad u beddesho aaladaha qarsoon ee isgaarsiinta. Dhowr goobood oo lagu sheekeysto ayaa^{(encrypted chat platforms)} jira, sida Signal , kuwaas oo taageera sirta dhamaadka-ilaa-dhamaadka, taasoo kuu ogolaanaysa inaad si xor ah u sheekeysato adigoon ka cabsanayn faafreebka.

Naftaada Iska ilaali Snoopers^{(Protect Yourself Against Snoopers)}

Sida tillaabooyinka kore ay muujinayaan, waxaa jira dhowr siyaabood oo ay maamulayaasha shirkadaha, waalidiinta dulqaadka badan, exes xanaaqsan, tuugada xaasidnimada ah, iyo xitaa basaasiinta dowladda ay ula socon karaan isticmaalka PC-gaaga. Tani mar walba maahan wax aad xakamayn karto, gaar ahaan haddii aad tahay shaqaale isticmaalaya shabakad shirkadeed.

Haddii aad isticmaalayso kombayutarka gaarka ah, si kastaba ha ahaatee, waxa jira tillaabooyin aad qaadi karto si aad u ilaaliso kombayutarkaga. Isticmaalka shabakad gaar loo leeyahay^{(virtual private network)} waa hab fiican oo lagu qariyo isticmaalkaaga intarneedka, laakiin waxa ay sidoo kale xannibi kartaa isku dayada socda ee lagu xidhidhinayo PC gaaga. Waxa kale oo aad ka fikiri kartaa sidii aad kombayutarkaaga ugu nadiifin lahayd dab-damis dhinac saddexaad ah^{(third-party firewall)} si loo joojiyo gelitaanka aan loo baahnayn.

Haddii aad runtii aad uga welwelsan tahay ammaanka shabakadaada^{(network security)} , waxaad eegi kartaa siyaabo kale oo aad uga go'doomi karto isticmaalka PC-gaaga. Waxaad u wareegi kartaa qaybinta Linux^{(Linux distribution)} , adoo siinaya badbaado ka badan kan caadiga ah ee Windows PC. Haddii aad rabto inaad soo noqoto koofiyad cad, waxaad xitaa ka fikiri kartaa Linux distro ee jabsiga^{(Linux distro for hacking)} , taasoo kuu ogolaaneysa inaad tijaabiso shabakadaada godad amniga.

How to Detect Computer & Email Monitoring or Spying Software

If you’re a system administrator, then keeping an eye on your employees’ email and PC usage is a fairly common task, allowing уou to monitor productivity, as well as ensure no dangerous files enter yоur network. The same applies to parents and teachers, too, who might wish to keep an eye on a child’s PC usage for their safety.

Unfortunately, there are times where monitoring software isn’t welcomed or appreciated. Hackers, snoopers, or overreaching IT admins can all push the boundaries too far. If you’re worried about your privacy, you can learn to detect computer and email monitoring or spying software by following these steps.

Monitoring at Home, School, or Work

Before you begin to look at how to detect certain types of computer and email monitoring, you may need to determine your rights. As an employee, your rights to unfiltered access to the web, email, or general PC usage could be much lower, although that doesn’t mean that there aren’t boundaries that can’t be crossed. 

You may not own the equipment, and depending on your contract, your employer or school may hold the right to log any data on your PC usage. While there are ways to monitor this, you might not be able to stop or work around it. The same applies in an educational setting, where strict controls on PC and web usage are likely.

It’s a different scenario entirely for a personal PC on a home network, however. Your PC, your rules – unless it isn’t your equipment. Parents, for instance, may place monitoring software to keep their children safe, but so too may abusive partners, or malicious hackers thousands of miles away. 

Whether it’s at home, school, or at the office, there are a number of ways you can check for the typical kind of computer or email monitoring that can take place.

Checking for Email Monitoring Software

If you want to check for email monitoring, consider first whether you’re using a personal, corporate, or educational email account. For corporate or educational accounts, a system administrator likely has the power to access your emails at any point, with all emails routed through a secure server that they may also control.

If that’s the case, you should always assume that your emails are monitored in some way. It might be actively monitored, where each email is checked and logged, or the monitoring could be less specific, with information on when you send and receive emails (as well as the recipients or senders) logged separately.

Even with less active monitoring, an administrator over a corporate or educational email account can still reset your password to access your emails at any point.

Checking Email Headers

You can usually determine if your emails are being routed through a corporate email server by looking at the headers for emails you receive. For instance, in Gmail, you can look up the headers by opening an email and selecting the three-dots menu icon in the top-right. From the options, select the Show Original option.

Looking at the headers, the Received header will show where the email originated from and the email server being used. If the email is routed through a corporate server or is scanned by a filter, you can assume that the email is being (or can be) logged and monitored.

Using Proxy Servers

If you’re using a desktop email client like Microsoft Outlook, it’s possible that your emails are being monitored through a proxy server. A proxy server can be used to log certain data, as well as forward it to other servers.

You can check your proxy settings on Windows 10 in the Windows Settings menu (if you have access to this).

1. To start, right-click the Start menu and select the Settings option.

1. In Windows Settings, select Network & Internet > Proxy. If you’re using a proxy server, this will be listed in the Use a proxy server section.

It’s also possible that your Outlook mailbox settings are designed to route through an email server over a specific proxy. This is set up when your account mailbox is added to Outlook which, for corporate devices, is likely configured for you automatically.

Unfortunately, the only way to test this (without administrator access yourself) is to send and receive emails between a personal account and an account you suspect is monitored. Monitoring the email headers, you may be able to spot if a proxy server is used using the Received or X-Forwarded-For headers.

Checking for Monitoring Software

A more typical method of digital monitoring is through software installed on your PC, tracking your web activity, the software you use, and even your microphone, webcam, and keyboard usage. Almost everything you do on your PC is loggable with the right software.

Looking for the signs that you’re being monitored, however, can be a little harder. There isn’t always a handy icon in the Windows taskbar to look for, so you’ll need to dig a little deeper.

Checking Windows Task Manager

If you suspect there’s software on your Windows PC that’s recording your activity, you might want to check your list of running processes first using Task Manager. There is where you’ll find a list of all the running software on your PC.

1. To open the task manager, right-click the Start menu and select the Task Manager option.

1. In the Task Manager window, you’ll see a list of running apps and services. Alternatively, switch to the Details tab for a clearer list of all running executable files. 

Running processes with non-descript names should raise your suspicions (although not always). While it may prove time consuming, you should use a search engine to investigate each running process in turn.

For instance, ntoskrnl.exe is a perfectly legitimate (and essential) Windows process. If you spotted student.exe (the monitoring app for the LanSchool monitoring service for schools) in the list, however, you can assume you’re being monitored.

You should also look for common remote desktop connection software, such as VNC, LogMeIn, or TeamViewer. These screen sharing apps allow a remote user to take control of your PC, giving them the ability to open apps, perform tasks, record your screen usage, and more.

Windows also has its own remote desktop service, allowing other Windows PCs to view and control your PC. The good news is that RDP connections typically only allow one person to view a screen at the same time. As long as you’re logged in, another user shouldn’t be able to view or control your PC.

Looking at Active Network Connections

The process manager is a good way to check for active monitoring software, but this only works if the software is currently active. In certain settings (such as a school environment), you may not have permission to open the Task Manager to look in the first place.

Most logging software usually works by recording data locally and sending it to a server or administrator elsewhere. This could be locally (on your own network) or to an internet-based server. To do this, you’ll need to look at the active network connections on your PC.

One way to do this is to use the built-in Resource Monitor. This little-known Windows app allows you to view any active communications, both ingoing and outgoing, from your PC. It’s also an app that often remains available on corporate and educational PCs.

1. To open Resource Monitor, right-click the Start menu and select Run.

1. In the Run box, type resmon and select OK.

1. Select the Network tab in the Resource Monitor window. From here, you’ll see a list of active connections. In the Processes with Network Activity box, you’ll see processes that are sending and receiving data, either locally or to internet-based services.
   
   In the Network Activity box, you’ll see these processes listed again, but with the active connections (with IP addresses) listed. If you want to know the ports being used to make the connections, or open ports on your PC that processes are actively listening on for connections, view the TCP Connections and Listening Ports boxes.

Any connections to other devices in reserved IP ranges (eg. 10.0.0.1 to 10.255.255.255 or 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.255.255) means data is being shared over your network, but connections to other ranges points to an internet-based administration server.

You may need to research some of the processes listed here to identify possible apps. For instance, if you spot a process that you don’t recognize with a number of active connections, sending and receiving a lot of data, or using an uncommon port (typically a 5-digit number), use a search engine to research it further.

Spotting Keyboard, Webcam, and Microphone Logging

PC monitoring software isn’t just about recording your web usage—it can prove to be a lot more personal. Where possible, apps like these can (and may) monitor your webcam and monitor usage, or record all active keypresses you make. Everything you type, say, or do on your PC could be recorded and examined later.

If this is happening, you’ll need to try and spot the signs. Most built-in and external webcams display a light (usually a green or white LED) to show that a webcam is active. Microphone usage is trickier to spot, but you can check what sounds a microphone is detecting in the Sound settings menu.

1. To do this, right-click the sound icon in the quick access area of the task bar. From the options, select Open Sound settings.

1. In the Sound menu, the Test your microphone slider will move up and down with sounds picked up by your mic.

If you have permissions to do so, you can block access to your mic or camera in the Windows Settings menu.

1. To access this menu, right-click the Start menu and select Settings.

1. In the Settings menu, select the Privacy option. In the Microphone section, disable the Allow apps to access your microphone and Allow desktop apps to access your microphone sliders to stop all mic access. Alternatively, you can block individual apps by selecting the slider next to each app entry.

1. In the Camera section, you can disable camera access by selecting the Allow apps to access your camera and Allow desktop apps to access your camera sliders. You can also stop individual apps by selecting the slider next to each entry.

The steps above should help you to limit what somebody can see or hear, but you may need to take additional steps to block keylogging attempts.

Protecting Against Government Monitoring

The methods we’ve outlined above work well to spot the kind of monitoring you can expect at home or at work, but they’re less likely to work to spot government monitoring. In certain areas of the world, your digital activity is likely to be recorded and censored.

Protecting against this kind of computer monitoring online can be difficult, but it isn’t impossible. Some of the best virtual private networks can work in areas of the world where internet censorship is common, but you can also use Tor to bypass restrictions and protect your privacy instead.

Unfortunately, the only way to truly prevent government agents from monitoring your digital usage is to switch to encrypted platforms for communication. A number of encrypted chat platforms exist, such as Signal, that support end-to-end encryption, allowing you to chat freely without fear of censorship.

Protect Yourself Against Snoopers

As the steps above show, there are a number of ways that corporate administrators, overbearing parents, disgruntled exes, malicious hackers, and even government spies can monitor your PC usage. This isn’t always something you can control, especially if you’re an employee using a corporate network.

If you’re using a personal PC, however, there are steps you can take to protect your PC. Using a virtual private network is a great way to hide your internet usage, but it can also block outgoing attempts to connect to your PC. You could also think about beefing up your PC with a third-party firewall to stop unnecessary access.

If you’re really worried about your network security, you can look at other ways to isolate your PC usage. You could switch to a Linux distribution, offering more security than a typical Windows PC. If you want to turn white-hat, you can even think about a Linux distro for hacking, allowing you to test your network for security holes.

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