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Comment by sevenf0ur | Hacker News Reader

Would you be okay with tracking software if it was installed on a work provided computer?

Absolutely not. It's not about who's hardware it's installed in, it's about abusing privacy, in a completely over-reaching and indefensible way.

Absolutely not. If I'm not trusted to do the job, that isn't the kind of relationship I want with my employer.

To be honest I would be uncomfortable using a work provided computer without at least some rudimentary tracking on it. Majority of my work provided machines were locked down to a limited user account, so it is up to IT to at least make sure that it is updated and not full of viruses.

I mean I don't want it to have a 1 minute timer that clocks me out, but the expectation that work has complete ownership of their provided equipment has been the norm for at least the 10 years I have been working.

Why would mandatory malware ever be okay under any circumstance?

Tracking software is not malware. I totally oppose the use of tracking software, but they are not the same.

The only difference is a clause in the contract saying the employee agrees to use the software.

Definition of malware: software that is specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.

You could argue that tracking software is "disruptive" but more so to the user, not the system itself. you're conflating your dislike for both tracking software and malware as the same. Again, I'm not defending tracking software, just disagreeing with your false equivalency.

Isn't spyware just a subset of malware? This is definitely spyware

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