SOURCE: WebSpy

 

SEATTLE, WA--(Marketwire - September 8, 2008) - With both Microsoft and Google introducing new private browsing features in their Internet browsers, employers are concerned that it will lead to an increase in recreational browsing by employees. In fact, many pundits in the industry are affectionately naming the feature "porn mode" as it gives users the ability to view adult sites without leaving evidence. According to WebSpy COO, Lagis Zavros, "There should be no concern for employers."

These features have no doubt been introduced by demand and on the back of society's growing concern over protecting individual privacy rights. Many people believe that an individual's private activity on the Internet should remain private as long as it is legal and acceptable within that society. Activity within the workplace however is a different matter. Employers have a duty of responsibility to protect their assets, minimize risk and maximize the return to their stakeholders whether they are private or public.

Zavros added, "It should be emphasized that these new features are purely aimed at the home market. Most organizations will have web, proxy servers or firewalls all capable of capturing and logging traffic as it flows through the company. Individual users will not be able to bypass this and employers will still be able to monitor sites visited and general browsing activity. Dynamic changes in technology and work cultures make it imperative for employers to have acceptable usage policies and monitoring of employees.

Zavros concluded, "A number of vendors have tools that place surveillance agents on individuals PC's and it is often very easy for technology savvy employees to bypass these. WebSpy has focused on providing monitoring and reporting by leveraging data from secure servers or from an ISP and hence has no concerns regarding the introduction of privacy features with IE 8 or Google Chrome."

About WebSpy Ltd

WebSpy is a global vendor of software solutions that provide a transparent view over organizations' Internet, email and network usage. WebSpy enables organizations to protect and maximize their Internet investment whilst still allowing enjoyment of the benefits of a web-enabled environment. WebSpy's solutions analyze the information (log files) that common network devices, such as web servers, email servers, and security devices produce. WebSpy can report on more than 200 log formats from different vendors and provides an independent, consistent, holistic and reliable window into what is happening within an organization's network and security environment.

WebSpy has representation on Microsoft's Worldwide ISV Partner Advisory Council (PAC).

Full versions of the WebSpy products are available to download and trial, free for 30 days, at:

http://www.webspy.com/products

For all other information please visit our website at www.WebSpy.com or alternatively contact Asa Davidsson, Media Relations on: +61 8 9321 3322 or asa@webspy.com