First of all a installing a key logger program on someone else's computer is a serious crime. Compromising Confidentiality: 18 U.S.C. §1030(a)(2). If you don't think the police take is serious ask the 18 year old high school teenager in California facing 38 years for installing key logging software on his schools computer.



Secondly it is easily detected. Even though the advertising pitch by these software salesmen try to tell you the software is undetectable it is not. It can set off firewall and virus detection software. It can also cause a computer to freeze up or crash.

Lastly it is useless if you do not have access to every computer he target uses. If you believe the pitch that it can be installed remotely you'll be in for a surprise when you learn the person on the end of the remote install must accept and initiate the installation of the key logger.

Just recently the Federal Trade Commission, a U.S. District Court has issued a temporary restraining order halting the sale of keylogger spyware. According to the FTC's complaint, a Florida-based company called CyberSpy Software,marketed and sold RemoteSpy keylogger spyware to clients who would then secretly monitor unsuspecting pleoples computers. The FTC seeks to permanently bar the practices and require the defendants to turn over their ill-gotten gains.Court Orders Halt to Sale of Spyware

While a key logger could be useful in monitoring your children's or families computer with the knowledge and consent of all the users it is not an effective tool in an undercover investigation.

But don't give up hope, There are perfectly legal and effective ways to conduct an Internet investigation with out downloading or installing and malicious spy software. In fact you do not even need access to the targets computer. He could be using an anonymous email account from a library or Cyber cafe and you can still uncover every aspect of their online infidelity. Find secret email accounts, secret personal ads, Myspace pages. Even membership to porn sites and escort services can be uncovered without ever coming within a thousand miles of the targets computer.

A private investigator experienced in online infidelity investigations only needs the subjects name and email address to find out all this information and even more. This type of investigation is perfectly legal and unlike an illegal wire tap or key logger the evidence can be used in court and evaluated by a judge in making a custody decision. Evidence of extreme sexual fetishes, membership to swinger sites,and escort service sites can be overwhelming evidence in court. Just having this kind of evidence could be used in negotiating a settlement thus avoiding the expense of a trial.

If you suspect infidelity or need evidence in a custody hearing you can hire an Internet investigator. Be sure to check out the PI and see if they are considered an expert in online infidelity investigations. Be sure they are recognized as an authority in the field and will not engage in any unlawful activity that can get you in trouble.