---
title: "Time Tracking Spyware"
description: "Time tracking spyware is a tool that records keystrokes and takes screenshots to track the time spent on a computer. How efficient is it to measure and control the productivity of a freelancer or employee? Short answer: not at all."
url: https://manytomany.co/blog/time-tracking-spyware/
published: 2025-08-12
---

# Time Tracking Spyware

12 August 2025

![Cover image for Time Tracking Spyware](https://manytomany.co/content/blog/time-tracking-spyware/cover.jpg)

For a contractor doing some creative work on the computer and using a timer for time-tracking on hourly contracts ([Upwork](https://manytomany.co/blog/how-to-win-projects-on-upwork-in-2025)\-style), the whole **8-hour day** of work typically amounts to roughly **7 hours tracked**. If the timer is adjusted for keystrokes and mouse moves, it can go as low as 6 unless you are actively making it track the time. If that’s you, negotiate your way out of the arrangement or adjust your hourly rate accordingly.

For a customer, the time-tracking by a spyware that records keystrokes and takes screenshots provides a false sense of getting what they pay for. And that sense is false for various reasons. Starting with simple facts that neither clicking-typing nor staring at the screen equals doing any productive creative work. Spyware taking screenshots makes many people uncomfortable and anxious, and kills creativity.

This kind of arrangement **benefits bad actors**. Cheating these systems is easy, while engaging with the systems provides the bad actor with credible proof of work.

If you are a customer/manager, do not require your freelancers/employees to install this sort of spyware. Track _results_, evaluate _results_, and pay for the _results_ instead.

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## Hi. I'm Vitalii.

I’m a software developer, technical manager and solo entrepreneur. I have been building software products all my life. I am offering **CTO as a Service** at many-to-many.

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