Remote workers using 'mouse-mover' technology are getting caught (opens in new tab)

(theverge.com)

14 pointssimula672y ago14 comments

14 comments

14 comments · 5 top-level

phantompeace2y ago· 5 in thread

Good luck catching the ones that put something on the space bar in a text box. Without intrusive surveillance there’s no way to tell if it’s legit work or not.

danlugo922y ago

Am I the only one not against intrusive surveillance provided it's the company computer?

mensetmanusman2y ago

Cameras on in their bedroom seeing a wooden bird peck at it while typing executive reports fed by gpt-6.

Jerrrry2y ago

Satire this coy generally isnt appreciated, but the "intrusive" bit was good bait.

aduwah2y ago

I mean it does not require too sophisticated software to not just look for keyboard activity, but also check if the a activity is withing human limits. Having 120000 keystrokes in 1 minute probably would raise the eyebrows of anyone

phantompeace2y ago

So basically a nerfed keylogger? How does that stop USB devices masquerading as keyboards that can type pre-saved content at normal speeds? You could even refresh the content using LLMs so it’s not like it’s typing the same phrase over and over.

bequanna2y ago· 3 in thread

Wells Fargo has a giant mortgage processing division with floors of people who have nothing to do since there are few new mortgages and virtually no refinance activity.

They are likely actively looking for people to fire.

lazide2y ago

It’s weird though, because that is literally what layoffs are for. Maybe trying to get under the press radar, since folks will start freaking out if they announce layoffs?

398968802y ago

There are laws like the WARN act that companies would prefer not to deal with.

lazide2y ago

It would also expose information about their deal volume which they’d rather not disclose probably, unless they have no choice. Impacts to stock price and the like.

Could also cause a crash in the industry, which they’d rather not start.

Grimeton2y ago· 1 in thread

So they can catch this, but cheating in computer games.....

bell-cot2y ago

Article sub-title:

> Last month, Wells Fargo reportedly fired over a dozen employees for using tools that fake productivity at work.

No mention of anyone else getting caught (let alone fired). Ever. Anywhere.

rightbyte2y ago

It would seem like mouse movement is a bad metric to incentivize.

The paranoid people using mouse wigglers were right about management tracking it.

Or maybe they just thought the autologout was annoying...

mensetmanusman2y ago

Amazon review:

“Lost my job and livelihood getting caught with this. Had to give up kids to adoption due to health care costs. Definitely jiggled the mouse though. 3 stars.”

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

14 comments

14 comments · 5 top-level

phantompeace2y ago· 5 in thread

Good luck catching the ones that put something on the space bar in a text box. Without intrusive surveillance there’s no way to tell if it’s legit work or not.

danlugo922y ago

Am I the only one not against intrusive surveillance provided it's the company computer?

mensetmanusman2y ago

Cameras on in their bedroom seeing a wooden bird peck at it while typing executive reports fed by gpt-6.

Jerrrry2y ago

Satire this coy generally isnt appreciated, but the "intrusive" bit was good bait.

aduwah2y ago

phantompeace2y ago

bequanna2y ago· 3 in thread

Wells Fargo has a giant mortgage processing division with floors of people who have nothing to do since there are few new mortgages and virtually no refinance activity.

They are likely actively looking for people to fire.

lazide2y ago

It’s weird though, because that is literally what layoffs are for. Maybe trying to get under the press radar, since folks will start freaking out if they announce layoffs?

398968802y ago

There are laws like the WARN act that companies would prefer not to deal with.

lazide2y ago

It would also expose information about their deal volume which they’d rather not disclose probably, unless they have no choice. Impacts to stock price and the like.

Could also cause a crash in the industry, which they’d rather not start.

Grimeton2y ago· 1 in thread

So they can catch this, but cheating in computer games.....

bell-cot2y ago

Article sub-title:

> Last month, Wells Fargo reportedly fired over a dozen employees for using tools that fake productivity at work.

No mention of anyone else getting caught (let alone fired). Ever. Anywhere.

rightbyte2y ago

It would seem like mouse movement is a bad metric to incentivize.

The paranoid people using mouse wigglers were right about management tracking it.

Or maybe they just thought the autologout was annoying...

mensetmanusman2y ago

Amazon review:

“Lost my job and livelihood getting caught with this. Had to give up kids to adoption due to health care costs. Definitely jiggled the mouse though. 3 stars.”

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse