Keeping tabs on you and your teleworker, too

(Editor's note: This article was updated to reflect the fact that the iKeyGuard is being offered by a third-party and is not endorsed by Apple)

Controversial keystroke recording/logging software as a Big Brother-type tool to monitor teleworkers is by no means a new concept. But now a new iKeyGuard application, offered by a third party, is billed as the first and only app of its kind and available for iPhone, iPad and iPod devices. The iPhone Download Blog highlights it as an “archival” tool to keep an eye on employees, your kids and even your spouse. Apple does not endorse the app.

“Other than bragging rights for your 120-word-per-minute mad typing skills, why would you care?” writes Josh Sawislak on his TeleworkExchange.com blog in response to the notion of recording one’s key movement. “Well, my good friends, it seems that there is a belief among some people -- let’s call them keystrokers -- that this is an excellent way to make sure you are working when you are not in the office,” he adds.

Meanwhile, two scientists have discovered that the iPhone is also tracking your every move via a file named consolidated.db, which acts like a Global Positioning System device. Researchers say the iPhone file contains information about where you go and then stores the unencrypted, unprotected data on another machine that syncs up with your phone, reports ReadWriteWeb. Data is compiled in a longitude- and latitude-type format complete with timestamps, according to RWW. Details of the discovery were scheduled to be presented April 20 at the Where 2.0 conference.