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An open source time tracker that does not invade your privacy

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The Upwork time tracker and privacy

Upwork is a popular freelancing platform that connects businesses and independent professionals from all over the world. One of the features that Upwork offers is a time tracker, which allows clients to track the time that freelancers spend working on their projects. However, this feature has raised concerns about privacy invasion among freelancers.

The Upwork time tracker is a tool that allows clients to monitor the amount of time that freelancers spend working on their projects. It runs in the background of the freelancer's computer, tracking the time spent on specific tasks and applications, as well as taking periodic screenshots. This data is then sent to the client, who can view it in the form of detailed reports.

While the time tracker may seem like a convenient tool for clients to ensure that they are getting their money's worth, it also invades the privacy of freelancers. The tool tracks not only the time spent on specific tasks, but also the specific applications and websites that are being used. This means that clients can see a lot of what a freelancer is doing at any given moment, which is a major invasion of privacy.

This is reminiscent of a foreman keeping factory workers in check; this practice should not be part of a professional freelancer-client relationship.

Alternatives

For those freelancers who are concerned about the privacy invasion of the Upwork time tracker, there is an alternative: Timetagger is an open-source time tracking tool with powerful features and great reporting, but with a focus on privacy.

Timetagger is a simple and easy-to-use tool that allows freelancers to track their time spent on specific tasks and projects, but it does not track the specific applications and websites being used. This means that clients can see the time spent on specific tasks, but they cannot see exactly what the freelancer is doing at any given moment.

Additionally, Timetagger does not track keystrokes, screenshots, or mouse movements, making it a much more private option for freelancers. Another benefit is that it is open-source, which means that it is freely available for anyone to use and modify.

Summary

In conclusion, the Upwork time tracker is a useful tool for clients to ensure that they are getting their money's worth, but it also invades the privacy of freelancers. If you are a freelancer who is concerned about privacy invasion, consider using Timetagger as an open-source alternative.