How to hack time tracking software

3) Deleting screenshots

We are often given an option to delete the screenshot. And, as Time Doctor puts it:

This [deleting screenshot] will correspondingly delete the corresponding amount of time worked

The problem is, it only took me about 30 seconds to enter my card details, and deleting screenshot will often remove 3-5 minutes from my work time. 

This happened on multiple occasions. It’s frustrating and it quickly adds up.

Also, employers would often ask about the reason for deleting screenshots and doubt that there was a perfectly logical explanation for this.

Once this happens a few times and doubt sets in, it’s only the beginning of the end. Soon, you’ll be out of job because you mess around with time tracking software and remove data from reports. It doesn’t matter if deleting a screenshot also removes the work time and you won’t get paid for that. You simply “can’t be trusted any more”.

4) App and web usage tracking and unclear “poor time usage” reports

Often, I prefer listening to some kind of meditative and relaxing musing while working. It helps me concentrate, get more job done and remain at work for a longer time period.

One way I’d do this is by playing a YouTube playlist or a long meditative video. I have a dual monitor setup, so once I start a video on YouTube, I minimize that browser tab, leaving my both displays available for work.

Time Doctor tracking software will mark this activity and generate “poor time usage” report, which makes it seem like I was spending long periods of time watching YouTube videos instead of working. Obviously, this wasn’t the case and can easily be proved by recorded screenshots. Nevertheless, I could get penalized or even fired for this.

Same thing if I create a playlist on my PC and use some desktop application for listening. That activity would also be recorded and potentially marked as a “poor time usage”.

It’s pretty self-evident what’s the issue there.

5) Timer triggers when keyboard and mouse are “inactive”

My work often includes uploading large amount of files, website backups and other time consuming tasks which don’t necessarily require keyboard and/or mouse activity. When this happens, my internet connection is blocked until files are uploaded, so I can’t use my time doing any other work online. I have to wait.

But, this is an issue. This “waiting” triggers a timer because mouse and keyboard are not active, and this timer gives 60 seconds to confirm that “I am working”. If I don’t click the button within this 60 seconds frame, and I select “I was working” option afterwards, this time get marked as “added manually”.

Of course, no one would want to tolerate manual editing of time reports. On the contrary, most employers would insist on paying only for “active” work time.

This, in turn, means that while I am waiting for the task to finish I have to randomly move mouse cursor in order to avoid triggering the timer. There are many other situations in which I can’t even leave my desk, such as answering calls for example, but instead have to take care not to trigger the timer.

This can be quite stressful, and it’s one of the main reasons why I created an app to keep my PC active while I’m “away from keyboard” or while waiting for the upload to finish.

And this is how the idea of virtual AFK-Assistant (away from keyboard assistant) was first born.