Weimar Academy, a private highschool in California, has been misusing LanSchool, a spyware. This program can be dangerous if misused, because it jeopardizes student's privacy.

This program is intended to give individuals with the teacher edition of Lanschool have the ability to remotely turn on and off students computers, prevent cyber-bullying by tracking certain words using key-loggers, remotely control students machines, and discreetly message students.

The state of California's laws for key-loggers and other spyware state they are not illegal if you install the software on a computer that belongs to you or a computer that belongs to someone else that you have permission from to download. It is also necessary to inform the owner of the nature of the program, and what it can do.

At Weimar Academy, having LanSchool is required on every computer, unless the computer is not brought to school. Uninstalling or refusal of installing LanSchool can result in expulsion. Weimar Academy has been using LanSchool to track conversations between students and to remotely gain access of students computer not during school hours. These uses are not  technically illegal, but the wavers students and their parents signed during registration did not state all the possible uses of LanSchool, it's effects, and most importantly, the fact it is a spyware and key-logger. This program, because it is a key-logger, makes it very easy for a less than honest staff member, or even a thief of a staff member's computer to access student's passwords, birthdays, phone number, address, social security number, credit card numbers, and other extremely private information. Many students have researched LanSchool and found out it's actual use and have been offended and felt jeopardized by it's use. Students have also had problems with their computers after installing, and some students have had to turn off their firewall on their personal computer, which no student should have to do. A few students have talked to the school's authorities about the issue, but they refuse to listen.

Ask Weimar Academy, it they want to continue their use of LanSchool, to specify the possible uses and misuses and actual identity of the program to the students and their guardians before installation. Also, encourage them to not make LanSchool required on personal computers.