The Nasty, Messy, High-Tech World of Divorce

Things not going so well with the old ball and chain? You might have more to worry about on your computer than the usual garden-variety viruses and spyware: Estranged couples are increasingly turning to technology to gather evidence about what one side of the couple is doing when the other isn't around.

A story in the New York Times states that electronic surveillance is an epidemic in the world of divorce. One lawyer says it has "completely changed" divorce proceedings as we know them.

The tactics range from the simple stealing of a BlackBerry to the planting of GPS tracking systems on automobiles. The installation of keylogger software or hardware on the other side's computer is exceptionally common. The goal in all of these cases is to gather detailed evidence about the other side, typically with the intent of being able to prove the spouse is cheating. (We've already seen how automated toll-paying systems are helping bust cheaters due to the records kept by the devices' billing systems.)

Be careful, the piece notes: You really do get what you pay for. While in the old days divorces were settled after mere allegations and suspicions were levied, today's can come with printouts of detailed, word-for-word messages to a mistress and, gulp, explicit pictures and even video of what they're doing together. It may be too much for many to handle... a word to the wise no matter which side of the divorce equation you might find yourself on.

LINK: Tell-All PCs and Phones Transforming Divorce [NYTimes Registration Required]