So my work just pushed a software tracker out to everyone's PC to log application usage. I would like to mask my running process for Firefox Portable as something benign like Excel.

Is there a way to do this without recompiling the application? This is seriously going to put a crimp in my daily workload.

would simply changing the name of the .exe solve the problem?

Unfortunately, no. I have done that already, but the description is still showing up as "Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition" and the Company Name as "PortableApps.com".

You can see that if you are using Process Explorer. I have to assume that they will pull that information also.

it seems like since they have proxies for IP addresses, it might be logical to have cloaks for apps.
but then, what would be the demand for that except sneaky employees? hee hee
Seems doable but I don't program 'net stuff.

wonder if you can firewall the tracker? or bribe the monitoring staff.

I did a search for "Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition" in Google Code Search and found the following: link

It looks like you can edit these values by just changing a text file and creating a new installation image. That would be easier than recompiling.

How about creating a VPN/Remote connection back to your home computer and use that for non-work stuff. I guess they'll see the VPN/Remote software, but shouldn't see any processes running on the remote PC.

Unfortunately, that's not really an option. I'm in pretty tight with the folks in my office, but this is handled in another area.
I don't really know how to do that, but I can research. It looks very promising so far.
Getting through the corporate firewall will be tricky I think. Not sure what default port RD runs on, but I'm sure it will be blocked. I also get a little concerned opening RD on any of my PCs and currently have all RD processes stopped by default. Also, not sure if RD is even accessible on my work PC to run.

Thanks for all the ideas! I'm going to search garsh's idea first, then remote desktop. It will be cheaper than bribing.

Some additional options and/or modifications to already posted suggestions:

1) Install VirtualPC, VMware Server, or VMware Player (all 3 of which are legally available for FREE) on your work PC and create a new VM in the inside the Virtual Platform. (For VMware Player, you'll need to create the VM elsewhere, then copy it over). As you're the one creating the VM, you'll be the one w/ administrative access to the VM. Your company will be able to see that Virtual Platform software is running on your physical PC (i.e. VirtualPC, VMware Server, or VMware Player); however, what processes you run inside the VM will not be exposed (unless you install their silly monitoring software on your VM).

2) If you've got a router running firmware which provides ssh connectivity (i.e. DD-WRT), using freeware SSH client Putty, you can create an RDP SSH tunnel back to your router. It's a bit tricky to set it up, but it works very well. Google "RDP SSH Tunnel" or something along those lines for configuration details. In this scenario, your company will see both Putty and the RDP client running.

Great thoughts Dig, I don't have Admin rights to my PC, so I'm not sure if any of the VM software will install. Definitely a good thought though.