How much of monitoring is done in your workspace for internet /email /IM?

Question

how do i figure it out ?

Answer 1

I worked IT Support for multiple big corporations and some small ones also.

Let me make this a detailed and easy to understand answer, Absolutely anything you look at on the internet is known by most employers.

I have even been at places that know what you are doing on your pc altogehter, not just the internet.

It's very simple for a corporation or company to do this without you ever knowing you are being tracked. I have personally seen a co-worker fired on the spot and put into cuffs by the police for underage disgusting stuff.

To broaden this answer a little more, anything you do on your home pc can be tracked also.

Example: You look up content that is highly illegal on your home pc. Guess what? That content is routed through your ISP. They know everything you do. They have privacy policies but illegal is illegal.

If your talking about looking at websites at work which are for playing games or buying crap, I also wouldn't recommend that or keep it to a minimum. Your company probably frowns on it.

I don't mean to scare you or anyone but just realize that anything you do can be traced. Don't believe these crap programs about hiding your internet surfing habits, they are just out to make a buck. They can remove tracks on your pc but THEY CAN NEVER HIDE YOUR IP ADDRESS AND/OR CLEAR THE HISTORY OF YOUR ISP or COMPANY ROUTER.

You also asked how to figure out if your being monitored. Very difficult because their are so many ways and you may never find out, but here are some suggestions:

Look at all the papers you signed when you got hired, some companies will mention their policies/practices. If you don't have them ask HR for a copy of all papers you signed, just say you want to keep good records of your employment.

A foot print (tracks of programs running on your pc) are not always evident when a company is monitoring you. In fact it is possible to leave no foot print while tracing networked pcs because there are no programs running directly on your pc, they may only be running on the server.

Answer 2

Depends on the workplace.

I do security for a large .edu (university), and "monitor" is a strange term. We don't routinely do it, but I darn sure can fire it up in 10 seconds if I'm curious about something (finding a botnet, etc.). I also have a number of automatic devices (like IDS systems) that will log things it deems "strange" -- but that's from a security perspective, and not trying to monitor people.

If you work for a company, then count on them doing it. Several court decisions have held that "ye who owns the network, owns the data" .. meaning anything you type is fair game.

As for "finding out" they may or may not tell you honestly. Most companies disclose what they do for the legal C.Y.A, but the easier way is to take the IT guy/gal out drinking and ask.

There is no "techincal" way you can find out if it's being done -- short of trying to pass company secrets via AIM and seeing if you're fired/arrested.

If you're worried about it, use an anonymous proxy like TOR (tor.eff.org). That encrypts everything so the network people can't look at it. They will know you're up to something, just not what exactly (they might respond by telling you to stop, at which point you'll know they're looking).

Answer 3

Sadly, the WWW is as much a curse as a blessing, and NOTHING truly ever goes away completely. Monitoring can be subtle or very blatant in a workplace, depending on the structure of that workplace.

In the prehistoric days of comps I worked for a defense contractor, with a very high security clearance level. I was monitored even in my purchasing and inventory control area.

It may seem intrusive, and defying us in our constitutional issues, but very honestly, the events of the years since 9/11 have shown, at the very least, that security is valid. In regard to workplace comp use it's also valid. You are employed to perform a task. It's expected that you will do so, to the best of your ability, and honestly. Use of a work comp for anything but WORK,,,is Theft,,,if not in the strictest sense, certainly theft in time, and your salary, while not strictly doing what the company pays you to do.

That may sound overly moralistic to you and many others, but in todays economy I suggest it's valid. I guess you could analogize it down to your own concerns, but I think the point is made.

Rev. Steven

Answer 4

That would be an interesting test, now wouldn't it?

Here is how the test would work.

SURF wildly for days until you get FIRED. Then you know how much monitoring takes place at your FORMER place of employment.

If you don't like the way that sounds, then
GET BACK TO WORK!

Answer 5

You could go ask your IT crew. Otherwise, just do stuff and if it's illegal and they catch you, you'll know they're monitoring it. If your company is a technology company, they will be monitoring your every move. They might not read what the monitor is logging, but your every move will be logged. Just don't do anything illegal.

Answer 6

well, you can always go proxy...
you can't "find out" unless you have acces to your boss's admin(the tech guy)'s machine.. it's usually really tough..they can see your browsing history..things you donwloaded..IM, not that much, but it is possible to see the messages...(but they don't do that unless they are suspicious of somebody..)e-mail..no that's generally only restricted to not being able to send attachment,s with .exe. or .rar, .zip ....ask your C.O.(not C.E.O.)
or your nearest bos...

Answer 7

None whatsoever--other than those *%$@# keyloggers and spyware. I work from home. :-)

Answer 8

work? shame on you for saying that word. i nearly fainted

Answer 9

just wait till you get home!