The case that I am considering the password was obtained via a program that records all the key strokes on the computer. I also wonder which countries it is illegal in outside of USA.
2007-02-10 08:45:06 · 13 answers · asked by blurt2M 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Interesting dichotomy. You used the company resources for your email then have a problem with them tracking it down? I think you should be more worried about keeping your job. In many companies it is grounds for termination.
2007-02-10 08:55:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
That is sort of violating their own security I would think, but to answer your question, anything you do on their computer is theirs, and that includes logging into private accounts. If it is a company e-mail account, it is quite legal. A general mailer, well, stop doing it. Go home, change the password from there, and never log in from work again. Then start lining up a new employer. Yours stinks
-Dio
2007-02-10 08:54:35 · answer #2 · answered by diogenese19348 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That's an interesting question. I understand that the company may have the right to view what you've been up to on their computer and with their time. But why wouldn't it be enough for them to simply know that you've been using their computer, and time, to email? Why would they have the right to read those emails? After all, some of those emails could have been generated on your own time and your own computer.
Good question! I think the reading of emails should be illegal.
But then I'm a firm believer in our right to privacy. I'm not an attorney or Constitutional scholar.
2007-02-10 09:02:04 · answer #3 · answered by Crystal Blue Persuasion 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you were using the computer at the business they have the right to monitor. Bad idea to log into personal email on company computers.
2007-02-10 09:00:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure if it is illegal or not, but there really isn't much you can do about it. Even if it is illegal, the burden of proof is on you. The best thing to do would be to change your password and stop using your web mail accounts at work.
2007-02-10 08:55:29 · answer #5 · answered by lj1 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Legal, usually yes...especially if you signed an IT systems use agreement when you joined the firm. Keystroke recording software and its use by corporations is more widely used than most people realize....word to the wise...do not open your personal email, personal online banking sites or any other site you would not want your accessing of ever being made public...
Same goes for open wireless access portals....dont trust that your connections are secure...ever.
2007-02-10 08:58:56 · answer #6 · answered by Bill G 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is illegal for an employer to "steal" a personal password, but certainly it is not illegal for a company to monitor an employee's on-line activity (they can read your browser history, for example). And it is not illegal for a company to read e-mails which are on their network server (i.e. the e-mails you send from your company address).
2007-02-10 09:01:54 · answer #7 · answered by lesroys 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The company can only do that if they have legal reason for it (such as them believing that you were mailing confidential information), but they'll have to inform you about it. If in doubt, you can always call the American Civil Liberties Union http://www.aclu.org/ if you are in the USA and in doubt. They should be able to provide you with free advice.
2007-02-10 08:54:18 · answer #8 · answered by baltimorestar 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well looking at people's mail through the postal service is illegal, why should that be any different. People get confidential mail, through email. If you know who did it, I would definetely report them, and definetely change your password!
2007-02-10 08:53:59 · answer #9 · answered by Little Bunny 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
if that is the case you used the employers computer for personal use
2007-02-10 12:10:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋