can my boss read my private (yahoo) email?

Question

I am at work, NOT using our companies email. Can my boss read (or use against me) content from my yahoo, myspace, or other sites?

Answer 1

Two part question:
CAN he read your email, myYahoo,MySpace etc?
and
SHOULD he read your email, myYahoo,MySpace etc?

The first part is easy enough to answer. There are several programs that allow I.T. Managers to see where you're going during work hours. They can see what the address is and how much time you spent there. There are also programs that will allow the IT guys to mirror your screen (see everything that's happening on your screen). With the address in hand, they can go visit your MySpace etc.. as if they were anybody else on the planet. Ditto for LiveJournal, Facebook etc... If you're putting it out there, it's free and open. Don't put anything out there that you don't want read..period!
As for Yahoo email....they shouldn't have access unless you give them your password, which is why places like Yahoo, Hotmail and GMail are often blocked.

SHOULD they? The better question would be, should YOU?
They're paying your salary, so they can legally access everything you do at work..and use it against you...especially if you're slamming the company behind their back. It's a firing offense. :P

Solution? Don't give them the opportunity. Surf the web at home. Check email at home. Keep your privacy AND your job.

Answer 2

If you are using company computer/internet to check your personal email, then yes. As far as profile/content goes, anyone can read this including your boss and boss can use it against you to protect his company/reputation.

Company has right to watch what you do on internet using company property (pc/internet etc.)

Answer 3

NO.
Not unless He has your UserID and Password for your Yahoo Account.

IT people can tell where you have surfed. IF your company has strict rules about using the Internet for personal use, they might track which sites you've been to with Tracker.

But ultimately no, he cannot see your emails because he does not have your Password to your Yahoo account.

Answer 4

According to the legal eagles (yes, we all love lawyers), your boss can access any activity that occurs on company equipment or on company time. This includes your private e-mail and personal phone calls while at work. Are you paranoid yet?

Answer 5

All the respondents who answered "No," the boss cannot look at your private email are incorrect and misinformed. As long as you are on the job premises, using their computer over their LAN lines, they can do whatever they want. Invasion of privacy does not exist there. Be wary.

Answer 6

Yes your messages can be read if you are logged on to a company computer and the pull your internet usage . Company can pull screen shots of what has been accessed. I worked in the quality department of a company and we could see everything on the screens. It was a call center and we would record conversations and we could look in to see what was access and what they have up on their computer screen. My advice is to becareful what you pull up on the internet and what you write in your emails

Answer 7

If your work computer system is controlled by a server then yes, the server logs all internet traffic.
Is logging into and inspecting your e-mails at work legal, yes.
Can you be fired for doing this, depends on company policy. In my company, you would be fired.

Answer 8

It's a definite possibility, depending on how your computers at work are set up.

Please keep in mind that your employer pays you to work for him/her and NOT for playing online. If your company has a policy allowing personal online time, that's fine, but if they are against it, they may have put security measures in place to know who's doing what.

Your online time should be done from home and on your lunch or coffee breaks only.

Answer 9

The problem is that your computer is affected by a virus, or someone who has ur outlook address, has a virus infected computer, 'cause when a virus gets in ur computer, it gets all ur personal information n send emails on other peoples behalf to the addresses in ur outlook, for eg, if u have 2 addresses by the name of xy and ty it will send a mail to xy on behalf of ty and it will contain a virus, so dont open these e mails.

Answer 10

See this article from just a few days ago

"Few ordinary users realize that one in three of their IT work colleagues are snooping through company systems, peeking at confidential information such as your private files, wage data, personal e-mails, and HR background, using admin privileges."