Can a company log the web pages its employees visit when you connect thru a hotel internet service?

Question

My company logs web pages and restricts access to certain web sites. When traveling, I connect through a hotel internet service and then go through a security logon step to connect to the company intranet. While I am not connected to the intranet, can my company log the web pages I visit on the regular hotel internet service? Can my company retrieve the history log on my laptop if I don't erase it?

Answer 1

They can't actually see the pages you've visited directly connected to the hotels server.

They can see what sites you've visited through history files, cookies, temp. internet files, etc.. Erasing them could be done, but if they really care that much of what you MIGHT be viewing that they don't want you to view, they could waste the extra money (unless it's involved in the dolty techs underpaid salary) and have him/her recover all deleted files.

Get yourself a military grade over write program. It over writes the data you're erasing, and then erases it, encrypting it, etc.. System Mechanic is a decently well known one that people use. Problem is, making sure they don't know you've downloaded it. ;-)

Don't look up things you're not suppose to while on a company computer is my suggestion. I know it's tough not to, but hey it's all on You.

Answer 2

It all depends on how the browser on the work pc is configured. If they have you forwarded through a proxy at all times, and if the settings are locked down to prevent you from changing it, then yes, they can (because in this situation, you HAVE to connect to the company intranet to even be able to access the external sites; if you only connect to the hotel internet it gives errors on most sites).

If you are truly on just the hotel network, and you don't have a need to connect to the company intranet to start surfing, then they can't necessarily see the sites you are going to other than seeing evidence of it based on cookies and temporary internet files, etc. While not all of this can be seen remotely, a good tech person can find enough evidence of the surfing to have an idea what is going on. But they'd have to make a concerted effort to look, usually.

Answer 3

There might be several things wrong. Make sure that your wirless IP settings are set for DHCP, and not a static IP address. Or, you may need to upgrade your web browser (i.e., Internet Explorer), do Windows updates, and make sure you have all the latest plug-ins (i.e., Java, Flash player, Shockwave, etc.). When was the last time you did any of these? You could also try installing a different browser (if you have IE, try FireFox), to make sure that you actually do have an internet connection. It'll help determine whether or not there's something wrong with your current browser.

Answer 4

I would say more than likely first if you go through their servers they can if its their laptop they could have tracking programme installed and failing that they could always examine the drive and recall data even if you deleted it than of course if you are using the hotel service they may log sites for their protection and to calculate the bill
my advice would be if you want to keep your job use your own computer for private visits to the web

Answer 5

The answer is a very solid, unequivocal "Maybe". It depends upon the way the system is configured.

I suggest you use your PC for company business. They own it and you do not.

Answer 6

Yes they can, if they have a server box setup, they can watch what sites you visit...

As for passwords and else, those are automatically encrypted, and they could not see those. But yes they can have filters setup to see where youve been and what youve done.

Answer 7

Your company can log everything that gets connected to their servers.

Answer 8

YES YES AND YES actually a good tech can bring up data you "erased" last year