Guest Jon G Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 I use AOL IM and gmail at work through a PC using Microsoft OS connected to a company server. Does my company have the ability to monitor or record my IM's and personal gmails without my knowledge? In the AOL settings I chose not to have my IM's logged, but someone told me if I use IM on my company computer and it goes through their servers, they can log and view my chats -- and this would apply to gmail as well. Thanks Quote
Guest Malke Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 Jon G wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > I use AOL IM and gmail at work through a PC using Microsoft OS connected > to a > company server. Does my company have the ability to monitor or record my > IM's and personal gmails without my knowledge? In the AOL settings I > chose not to have my IM's logged, but someone told me if I use IM on my > company computer and it goes through their servers, they can log and view > my chats -- and this would apply to gmail as well. > Thanks</span> Yes. Never do anything at work that you wouldn't want your boss to see and you won't have any problems. At least with that. ;-) Malke -- MS-MVP Elephant Boy Computers www.elephantboycomputers.com Don't Panic! Quote
Guest Jon G Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 thanks for your response. is this something the company needs to set up? or is it automatically done? "Malke" wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > Jon G wrote: > <span style="color:green"> > > I use AOL IM and gmail at work through a PC using Microsoft OS connected > > to a > > company server. Does my company have the ability to monitor or record my > > IM's and personal gmails without my knowledge? In the AOL settings I > > chose not to have my IM's logged, but someone told me if I use IM on my > > company computer and it goes through their servers, they can log and view > > my chats -- and this would apply to gmail as well. > > Thanks</span> > > Yes. Never do anything at work that you wouldn't want your boss to see and > you won't have any problems. At least with that. ;-) > > Malke > -- > MS-MVP > Elephant Boy Computers > www.elephantboycomputers.com > Don't Panic! > </span> Quote
Guest Malke Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 Jon G wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > thanks for your response. is this something the company needs to set up? > or is it automatically done?</span> No, your systems administrator would set up any monitoring. Depending on what country/state/province you live in the company may need to have written employee computer use rules. Some industries are highly regulated and the company's requirements for monitoring vary by industry. For instance, here in California-United States if you work in any kind of securities firm (brokerage, financial consulting, etc.) by law all emails and other messages must be monitored and kept for audit. If you have any questions about this, consult your Human Resources Dept. or a local attorney. The technical answer to your questions are 1) yes, your IMs and email can be monitored; 2) no, this monitoring doesn't automagically happen all by itself. The rest of this topic isn't a technical issue. Malke -- MS-MVP Elephant Boy Computers www.elephantboycomputers.com Don't Panic! Quote
Guest Jon G Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 Thanks again - great info. One last question, I promise. I have blackberry that I also use for phone service. I realize my work emails would be monitored, as would other outlook apps that are running through my work outlook app but what about other applications on the phone that are not part of my office's systems -- ie my personal phone log, my internet browser, i have a gmail app that lets me read personal gmails, etc. Is it possible that they have something on my phone that logs all of my phone app usage and can monitor, etc? "Malke" wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > Jon G wrote: > <span style="color:green"> > > thanks for your response. is this something the company needs to set up? > > or is it automatically done?</span> > > No, your systems administrator would set up any monitoring. Depending on > what country/state/province you live in the company may need to have > written employee computer use rules. Some industries are highly regulated > and the company's requirements for monitoring vary by industry. For > instance, here in California-United States if you work in any kind of > securities firm (brokerage, financial consulting, etc.) by law all emails > and other messages must be monitored and kept for audit. > > If you have any questions about this, consult your Human Resources Dept. or > a local attorney. The technical answer to your questions are 1) yes, your > IMs and email can be monitored; 2) no, this monitoring doesn't > automagically happen all by itself. The rest of this topic isn't a > technical issue. > > Malke > -- > MS-MVP > Elephant Boy Computers > www.elephantboycomputers.com > Don't Panic! > </span> Quote
Guest Malke Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 Jon G wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > Thanks again - great info. One last question, I promise. I have > blackberry > that I also use for phone service. I realize my work emails would be > monitored, as would other outlook apps that are running through my work > outlook app but what about other applications on the phone that are not > part of my office's systems -- ie my personal phone log, my internet > browser, i > have a gmail app that lets me read personal gmails, etc. Is it possible > that they have something on my phone that logs all of my phone app usage > and can monitor, etc?</span> Unless your IT Dept. took your phone and installed something, I doubt there would be anything on it. However, I'm here and you're there and it would be smarter for you to simply ask them. If for some reason you can't ask them, then have a local tech with Blackberry experience take a look at your phone. And if you are that concerned with privacy (and I'm not being critical of you for this), then keep a second PDA/phone strictly for your personal use. Lots of people do this. I can't help you with any Blackberry questions, sorry. Malke -- MS-MVP Elephant Boy Computers www.elephantboycomputers.com Don't Panic! Quote
Guest Kerry Brown Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 "Jon G" <JonG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:4769F6AF-9C35-4770-80F8-9B04FC72986C@microsoft.com...<span style="color:blue"> > Thanks again - great info. One last question, I promise. I have > blackberry > that I also use for phone service. I realize my work emails would be > monitored, as would other outlook apps that are running through my work > outlook app but what about other applications on the phone that are not > part > of my office's systems -- ie my personal phone log, my internet browser, i > have a gmail app that lets me read personal gmails, etc. Is it possible > that > they have something on my phone that logs all of my phone app usage and > can > monitor, etc?</span> Always assume that anything you do with wireless, the Internet, email, or even your telephone is monitored. It probably isn't but it can be very easily by any number of different methods and people. This may sound paranoid but technically it can be done so sometimes it is done. -- Kerry Brown MS-MVP - Windows Desktop Experience: Systems Administration http://www.vistahelp.ca/phpBB2/ Quote
Guest PA Bear [MS MVP] Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 Yes. Jon G wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > I use AOL IM and gmail at work through a PC using Microsoft OS connected > to > a company server. Does my company have the ability to monitor or record > my > IM's and personal gmails without my knowledge? In the AOL settings I > chose > not to have my IM's logged, but someone told me if I use IM on my company > computer and it goes through their servers, they can log and view my chats > -- and this would apply to gmail as well. > Thanks </span> Quote
Guest VanguardLH Posted April 12, 2008 Posted April 12, 2008 Jon G wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > I use AOL IM and gmail at work through a PC using Microsoft OS connected to a > company server. Does my company have the ability to monitor or record my > IM's and personal gmails without my knowledge? In the AOL settings I chose > not to have my IM's logged, but someone told me if I use IM on my company > computer and it goes through their servers, they can log and view my chats -- > and this would apply to gmail as well. > Thanks</span> It is THEIR property. Then can monitor all network traffic. Whether they do or not is up to them. Ask them, but then we already know you're doing something you don't want to draw attention to. It is also likely that you installed software without their permission on their property that they do not allow on their property. If your employer wanted you to use a chat client to use for inter-employee communication, they will provide you with one that is properly configured and restricted. Quote
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