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Can you successfully block your employer from monitoring your internet activity?

Posted on 07/26/2005 5:36:14 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco

Today my manager just gave me a listing of my internet activity for the month of July, which was given to him by our MIS department. This was a first time for him and I and we discussed my online activity. While it was quite active, he was cool about it and said he didn't know why it was given to him but for me to take it to heart.

Before anyone starts flaming me about surfing FR while at work, keep in mind that that does not interfere whatsoever in my job performance. Considering my job, there are periods throughout the year which are slow and there are also extended periods which are incredibly hectic. This period of monitoring was during a typical slow time of the year.

That being said, are there any settings on my computer that can be changed to prevent the monitoring of my internet activity?


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: computers; getanotherjob; monitoring; networking; robbinghimblind; technical; yourefired
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1 posted on 07/26/2005 5:36:15 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: Hot Tabasco
You can surf anonymously by using an anonymizing proxy on-line, but they will still know that you surf, just not where.
2 posted on 07/26/2005 5:37:45 PM PDT by sharktrager (My life is like a box of chocolates, but someone took all the good ones.)
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To: Hot Tabasco

You should probably not spend your workday surfing the Web, unless that's what your employer pays you to do.


3 posted on 07/26/2005 5:43:11 PM PDT by dinodino
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To: Hot Tabasco

Nope, it's all done on the network level in most places... unless you are the system administrator, you can't do squat about it.


4 posted on 07/26/2005 5:44:36 PM PDT by thoughtomator (How many liberties shall we give up to maintain the pretense that we are not at war with Islam?)
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To: Hot Tabasco

If you are connected to the office network, your IT deptmartment can (if they want, and if they install the right software on your machine) monitor everything that you do. Perhaps you have access to (1) a second computer (which could be an older machine, a laptop, perhaps brought from home) which won't be attached to the network, and (2) an analog phone line. If so just connect your modem port to the phone line, and you'll be all set.


5 posted on 07/26/2005 5:57:07 PM PDT by MRMEAN ("On the Internet nobody knows that you're posting naked")
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To: Hot Tabasco

Do you remember signing your company's Internet Usage Policy?

Most companies require employees to sign such a doc, which describes allowed levels of activity and consequences if the policy is not followed.


6 posted on 07/26/2005 6:00:41 PM PDT by LibFreeOrDie (L'chaim!)
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To: Hot Tabasco
Do you FReep at work?

If so, you might want to stop.

You may be posting this from home (considering the time) But if your IT guys know you post as Hot Tabasco, and later they see this post,they will know you are posting about your work habits.At most jobs...NOT Good.

Be afraid.....

Be very, very afraid.

Seriously, you might ask Admin Moderator to pull this thread...

7 posted on 07/26/2005 6:02:41 PM PDT by Responsibility1st
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To: Hot Tabasco

I doubt it, if you're on a network. The company has the right to do it.

I always have FR up in the background while I'm working. Keeps me occupied while I'm waiting for my incredibly slow data queries to run.


8 posted on 07/26/2005 6:04:28 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
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To: SandyInSeattle
I work at SSA.

I don't think they would take too kindly to my tampering with thier ability to moniter my Internet use.

9 posted on 07/26/2005 6:09:11 PM PDT by Pippin ( This complicates things a bit!)
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To: Responsibility1st
Do you FReep at work?

Nope! I just drop in from time to time to read articles. I NEVER POST ANY REPLIES TO ANYTHING...... I read only! All postings are done here at home.

10 posted on 07/26/2005 6:13:02 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Too many idiots, too little time to deal with them all......I'll just shoot what I can.)
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To: Responsibility1st
But if your IT guys know you post as Hot Tabasco, and later they see this post,they will know you are posting about your work habits.

Ah, just got the point of that one.....

11 posted on 07/26/2005 6:14:26 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Too many idiots, too little time to deal with them all......I'll just shoot what I can.)
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To: Pippin

I'm sure they wouldn't. I haven't even tried.

I don't think there's any local monitoring going on at my place. A report is sent to somewhere at Hq and they monitor. Their emphasis is on prohibited sites like porn or gambling, but those are mostly blocked anyway.


12 posted on 07/26/2005 6:15:17 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
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To: Hot Tabasco
Whew!

Glad to hear this.

13 posted on 07/26/2005 6:15:24 PM PDT by Responsibility1st
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To: SandyInSeattle
I always have FR up in the background while I'm working.

So do I but that activity is being recorded. What is also happening is all the ads that are being displayed on MSN at my initial log on in the morning are also being recorded as net visits. I remember visiting a Nissan website and there were 58 recorded hits there .......That was pretty weird.

14 posted on 07/26/2005 6:19:46 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Too many idiots, too little time to deal with them all......I'll just shoot what I can.)
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To: Hot Tabasco

You have very few "rights" while on the job.

For surfing (and even email) you are 100% subject to whatever your employer wants to watch. He/she can even monitor the specific traffic (i.e. what you actually posted on FR) and you can't say Boo.

Employment is not a right. And if I saw you misusing company time and equipment by posting on FR, I would probably fire you.


15 posted on 07/26/2005 6:22:10 PM PDT by Shazbot29 (If you paid attention you'd be worried, too!)
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To: Hot Tabasco

I wondered about those darn popups I get; thanks for answering that.

You'd think with sophisticated monitoring and network technology, my agency could afford a decent popup blocker.


16 posted on 07/26/2005 6:22:56 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
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To: Hot Tabasco

"and said he didn't know why it was given to him but for me to take it to heart."

It's obvious who ever gave the information to your boss has it in for you. Or your boss didn't want to reveal his source. They maybe of an opposing political party, or ....


17 posted on 07/26/2005 6:25:54 PM PDT by SunnySide (Ephes2:8 ByGraceYou'veBeenSavedThruFaithAGiftOfGodSoNoOneCanBoast)
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To: SandyInSeattle

I'm sure they're monitering me and my co-workers.


18 posted on 07/26/2005 6:31:39 PM PDT by Pippin ( This complicates things a bit!)
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To: SandyInSeattle

One thing I pointed out to my manager was one day at 9:22 a.m. the report indicated 10 different ISP numbers at the same precise time. So, while the report pages were actually a half in thick - YIkes! (LOL)for a mere 5 days , the actual on line infractions were minimal.


19 posted on 07/26/2005 6:34:15 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco (Too many idiots, too little time to deal with them all......I'll just shoot what I can.)
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To: Pippin

20 posted on 07/26/2005 6:35:08 PM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Official RKBA Landscaper and Arborist, Duchess of Green Leafy Things)
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