Question for IT workers out there

[Capt Caveman]

You bumped a one year old thread?

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: torpid
In order to read what is happening over SSL would they need to install some sort of program on each workstation that could intercept what the browser is doing or something? I don't understand how they would do it otherwise.

SSL proxy and a cert trusted on your machine. This how you do it and it's done often.

It's basically a man in the middle attack there the proxy sits between and the client and server and encrypts/decrypts everything. Since the cert list is trusted the browser thinks it's a legitimate SSL site.

 

[wetcat007]

If they don't want you using gmail wouldn't you be told or more likely wouldn't they block it? Intercepting communication with it seems like a waste of time to me. Still if it's something you don't want your employer to see, always better not to do it while working....

 

[Ramma2]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
You bumped a one year old thread?

Imagine my surprise as I am reading responses, not reading who wrote them, then reading my post and thinking "hmmm that sounds familiar. HEYYYYY!"

 

[StinkyPinky]

At work we have remote software to assist users if they have a problem. Usually it will prompt them to accept the remote session, but one click of the mouse and that can be disabled and we can view someones desktop, and what they're doing, without them having any knowledge. I would think most IT depts have something similar. They are company pcs afterall, so privacy is not an issue.

 

[ivan2]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
At work we have remote software to assist users if they have a problem. Usually it will prompt them to accept the remote session, but one click of the mouse and that can be disabled and we can view someones desktop, and what they're doing, without them having any knowledge. I would think most IT depts have something similar. They are company pcs afterall, so privacy is not an issue.

lol i've heard a lot of VNC stories at my old job. apparently they saw a guy looking at child porn one time.

 

[Zolty]

IT generally will not look into it unless there is a reported problem, if they had a problem with gchat they would block it since it's not hard to block the gchat port.

 

[Tarrant64]

I find that when you don't draw attention to yourself you don't run into problems like IT peeping at your everyday email activity.

 

[MedicBob]

So 1 year later..... any repercussions?

 

[marincounty]

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
At work we have remote software to assist users if they have a problem. Usually it will prompt them to accept the remote session, but one click of the mouse and that can be disabled and we can view someones desktop, and what they're doing, without them having any knowledge. I would think most IT depts have something similar. They are company pcs afterall, so privacy is not an issue.

That's why we need changes in our privacy laws. We have lost too much privacy to our employers and the govt.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: marincounty

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
At work we have remote software to assist users if they have a problem. Usually it will prompt them to accept the remote session, but one click of the mouse and that can be disabled and we can view someones desktop, and what they're doing, without them having any knowledge. I would think most IT depts have something similar. They are company pcs afterall, so privacy is not an issue.

That's why we need changes in our privacy laws. We have lost too much privacy to our employers and the govt.

Don't use company equipment/resources then.

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: marincounty

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
At work we have remote software to assist users if they have a problem. Usually it will prompt them to accept the remote session, but one click of the mouse and that can be disabled and we can view someones desktop, and what they're doing, without them having any knowledge. I would think most IT depts have something similar. They are company pcs afterall, so privacy is not an issue.

That's why we need changes in our privacy laws. We have lost too much privacy to our employers and the govt.

Don't use company equipment/resources then.

Agreed.

Your personal property is totally separate then a business owned computer/laptop/whatever.

 

[classy]

Unless they are capturing your desktop, the answer is no. It is possible, but highly unlikely and expensive. I work for a law firm now and worked at a hospital, not much more data sensitive then that and in neither place was it done.

 

[LS8]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: Ramma2
I want to say yes it is possible, but it is very complicated and requires some expensive software.

I would be more concerned with a desktop manager program taking a snapshot of the screen or something.

Are these common?

KT

Yes.

 

[StinkyPinky]

Originally posted by: marincounty

Originally posted by: StinkyPinky
At work we have remote software to assist users if they have a problem. Usually it will prompt them to accept the remote session, but one click of the mouse and that can be disabled and we can view someones desktop, and what they're doing, without them having any knowledge. I would think most IT depts have something similar. They are company pcs afterall, so privacy is not an issue.

That's why we need changes in our privacy laws. We have lost too much privacy to our employers and the govt.

It's not like we sit there and just randomly remote into a pc without them knowing. We will only do that if specifically asked to by that persons manager or if we collect suspicious info from their pc. I'm just answering the question that it is indeed possible to do what the OP asked. Very very easily.

Remember it's not your pc, nor your internet connection. You should be perfectly aware that privacy at the workplace is not to be expected, nor something that should be encouraged IMO. People are there to work.

 

[Triforceofcourage]

Iphone to check email and surf the web FTW!

 

[Red Squirrel]

I suppose a bit of personal email stuff at work is not going to kill you, but be sure you don't do it more then 15 minutes per morning and afternoon. You can just use it as being your break. I never take official breaks at work, but I will sometimes do a bit of personal stuff such as moderate my forums, but I keep it to a minimum.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: MedicBob
So 1 year later..... any repercussions?

Nope, none whatsoever. Still together though.

KT

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: Triforceofcourage
Iphone to check email and surf the web FTW!

I will never purchase an iPhone.

KT

 

[jinduy]

i use email liberally. if they want to fire me for that, they probably had another reason in mind to fire me to begin with.

 

[NaOH]

I surf pron all the time....shrugs

 

[Throwmeabone]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent
If I am exchanging e-mails with someone using Gmail, can people in IT, and by proxy management, see what I am receiving and/or typing?

Nothing illegal or anything; just words and no links or pictures, but some relatively racy things have been coming in to me from someone. I just need to know whether I need to ask her to stop or just wait until I get home to read them.

Thanks in advance for the help. :beer:

KT

pics?

 

[gevorg]

It is possible for a user to find out if there is screen capture software on their machine? Do "stealth" screen capture software exist?

 

[Red Squirrel]

you could look at the process manager and look for anything odd.

Also if VNC is installed, if the icon goes black in the taskbar it means someone's connected, I think anyway...

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

In theory they can see every single mouse movement, every keystroke, everything you see on your screen.
But that would mean they'd have to hire someone to look at it fulltime.

They can check for GMail traffic, but then it would be a whole lot easier for them to just block the site.

I've also used GMail in the past to communicate with customers and colleagues, either because Google Talk was the easiest way to communicate during a remote session with a customer or to quickly discuss something with a colleague, or by mail to ask a colleague who wasn't in the office something.

They wouldn't block it here, and if it does not interfere with your work you can do pretty much what you want online. Very little is filtered.

Unless you are using it to send confidential information to a competitor, or to sexually harrass someone or so I would not be too worried.