I once worked with a girl who got the sack for inappropriate use of email and internet at work. Can the various I.T. sections really see where we've been even if we delete history, files and cookies? I'm a bit worried about it because I sometimes nip on of a day when I'm bored.

Post logged at 14.43pm, 12/04/2007. Copy sent to line manager.

would any employers find it a bit worrying if someone was deleteing the history all the time? Unless they were told to at the end of the day of course. Maybe this would make them keep a close eye :suspect:

I once worked with a girl who got the sack for inappropriate use of email and internet at work. Can the various I.T. sections really see where we've been even if we delete history, files and cookies? I'm a bit worried about it because I sometimes nip on of a day when I'm bored.

I think a lot of people do the same.(not me though Im at home :P )

i worked for Kier and they are buggers for it, they check everyone's emails as they come in and out and also monitor what people use the internet for.

I once worked with a girl who got the sack for inappropriate use of email and internet at work. Can the various I.T. sections really see where we've been even if we delete history, files and cookies? I'm a bit worried about it because I sometimes nip on of a day when I'm bored.

Of course they can, apparently nothing is ever completely deleted, thats why its so easy to catch people nowadays when they are doing, or looking at dodgy stuff on their PC

Post logged at 14.43pm, 12/04/2007. Copy sent to line manager.

:hihi: :hihi:

Yes they can see what sites you visited even if you clear the browsing history from your machine. Where I work any image displayed via a site or sites visited are stored on a local machine that records all Internet history :suspect:

I so miss my old job :hihi:

I work for a company where computer use is routinely logged and checked against time sheet codes. This has in the past led to dismissal of someone who was accessing private files stored on the PC while logged into a client code. If your PC is on a network, chances are your transactions will be recorded, and there is always the possibility that your employer might decide to examine the information.

If they wanted to they can see everything you do on the internet at work. However if you are concerned they should have declared what they are monitoring to you when you started the job so I'd consult your personnel dept if you want further detail.

Most large organisations will now pass all web traffic through a web firewall that is configured to allow access to sites based on content or a list of banned and allowed sites.

The software can also log the amount of time spent on sites.

Cripes!!!! Logging Off Till Tonight!!

Most large organisations will now pass all web traffic through a web firewall that is configured to allow access to sites based on content or a list of banned and allowed sites.

The software can also log the amount of time spent on sites.

Point of order, Mr. Chairman ...

Firewalls don't log the amount of time you spend on a site - they monitor when your browser requests a web-page but don't usually have a way of telling when you stop looking at that page.

IOW: Your employers can probably tell if you're not doing your work by monitoring how many pages you view in a given amount of time.

IOW: Pressing 'refresh' all the time in your browser will cause your user-account to jump to the top of that magical sacking list!

I may be mistaken, but I think Jabber was caught at work by one of his bosses and got fired for using the internet.

Jabber, on the nightshift, had broken a fingernail as he scratched 5 car doors on Level 4 because they had overstayed the time on the ticket.

Rumour has it that he went on the Company's Mainframe Computer and ordered 2 x Nail Packs for delivery next day to the General Office on Level 1.

The parcel arrived next morning, in the hands of an armed policeman with full back-up from the Counter Terrorist Section of the Home Office. His boss was led away from his office in handcuffs.

Jabber, being computer-illiterate hadn't realised the website he'd got from Google was a "front" for a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan. :loopy:

Firewalls don't log the amount of time you spend on a site - they monitor when your browser requests a web-page but don't usually have a way of telling when you stop looking at that page.


Some do, depending on the OS/FW combination in use:)

Too right they can, and they can misinterpret what you write too. I once said that a particular guy needed sorting and that I could either do it myself or we could do it as a collective (meaning a grievance). The whole email was logged, and I was had for email abuse and some other ****e because my employers thought I was going to smash his face in. I argued that sorting out and sorting mean 2 different things, and if said in Sheffield it was different to how it was said in down South. Lost arguement! Just be careful what you send and who you send it to. Lesson learned

Point of order, Mr. Chairman ...

Firewalls don't log the amount of time you spend on a site - they monitor when your browser requests a web-page but don't usually have a way of telling when you stop looking at that page.

IOW: Your employers can probably tell if you're not doing your work by monitoring how many pages you view in a given amount of time.

IOW: Pressing 'refresh' all the time in your browser will cause your user-account to jump to the top of that magical sacking list!

Sorry - some firewalls do.

It depends upon the firewall itsef, the quality of logging and also how the logs are processed. Whilst it can't tell whether you're actually eyeballing the page, you can actually see when you move on to a different page by suitable processing of the logs.

If someone sits with a browser window open in the background then in some cases that still might be of interest - depending upon the site.

This used to be part of my responsibility in one job I had, so I know that it can be done.

It depends upon the firewall itsef, the quality of logging and also how the logs are processed. Whilst it can't tell whether you're actually eyeballing the page, you can actually see when you move on to a different page by suitable processing of the logs.

Ah, but all that shows you is when the user's requested a new page, not when they stopped looking at the old one. To know when they've stopped looking at the old one you'd have to monitor the active window in the OS (or the applications they have open) and link that to the activity in their browser - or is that what you meant?

While I'm sure this is possible it's been my experience so far that most companies simply monitor page-loads (either at the firewall or via the proxy) rather than the whole kit and caboodle.

*edit*

Incidentally - f you load a page at 9 in the morning and leave your browser window open all day that doesn't mean you're looking at the net, even if the page is being refreshed even now and then. To be looking at the net you have to be actually looking at it, if you catch my drift.

Too right they can, and they can misinterpret what you write too. I once said that a particular guy needed sorting and that I could either do it myself or we could do it as a collective (meaning a grievance). The whole email was logged, and I was had for email abuse and some other ****e because my employers thought I was going to smash his face in. I argued that sorting out and sorting mean 2 different things, and if said in Sheffield it was different to how it was said in down South. Lost arguement! Just be careful what you send and who you send it to. Lesson learned
It pays to be professional. I can see why people are "polite" in real life even if it meant just to avoid grievances. Though, if you don't have an understanding with someone already then... it does get blown out of proportions.

The last IT company I worked with, also started to log people's websites too. It definitely agitated a lot of people, but some people waste time in other ways, which are not checked. There's no right or wrong, but if someone has it in for you, it's only an excuse. Others remain themselves to themselves and go online or to chat with friends etc. Just to eleviate the pressures.

[Added] I read a lot on Employment Law after I worked with this company. It is true to say that, an employer can take action against an employee for not using work time to do their work. This is actually part of the law. Whether it is surfing the net, or whatever. Cos contractually, we are obligated to work for the company. Otherwise we shouldn't be taking the salary. As odd as it may sound, and I know it doesn't sound like we have that freedom of expression as humans, but...!

Ah, but all that shows you is when the user's requested a new page, not when they stopped looking at the old one.

That's why I said 'You can't tell whether people are eyeballing the page'.

If you're moving on to a new page every few minutes then chances are you've finished with the old one.

I know you can't determine what applications are in use on a machine without having software loaded on teh machhine itself, but you would be surprised how many companie do have such logging software installed on the client machies as well.

That's why I said 'You can't tell whether people are eyeballing the page'.

Ah right. I'll have to remember the maxim: "If in doubt actually /read/ other posters comments."

I know you can't determine what applications are in use on a machine without having software loaded on teh machhine itself, but you would be surprised how many companie do have such logging software installed on the client machies as well.

Darn right I would - I've worked in tech support for about 10 years and I've yet to work in a company that does!

Ah right. I'll have to remember the maxim: "If in doubt actually /read/ other posters comments."

Darn right I would - I've worked in tech support for about 10 years and I've yet to work in a company that does!
Different type of companies may outsource different 3rd parties to install the softwares?

I work in IT too, and I know that monitoring systems were put in, and I knew that my access was also questioned too. This came from the guy in infrastructure. At the end of the day, it's down to how individuals accepts such things. Either play by the company rules, or not at all. I wasn't that much of a rule player. :rolleyes: But there u go... For me, I rather eleviate stresses via posting on sites like SF than to be controversial and make demands on the job.

I also remember someone getting sacked for downloading something from their own personal PC to their own laptop. This caused a big hoo-hah as to state whether it was company resources or not anyway.

Different type of companies may outsource different 3rd parties to install the softwares?

That's a possibility, but seeing as I'm sysadmin I'd know about it! I think it depends on the size of the organization you work in, and the kind of software they use. SMEs often use M$ without monitoring software simply because monitoring software of the kind we're talking about is either UNIX-based or well outside budgetary allowances.

This came from the guy in infrastructure.

That's me!


I also remember someone getting sacked for downloading something from their own personal PC to their own laptop. This caused a big hoo-hah as to state whether it was company resources or not anyway.

Well they own the laptop and there's usually some caveat in your employment contract to say "Don't abuse your privileges", but I've worked in companies where that kind of clause is used as an excuse for senior management spying on their employees, and besides I'm thoroughly disenchanted with the IT industry at the moment. Never seems to make things better - only ever seems to make them a different kind of same.

I was waiting for some workmen to come and fit a new window in the bathroom. I sent my daughter an e.mail at work, saying "Bathroom is all stripped now ready for the men to come"....it went into their quarantine system and it was ages before she got told about it...by internal phone.:blush:

Be careful is what I say:thumbsup:

That's a possibility, but seeing as I'm sysadmin I'd know about it! I think it depends on the size of the organization you work in, and the kind of software they use. SMEs often use M$ without monitoring software simply because monitoring software of the kind we're talking about is either UNIX-based or well outside budgetary allowances.
Well, unless you're involved with monitoring ALL machines, how do you know what's been installed onto each individual client?

That story I talked of, was from a guy in one business unit. Not all clients are monitored, and not all company setup with regards to IT are the same. Anyway, I won't go down that route of discussion. I think you know what I mean though.

Well they own the laptop and there's usually some caveat in your employment contract to say "Don't abuse your privileges", but I've worked in companies where that kind of clause is used as an excuse for senior management spying on their employees, and besides I'm thoroughly disenchanted with the IT industry at the moment. Never seems to make things better - only ever seems to make them a different kind of same.
If you're a geeky person, then yes, you may allow that, and the trust is there. However, business managers think for the business, they don't think IT. Not all managers think IT. So... it is better to follow the rules really. Better companies may have a clause that says in the working manual "discuss this with your manager" to at least allow some kind of autonomy.

I have heard that governmental departments or agencies are much stricter with regards to IT usages. I had a friend who was in accounting for National Audit or other. She told me that someone was indeed fired for their net usage. Maybe the person was made an example of, or indeed, the manager was trying to be seen to be doing something. That was a while back when IT usages and privacy data was all the hype. Some MOD contracts are much stricter too. I don't blame them.

Introducing Professionalism is not necessarily a bad thing.

I dont think half the time they dont bother going throught the logs.

One chap at ours got the heave ho because of net abuse I think. I suspect it was more because he was useless and they wanted shot of him :suspect: but you never really get to find out.

I once worked with a girl who got the sack for inappropriate use of email and internet at work. Can the various I.T. sections really see where we've been even if we delete history, files and cookies? I'm a bit worried about it because I sometimes nip on of a day when I'm bored.

In a word, yes.

They can screen for inappropriate words, addresses and web sites. They can produce a log of your activity, in some cases down to individual keypresses.

When I was net admin for my ( a previous) company, I had all emails containing my name copied to my inbox. :evil:

I dont think half the time they dont bother going throught the logs.

One chap at ours got the heave ho because of net abuse I think. I suspect it was more because he was useless and they wanted shot of him :suspect: but you never really get to find out.

Your absolutely right. If they want rid of you, first thing they do is raid your email and web logs...

It really is standard practice.

Ah, but all that shows you is when the user's requested a new page, not when they stopped looking at the old one. To know when they've stopped looking at the old one you'd have to monitor the active window in the OS (or the applications they have open) and link that to the activity in their browser - or is that what you meant?

While I'm sure this is possible it's been my experience so far that most companies simply monitor page-loads (either at the firewall or via the proxy) rather than the whole kit and caboodle.

*edit*

Incidentally - f you load a page at 9 in the morning and leave your browser window open all day that doesn't mean you're looking at the net, even if the page is being refreshed even now and then. To be looking at the net you have to be actually looking at it, if you catch my drift.

children! you're both as clever as each other ok

Your absolutely right. If they want rid of you, first thing they do is raid your email and web logs...

It really is standard practice.
Sometimes I find that it's a mixture of both. Then again, isn't that with any work? Be there to make me money, or be out of a job etc etc.

thanks for all that. i dont have a problem with the sites i only go on this, sheffield today, newspapers,bbc etc. i sent an email the other day, to the star newspaper, a letter, and a thing flashed up that said inappropriate use your email has not been sent, please contact IT if you wish to send it. ive had this a few times in the past but nobodies ever said owt. going back to the girl the company were trying to get rid of her because she was a poor timekeeper etc. so i think it was just an excuse. basically i worked there and she emailed me when i'd left and vice versa, she mentioned a customer was sexually harrassing her, which he was, and they just got rid of her.

thanks for all that. i dont have a problem with the sites i only go on this, sheffield today, newspapers,bbc etc. i sent an email the other day, to the star newspaper, a letter, and a thing flashed up that said inappropriate use your email has not been sent, please contact IT if you wish to send it. ive had this a few times in the past but nobodies ever said owt. going back to the girl the company were trying to get rid of her because she was a poor timekeeper etc. so i think it was just an excuse. basically i worked there and she emailed me when i'd left and vice versa, she mentioned a customer was sexually harrassing her, which he was, and they just got rid of her.
If she has evidence, she should kick up a big fuss.

Sometimes it's morally draining to have to be doing something to be seen as working etc. A lot of people smokes, and wastes time that way, but nobody pulls them up on it. As do people who drink at lunch time. I think we all have out little "destress" methods... but... we're paid to do a job. I hate to think this way too, but it's reality.

Well, unless you're involved with monitoring ALL machines

That's me!

Introducing Professionalism is not necessarily a bad thing.

Depends if it turns po-faced or not. Can't stand po-faced 'professionals' I'd rather have a good argument and get everything out in the open than persistent back-biting and hidden criticism for the sake of some professional ideal. But that's another thread entirely.