Instant Message Security

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

Malke
Sat Apr 12 10:30:28 CDT 2008

Jon G wrote:

> 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

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!

JonG
Sat Apr 12 11:07:01 CDT 2008

thanks for your response. is this something the company needs to set up? or
is it automatically done?

"Malke" wrote:

> Jon G wrote:
>
> > 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
>
> 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!
>

Malke
Sat Apr 12 11:17:37 CDT 2008

Jon G wrote:

> thanks for your response. is this something the company needs to set up?
> or is it automatically done?

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!

JonG
Sat Apr 12 12:06:02 CDT 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:

> Jon G wrote:
>
> > thanks for your response. is this something the company needs to set up?
> > or is it automatically done?
>
> 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!
>

Malke
Sat Apr 12 13:27:16 CDT 2008

Jon G wrote:

> 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?

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!

Kerry
Sat Apr 12 13:32:40 CDT 2008

"Jon G" <JonG@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4769F6AF-9C35-4770-80F8-9B04FC72986C@microsoft.com...
> 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?


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/

VanguardLH
Sat Apr 12 15:36:32 CDT 2008

Jon G wrote:

> 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

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.

PA
Sat Apr 12 15:35:08 CDT 2008

Yes.

Jon G wrote:
> 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