internet use - how do i avoid the spys?

[mtanner]

is there a way to set your computer so other people cant see what you are looking at?

we have 'internet screening' at work to guard against excessive internet non-work usage - which is fair enough. BUT - when i use the internet in my luch time does this mean they can see my private emails or other things i log on to etc.... if so is there a way i can stop this big brother spy seeing my access?

[Sasha13]

Depends on how they monitor (i.e. what kit they use), but yes, it's likely that they can see your email and what web sites you access, also how long you spend on each one.

I can almost guarantee that your company will have a policy stating that they will do this - it's very common and with that in mind, you need to think before sending 'private' email and surfing certain sites whether you'd be better off sending it from home.

Again, it depends what kit they're using to monitor you, but it's likely that there isn't a way around this.

One way to send 'private' email would be to do it from a web based email account like Hotmail - that way your company would be able to tell that you'd been on Hotmail, but not exactly what you'd sent.

[Milvus]

No. Your PC at work will be connected to the outside world through the company firewall and servers. It's the traffic through these your IT department will monitor. They will automatically monitor emails for content, addresses and the same for websites without needing your PC.

[dzug]

Yes they can. No there is no way to stop it.

It's their computer - they are entitled to monitor its use to whatever extent they see fit.

And they are not 'private' e-mails - they are works e-mails with non-business content.

[Milvus]

Sasha, your hotmail suggestion doesn't work. All content will be monitored, even encrypted data, if they have a decent security practice

[mtanner]

just for the record.... i am not trying to find a way to sit on the internet playing games all day undetected! - if only i had time to do that! i only use the internet during my lunchtime, and even then only occasionally as i prefer to take a break for the pc.

I currently use googlemail but i dont like the idea tht the IT guys could be able to log in to my account and see my private emails - so i think maybe i wont use it from works pc anymore.

Thank you for the advice

[fo3nix]

Sasha is correct with respect to the web mail stuff.

Check that is says https at the start of the address, not just http. If so, content is encrypted by your browser between you and google's computers.

They can still see you're accessing gmail, but not your emails themselves. They may well have blocked hotmail, gmail, etc.

[Milvus]

Last go.
If your company has a "no private emails policy" then all emails in and out will be scanned for content. Security folks don't read every mail, software does that for them. In the main it is looking for viruses etc. and inappropriate or confidential information. If you use something like Googlemail and a secure connection then you could get round the company security scans, bring in/send out viruses, send out secure company secrets etc. Do you think the security world is wise to this? Of course. So Gmail etc CAN be scanned for content.
Google even provides its own content scanners for enterprise security departments, and there are many other companies that do this. Security departments aren't interested in the holiday snaps sent by your sister, but that joke she just sent you may have something nasty attached so they have to check even when you think it is secure.