Internet privacy is becoming a major concern for everyone using the internet to share personal data. The growth of social networking sites has lead to a major increase in the number of people posting private data online. Many users share intimate details with their friends and family using sites such as Facebook and Twitter, not thinking about the chance that this information could become public. Purchasing products over the internet through online retailers and third party auction services is a popular outlet for shopping. However, an unknown third party can have access to the types of products a person is interested in as well as potentially getting access to personal information and even credit card numbers. Where a person accesses the internet can also lead to unexpected and negative consequences. As employers gain access to better technology, the ability to monitor what workers are browsing on the internet at work has lead to major privacy concerns for employees.
Suggested Reading: Speed up your Internet Connection
<credit>
When accessing the internet at work, an employee is using company property. Even if the employee is using their own laptop computer, they are still accessing the company’s internet connection. This means that company has the ability to monitor everything that employee is doing. Many companies route internet access through a proxy, choosing which sites to allow users to access and which sites to block. However, even at companies that do not use these proxies, employers can potentially see what sites workers are visiting when they browse the internet. Many companies have employees sign internet access policy agreements as a contingency for employment which state that workers are not allowed to use the internet for personal reasons. These policies may include language allowing the employer to monitor internet and email usage. However, even if an employee never signs one of these forms, there is no guarantee their web history is not being monitored. Privacy laws in the United States vary between states, but generally employers are allowed wide latitude to decide their own internet policies. As an employee, there is no guarantee to privacy while using the internet from work.
Suggested Reading: Secure your WiFi Network
To protect your own privacy while at work, make sure you know your employer’s stance on internet privacy. If you believe your employer does not respect personal privacy for online activities, it is safer to simply not visit any personal sites from work. It is best to assume that every piece of personal information you share and every webpage you visit could potentially be viewed by an overzealous employer. This is especially true for blogging websites or social media sites – do not share anything from work that you would not want your employer to see. Do not send anything of a personal nature from your company email account, whether you are at work or at home. Even using a personal email account could be monitored if you use it to send messages from a work computer. While many employers believe in respecting their employees internet privacy, you should always be mindful of exactly what you are sharing with others while at work.
This helpful information was provided by the research team at Fatwallet.com, home of the HP coupons. Find coupons, cash back, deals, and much more at FatWallet.com.