How Do Companies Monitor Internet Usage?

How Do Companies Monitor Internet Usage? thumbnail
Your company may be watching your computer use.

As the Internet has become integrated with business, companies have allowed more personal use of it by their employees. Despite that freedom, your employer may still monitor every move you make in cyberspace. There are several ways a company can watch workers.

  1. Software

    • Software installed on your computer or on the network allows a company to view what is on your screen. Some software views what is stored on your hard drive, allowing your company to determine if you have unauthorized software or files on your computer.

    Internet Browsers

    • Websites leave behind traces for your employer to later view, such as the cookies, history and temporary Internet files.

    Proxy Server

    • With a "proxy server," you must log in with a specified user name and password. By deploying this technique, your company can tell which employee is using a particular computer.

    Legal Issues

    • Your company is generally allowed to view what you are doing since it owns the equipment and has an interest in preventing unwanted software and viruses. Some laws or a union contract may allow for some privacy. In order to protect themselves, companies often have a detailed policy on what is acceptable. That policy may include the right to monitor your computer usage and the ability to inspect your computer at any time.

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  • Photo Credit Success in business image by patrimonio designs from Fotolia.com

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