Tech Question

calindi · February 2012

I'm going to DD in a bit, so please don't quote me.

Amanda, this one is aimed at you since I think you do IT, yes? Or am I being dumb?

My boss mentioned today that he was going to have us sign a form about what data they can collect from our work computers. How does that stuff work? What can they track? Is there any way for me to prevent it (i.e. if my computer spontaneously needs a factory restart - which it actually routinely seems to need, but I could pretend it happened again - and put my own password in, would that keep them from putting any software on taht would do it?)???

For the record, there's no network connecting the computers. There's wireless, but no server or anything. So if I have a password on mine, I should be gravy, yes? No?

CAB1217 · February 2012

Is it like a program that monitors what you do online? If so, from my understanding, they can basically monitor all activity on your computer. So, you could do that, and maybe erase what you have on the computer currently, but not what you do after it is installed. KWIM? Hope I am helping

I used to have to monitor other computers from my desk, it sucks when someone is on your computer as you're surfing FB! LOL

calindi · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_tech-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:aeaf10f5-0034-45e3-a801-32899eacff58Post:d29d7a14-c9b8-49e7-91bf-fa90c6ee02e8">Re: Tech Question</a>:
[QUOTE]Is it like a program that monitors what you do online? If so, from my understanding, they can basically monitor all activity on your computer. So, you could do that, and maybe erase what you have on the computer currently, but not what you do after it is installed. KWIM? Hope I am helping :/ I used to have to monitor other computers from my desk, it sucks when someone is on your computer as you're surfing FB! LOL
Posted by CAB1217[/QUOTE]

But what if after it's installed my computer "happens" to need a factory re-start? So I go in to Safe Mode and restart to factory settings? (Sadly, this has happened a handful of times already, so it's feasible). If I then put in my own password... is there any way they could do it without me knowing?

LetsHikeToday · February 2012

I don't know an answer but come they are doing this now?

AmandaSC1988 · February 2012

I do work in IT, but I work on analyzing/creating information systems… not really security. But I have had a few classes in security.

Ehh….You aren’t on a network at all? Technically a wifi connection is a network… unless of course you each have your own wifi that you connect to or connect to public wifi, which I sort of doubt. That just makes me cringe thinking of the lack of data security.

Are they putting software on your computer to back-up your computer….or to track your usage? There is nothing you can do if they want to track your usage, especially if it is a work computer. I don’t know how your IT department works (If you have one), but here they give the computer to the employee so the employee is a USER while they retain ADMIN rights… Meaning they can log onto your computer whenever they want to, if you change your password or not. It sounds like you have ADMIN rights because you can do a factory restart (do you mean restart to the latest back up? Otherwise you would lose ALL your work everrrr), but chances are your IT guy/boss has ADMIN access to your computer too.

If they just want to back up parts of your computer…That isn’t bad, they just want to know which drives to back up… and which ones doesn’t matter in the event that your computer crashes or you have to wipe your hard drive.

calindi · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_tech-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:aeaf10f5-0034-45e3-a801-32899eacff58Post:bd50139e-d44d-4a9d-a0a7-5478b3bfe6cc">Re: Tech Question</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't know an answer but come they are doing this now?
Posted by LetsHikeToday[/QUOTE]

Because the CEO is coming into town for 3-4 days and cracking the proverbial whip. They just had us send in a list of all the days we've taken for vacation/personal/sick/berevement/doctor's appointments since we started working here.

It's all kind of a shitshow because they hired some guy as VP who got fired (we all remember this drama, yes?) and so all the things he was supposed to implement got glossed over and never done.

CAB1217 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_tech-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:aeaf10f5-0034-45e3-a801-32899eacff58Post:b3a7cdcb-fc76-41ea-bd7a-c94e1dda8df9">Re: Tech Question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tech Question : But what if after it's installed my computer "happens" to need a factory re-start? So I go in to Safe Mode and restart to factory settings? (Sadly, this has happened a handful of times already, so it's feasible). If I then put in my own password... is there any way they could do it without me knowing?
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]
I am wondering if they're even going to allow your computer access to do so (a factory re-start). Also, the monitoring is usually a live, or weekly check in type deal. You'd have to have factory re-starts all of the time. They'll for sure notice if the computer deleted the program they installed to get it monitored in the first place.

They're trying to Big Brother you, Cal :(

14 weeks?

calindi · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_tech-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:aeaf10f5-0034-45e3-a801-32899eacff58Post:47c14d86-ec66-4304-ae43-8f67f48d25ae">Re: Tech Question</a>:
[QUOTE]I do work in IT, but I work on analyzing/creating information systems… not really security. But I have had a few classes in security. Ehh….You aren’t on a network at all? Technically a wifi connection is a network… unless of course you each have your own wifi that you connect to or connect to public wifi, which I sort of doubt. That just makes me cringe thinking of the lack of data security. Are they putting software on your computer to back-up your computer….or to track your usage? There is nothing you can do if they want to track your usage, especially if it is a work computer. I don’t know how your IT department works (If you have one), but here they give the computer to the employee so the employee is a USER while they retain ADMIN rights… Meaning they can log onto your computer whenever they want to, if you change your password or not. It sounds like you have ADMIN rights because you can do a factory restart (do you mean restart to the latest back up? Otherwise you would lose ALL your work everrrr), but chances are your IT guy/boss has ADMIN access to your computer too. If they just want to back up parts of your computer…That isn’t bad, they just want to know which drives to back up… and which ones doesn’t matter in the event that your computer crashes or you have to wipe your hard drive.
Posted by AmandaSC1988[/QUOTE]

Until they hire someone as a supervisor here in the US, they HAVE to give me Admin privileges because my computer has needed a hard factory restart (yep, I back up everything I need daily in case the next day the stupid thing won't start and I have to hard restart - it's seriously happened at least 3-4 times now).

They definitely want to do it to monitor usage.

The wifi is a password protected local network, but I put it as "public" when I connected so it can't access my computer files, yes?

We don't have an IT department - they have an outsourcing company they use in the UK who we can call into, but they're basically useless except for setting up Outlook and such.

Yep... 13.5 weeks... and 2 weeks of Jury Duty.... which means 8ish weeks until I can give my notice...

CAB1217 · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_tech-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:13Discussion:aeaf10f5-0034-45e3-a801-32899eacff58Post:e2c8b691-effe-4cb1-858f-ddf91f5bf6c9">Re: Tech Question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tech Question : Until they hire someone as a supervisor here in the US, they HAVE to give me Admin privileges because my computer has needed a hard factory restart (yep, I back up everything I need daily in case the next day the stupid thing won't start and I have to hard restart - it's seriously happened at least 3-4 times now). They definitely want to do it to monitor usage. The wifi is a password protected local network, but I put it as "public" when I connected so it can't access my computer files, yes? We don't have an IT department - they have an outsourcing company they use in the UK who we can call into, but they're basically useless except for setting up Outlook and such. Yep... <strong>13.5 weeks... and 2 weeks of Jury Duty.... which means 8ish weeks until I can give my notice...</strong>
Posted by calindi[/QUOTE]
Well, hang in there.

Wait... does this mean no more work TK? SAY IT AIN'T SO CAL! <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-surprised.gif" border="0" alt="Surprised" title="Surprised" />

calindi · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_tech-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:aeaf10f5-0034-45e3-a801-32899eacff58Post:354d4305-bce4-4904-a8eb-936ed6b437b9">Re: Tech Question</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Tech Question : Well, hang in there. Wait... does this mean no more work TK? SAY IT AIN'T SO CAL!
Posted by CAB1217[/QUOTE]

Only if:

1) They get their hands on my computer (I have a password they don't know, so they'll have to ask for it to get in)

2) They hire a US manager to supervise so I can't bring in my laptop

I can still get on Facebook on my phone. Just sayin'

AmandaSC1988 · February 2012

Don’t sign onto public internet and do work. That is so unsafe; it makes me really nervous for the data that is on your computer.

I’m going to tell you how it NORMALLY works…Unless you own your computer, the name you log in with and your password is stored in a database (and probably all your other employee data). They probably send a change file nightly to the IT person that notifies them if something has changed since the night before. This is preventative if someone forgets their password, and can’t get into their computer.

From what you have already stated, chances are (especially if you are in a small office) they will hunt you down if they can’t get on your computer when you aren’t there and do it while you are sitting at your computer. But like I said before, I assume they already have an additional ADMIN access to your computer and once you sign that paper you agree to have that program installed on your computer, changing your password will not really change much…

calindi · February 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_military-brides_tech-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:13Discussion:aeaf10f5-0034-45e3-a801-32899eacff58Post:49db9af2-cc45-42b6-a13d-71e9c5faf7f5">Re: Tech Question</a>:
[QUOTE]Don’t sign onto public internet and do work. That is so unsafe; it makes me really nervous for the data that is on your computer. I’m going to tell you how it NORMALLY works…Unless you own your computer, the name you log in with and your password is stored in a database (and probably all your other employee data). They probably send a change file nightly to the IT person that notifies them if something has changed since the night before. This is preventative if someone forgets their password, and can’t get into their computer. From what you have already stated, chances are (especially if you are in a small office) they will hunt you down if they can’t get on your computer when you aren’t there and do it while you are sitting at your computer. But like I said before, I assume they already have an additional ADMIN access to your computer and once you sign that paper you agree to have that program installed on your computer, changing your password will not really change much…
Posted by AmandaSC1988[/QUOTE]

You assume too much. They bought computers and asked me to set them up. The IT department is in the UK and I have to call them up and ask them to call me back to help with things. They do not monitor anti-virus or anythin else. They didn't help me with the hard re-start - that was Lenovo because their stupid stuff sucks.

They do not have an additional ADMIN access.

But you're right - if I sign that paper, I'm agreeing to let them install that and abide by it. Crud. Oh well, it's only a few weeks, right?!

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