Is Big Brother watching at work?

C

Chadilac

Joined
Jan 10, 2006
Messages
611
Paranoid question:

Virtually everyone I work with (over 100 people) use their own laptop computers through our wireless router. For some stupid reason, it is an unsecured network if that matters. My question is, does the computer server (which operates the router) keep records of all web activity connected to each person's IP address? In simple terms, can the IT guys tell when I am on this forum, or when I am checking my email, and if so, can they read it? Is it safe to pay bills online from the wireless router at work?

Or am I just paranoid?
 
Yes, they can tell. And no, it's not safe to pay bills on a wireless network.

Phil
 
They could with a lot of effort, which doesn't mean they do. It has nothing to do with an IP address, since you are using the corporate network you are using their IPs. Your computer, however, had an address too, a so called MAC address, which cannot be changed. Unless they know that you are O.

They also can read your e-mail if they have access to the mail server. I am talking about a corpporate mail account, not your private account.

It has absolutely nothing to do that it is an unsecured network, a network PW is just to make sure nobody from outside can log into the network. Most hotels have an unsecured network for obvious reasons. Paying bills doesn't matter either, sensitive information is normally encrypted, you are relatively safe there. Actually, an unsecured network has lots of advantages. If the shit really hits the fan it's hard to accuse you, it could be ANYBODY surfing out on the parking lot.
 
You can change your mac address but I found a better way at my office. I brought in my own wireless router and set it to clone the mac and ip of our network printer, I then plugged it in between the printer and company router. I can now connect my laptop to my router and whatever traffic will be seen as coming from the printer ;). I remove my router daily before I leave just in case IT figures it out.
 
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