Covering Tracks

[malonely]

If someone from tech support can remote into your computer how much can they see from your internet history? I don't come to this site from my work computer but I do have a g-mail account that I will check from work. If someone were to check my computer remotely could they get into my g-mail inbox and see my messages? Since it is password protected, and I have not had my computer save the password would someone remotely accessing my computer get past the password?

[jframe2]

Speaking theoretically first-
- yes it is possible for a forensic exam of your computer to possibly detect information (passwords, browser history, etc) that the user thought he had deleted;
- a forensic exam is not an easy thing to do, the programs are time consuming and expensive;
- some exams/programs will record the key strokes on a computer and then can display them back. You answer a hobby email on your gmail account and then your boss calls you in with a print out of the email.


Speaking actually-
- never, never use a work computer to access anything related to the hobby, hobby email, hobby sites, etc.
- when at work, you have no privacy rights related to the use of company equipment.
- assume all IP addresses accessed from a work computer are tracked. And if you are accessing the G-mail account a large number of times per day assume it will be noticed.

Recommendations-
- if you work for a large entity that has a pretty detailed IT department, DO NOT go to any website that you would not want to view if your boss was looking over your shoulder.
- a smaller company may be more forgiving and less sophisticated.

Hope this helps.

[malonely]

I don't go to any incriminating sites. I just go to my g-mail account to check my e-mail. On the surface an innocent process unless you can get into the inbox and read my e-mails. I don't think our IT is that sophisticated or that diligent. We don't even store our documents on a server with regular backups. We store our docs on our hard drives. My main worry now is that I am getting a new computer and if they tried to get my new computer set up as much as possible to make the transition seamless would they stumble upon and be able to see the mail in my inbox.

[jframe2]

The answer is Yes it is possible. But it is not probable as you have discussed your IT department.

I gotta say It is a little late to be worrying now. You will know when they call you in and hand you a box and a pink slip.

Harsh response from me I know. But again, not something I would ever, ever do from a work computer.

[sky_wire]

If it's on your screen, it's on your hard drive. If your computer is connected to a server, it's on the server's hard drive. Period.

Check gmail from your smart phone.

I'm not an IT guy, but I have taken classes in computer security. There is ONE thing everybody needs to know: If it's on your screen, it's on your hard drive.

As an aside, I would NEVER log into any personal account from a non-secure computer. I hate to say this, but there are bad people out there. Somebody might snoop your login name and password. Do you use the same username/password for gmail as your bank account? Many folks do. Just saying....

[instfixer]

IT people get job security by discovering breaches in computer usage.

Find people surfing porn sites-- notify the chain of command--the IT person will get a small commendation for protecting the company from e.g. some sex harassment lawsuit.