Yea, You're Being Watched

sUnShInE · 07-13-2004, 10:21 AM

You can stop wondering. A new study has confirmed what many cubicle dwellers have long suspected: Many companies, maybe even yours, are monitoring outgoing e-mails.

According to a new survey conducted by Forrester Consulting and sponsored by Proofpoint Inc., a company that makes anti-spam and mail filtering software, over 43% of corporations with more than 20,000 employees employ personnel to monitor and read their staff's outbound e-mail.

The survey of 140 corporate decision-makers found that companies are concerned about employees leaking sensitive information via e-mail, which ranked as the biggest reason behind the snooping policy.

The survey comes on the heels of a recent federal court ruling which held that it is perfectly legal for ISPs to read and copy the inbound e-mail of their clients. The ruling , by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston, held that e-mail does not enjoy the same eavesdropping protections as telephone conversations, because it is stored on servers before being routed to recipients. (Excellent op/eds here and here)

Word up: America Online, EarthLink, and Yahoo all have privacy policies prohibiting them from reading customer e-mail, except in the case of a court order.

If it's sensitive, protect it. Don't use the bossman's server.

ignatz · 07-13-2004, 10:38 AM

If you're really concerned there's always webmail. Also there are many free implementations of PGP that can be used with nearly any email program for encryption. No one has the time to crack that, unless they are really sure you've got something they want.

sUnShInE · 07-13-2004, 06:34 PM

Um, yea, that's why I suggested Yahoo, etc.

Truth be told, I used to work for a Fortune 100 that employed this practice. If they're paying someone to scan, filter, or read your email, that same person would have plenty of time to try and crack your encryption and the co. would wonder why you have it.

derekweb · 07-13-2004, 06:39 PM

While I can understand the desire for privacy, I also understand that while I'm on company time, and on company resources, I need to watch out for the COMPANY's interests. This also means that "my email", as hosted by my employer, is not technically "mine". It's a name, on loan to me to help me do the job for which the employer is paying me for.

In short, I shouldn't be using it for non-work related items anyway.

As for using company email to send out confidential info to outside corporate spies. That's just stupid. Egads.

/shrug/

Don't know what to say on this one, except that I'm not REALLY all that shocked and surprised. 1984, anyone?

doctorow · 07-14-2004, 01:09 PM

Scary... I think I should stop using my work e-mail address for private matters... ;(

sUnShInE · 07-14-2004, 05:27 PM

derekweb: It has as much to do with the company's desire to protect the employees as it is to protect themselves. Laws like HIPAA (medical privacy) incure liability on all sides, particularly for HR staff.

The Cod Father · 11-06-2010, 12:12 AM

here is a thought , when you are at work than DO YOUR WORK . You can't have someone spying on your private doings if you are not doing anything private where you shouldn't be ...

07-13-2004, 10:21 AM	#1
sUnShInE Drama Queen Posts: 784 Karma: 11712 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: United States Device: Palm Tungsten T\|T3	Yea, You're Being Watched You can stop wondering. A new study has confirmed what many cubicle dwellers have long suspected: Many companies, maybe even yours, are monitoring outgoing e-mails. According to a new survey conducted by Forrester Consulting and sponsored by Proofpoint Inc., a company that makes anti-spam and mail filtering software, over 43% of corporations with more than 20,000 employees employ personnel to monitor and read their staff's outbound e-mail. The survey of 140 corporate decision-makers found that companies are concerned about employees leaking sensitive information via e-mail, which ranked as the biggest reason behind the snooping policy. The survey comes on the heels of a recent federal court ruling which held that it is perfectly legal for ISPs to read and copy the inbound e-mail of their clients. The ruling , by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston, held that e-mail does not enjoy the same eavesdropping protections as telephone conversations, because it is stored on servers before being routed to recipients. (Excellent op/eds here and here) Word up: America Online, EarthLink, and Yahoo all have privacy policies prohibiting them from reading customer e-mail, except in the case of a court order. If it's sensitive, protect it. Don't use the bossman's server.

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07-13-2004, 10:38 AM	#2
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	If you're really concerned there's always webmail. Also there are many free implementations of PGP that can be used with nearly any email program for encryption. No one has the time to crack that, unless they are really sure you've got something they want.

07-13-2004, 06:34 PM	#3
sUnShInE Drama Queen Posts: 784 Karma: 11712 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: United States Device: Palm Tungsten T\|T3	Um, yea, that's why I suggested Yahoo, etc. Truth be told, I used to work for a Fortune 100 that employed this practice. If they're paying someone to scan, filter, or read your email, that same person would have plenty of time to try and crack your encryption and the co. would wonder why you have it.

07-13-2004, 06:39 PM	#4
derekweb Groupie Posts: 160 Karma: 3134 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: United States Device: Palm Treo 700p & iPaq hx2755	While I can understand the desire for privacy, I also understand that while I'm on company time, and on company resources, I need to watch out for the COMPANY's interests. This also means that "my email", as hosted by my employer, is not technically "mine". It's a name, on loan to me to help me do the job for which the employer is paying me for. In short, I shouldn't be using it for non-work related items anyway. As for using company email to send out confidential info to outside corporate spies. That's just stupid. Egads. /shrug/ Don't know what to say on this one, except that I'm not REALLY all that shocked and surprised. 1984, anyone?

07-14-2004, 01:09 PM	#5
doctorow Guru Posts: 914 Karma: 3410461 Join Date: May 2004 Device: Kindle Touch	Scary... I think I should stop using my work e-mail address for private matters... ;(

07-14-2004, 05:27 PM	#6
sUnShInE Drama Queen Posts: 784 Karma: 11712 Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: United States Device: Palm Tungsten T\|T3	derekweb: It has as much to do with the company's desire to protect the employees as it is to protect themselves. Laws like HIPAA (medical privacy) incure liability on all sides, particularly for HR staff.

11-06-2010, 12:12 AM	#7
The Cod Father Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 26206 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Newfoundland Canada Device: KOBO. Kobo Aura	here is a thought , when you are at work than DO YOUR WORK . You can't have someone spying on your private doings if you are not doing anything private where you shouldn't be ...

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