Freaky Deaky (1 Viewer)

[RSJ]

They took away our ability to send or recieve email to/from external sources at work today. Someone got bored and had a poke around the internal public drive on the network, and found this folder with two files in it, one a list of every email outbound and one inbound for a 30 day period, ordered by user, and if you click expand it gives the subject of each and the recipient.

I mean, i know they can track you and all that kinda thing, i suppose i never really thought it would be so cut and dry - realised if i ever cross my boss he could grab the list of every request for an external webpage and use it for grounds for dismissal...

 

[billygannon]

I'm pretty sure that's illegal. It's definitely illegal in the UK. They can't stop you using your e-mail for personal use - next they'll be saying you can't use your phone for personal use either.

 

[RSJ]

Really? Cos it's in our terms and conditions thing that you can't use email or mobiles for non company work?

This sounds like something pete would know about...

 

[billygannon]

Really? Cos it's in our terms and conditions thing that you can't use email or mobiles for non company work?

This sounds like something pete would know about...

Oh.. well, if you've signed a contract saying that you can't use email or mobiles for non-company work, then they're in the right.
However, the likelihood of them going after you about internet usage is pretty slim.
Basically if they want you out, which is pretty rare, they'll do it. That happened to the Bank of Ireland head, Michael Soden. He pissed off everyone in the company, so the IT lads monitored his internet usage very closely and then found out about the call-girls site.

It's a pisser that they did that. If it's any use, you could try the Thumped e-mail thingy. That's worked for me.

 

[RSJ]

Ah yeah, i have my own external email and all that, just that it's handier to get them into outlook rather than having to check a site.

Bum-r.

 

[pete]

They took away our ability to send or recieve email to/from external sources at work today. Someone got bored and had a poke around the internal public drive on the network, and found this folder with two files in it, one a list of every email outbound and one inbound for a 30 day period, ordered by user, and if you click expand it gives the subject of each and the recipient.

I mean, i know they can track you and all that kinda thing, i suppose i never really thought it would be so cut and dry - realised if i ever cross my boss he could grab the list of every request for an external webpage and use it for grounds for dismissal...

Are you saying you could access external SMTP & POP3 servers from your desktop? Cos that would be insane. if anyone's getting reprimanded it should be whoever let that go on. Them and whoever broke the Data Protection Act by leaving private info in a public folder.

 

[RSJ]

Eh no. Ah i'm shite with these terms, basically we have our firstnamelastname@companyname.com email addresses running from outlook on our boxes, as of this morning all ingoing/outgoing email is blocked (as in i can't email anyone who works outside our company, and they can't email me), something about "could not find a path" (will look it up again tomorrow). As for the private info, is that strictly private if it's on company computers and such? It was on our contract that they'd be monitoring the emails and such, though nothing was said about use/publishing etc.

 

[pete]

Eh no. Ah i'm shite with these terms, basically we have our firstnamelastname@companyname.com email addresses running from outlook on our boxes, as of this morning all ingoing/outgoing email is blocked (as in i can't email anyone who works outside our company, and they can't email me), something about "could not find a path" (will look it up again tomorrow). As for the private info, is that strictly private if it's on company computers and such? It was on our contract that they'd be monitoring the emails and such, though nothing was said about use/publishing etc.

right. well, refusing to give people external email is a bit nuts in this day and age, so bear in mind it might just be broken

but yeah the data protection act probably doesn't apply to them lists, but i think there's some euro legislation relating to the individuals right to privacy in their communications that no amount of acceptable usage policys can override. I read about a senior female cop in the UK suing under it, so it could possibly be applied in this case, but i dunno. i think i'm meant to know this shit for work. ah well.

i do know however that I wouldn't be impressed if my email history could be trawled through by all and sundry.

 

[RSJ]

Gets better - just found out they only blocked the technical staff's mail (about 70% of the company). Administrative staff still have it, freaken warehouse staff have it, but those of us who actually do the work are blocked. What a shower.

 

[quaidox]

what is the managements reason for blocking your external mail? as pete said, that sounds crazy in this day and age.................

 

[RSJ]

Too much traffic. I suppose they thought some people were spending all their time sending emails and going on the net rather than doing their jobs *wistles innocently*

 

[quaidox]

aaahhhh.........now i see !! :>

 

[RSJ]

Excerpts from email sent round to all staff today

All messages distributed via the XXX email system, even personal emails, are XXX property. You must have no expectation of privacy in anything you create, store, send or receive on XXX email system.


All personal data contained in emails may be accessible under Data Protection legislation. Email should always be regarded as potentially public information, which carry a heightened risk of legal liability for the sender, the recipient and the organisations for which they work.


Only send emails of which the content could be displayed on a public notice board. If emails cannot be displayed publicly in their current state, consider rephrasing them, using other means of communication, or protecting information by using a password.


XXX reserves and intends to exercise the right to review, audit, intercept, access and disclose all messages created, received or sent over the electronic mail system for any purpose.


Employees are not authorised to retrieve or read any email messages that are not sent to them. Any exception to this policy must receive prior approval from Senior Management. However, the confidentiality of any message should not be assumed. Even when a message is erased it is still possible to retrieve and read that message. If any breach of our email policy is observed then disciplinary action up to and including termination may be taken.

 

[quaidox]

by jinky, they is tough on your asses!