Accidentally Out at my Online Job

[sneakersjay]

I was having issues with my online job so the tech guys scheduled this thing so they could see my computer screen. I had Laura's Playground minimized, so it wasn't an issue.  BUT: then he took control of the mouse (ain't technology wonderful??) and first thing he did was look at my folders and one said "Jay's Documents."  I mean, I don't know this guy, he doesn't know me, or my family, and he says in an odd tone, "Jay's documents?!"  I'm like yeah.

THEN, and this is how he found out: he opened the box that lists what processes are running and there right in the middle it said laura's with the huge words Transsexual and Transgender!!! I about died!!!!!!!!  He didn't say anything but there is no way he didn't see.

Not that it matters because I don't know him, but if I'd have known he could control my mouse I would have closed out everything. I've had tons of these meetings and nobody has done that before.

Sigh...

Jay

[Jay]

Hey Jay,

Why did he go into your personal documents for? Isn't that an invasion of privacy?

Jay

[Dizzy]

Yah good idea to clear your temp files, cache, and cookies at least before someone looks at your PC even remotely. Firefox does it real fast with one click. Prolly not a good idea to have the browser open to a page either hehe. Here's some other things I do to protect myself when someone gets the rare privilege of touching my PC:

Clear cache,cookies,temp files.

Go into c:\documents and settings\your username\recent and delete everything in there. That will get rid of quick links in the "documents" section of the start bar.

For files you have to keep but don't want people opening; install a cool little program I use called "AxCrpypt". http://www.axantum.com/AxCrypt/ Its free and you can just right click a folder, choose to encrypt, put in a password and it does the whole thing! Don't do your whole hard drive though ;p No one can open these files without the password. Make sure the filenames don't give anything away though haha.

The best thing to do of course is to set up a guest account for the nosy person isntead of remoting them into your admin account

[sneakersjay]

I did NOT know he was going to take control of my mouse, I did know he was going to look at the desktop.  Several things were minimized and he could not see what they were.  I didn't have time to close them, and I didn't know he was going to look at running processes.

Oh, well.

Jay

[Suzy]

I think we should send Guido and the boys over to silence him.

Kristi

[Just Mandy]

Hey Jay,

Do you know what software they use? Is this a computer at your home?

I would not assume that they cannot see what's going on at other times, I know some employers
that have no problems snooping and spying on employees during work hours.

Amanda

[sneakersjay]

My computer is at home.  The way he looked at my computer is through a go-to meeting where you have to log on.  The supervisors usually have us look at their screens, but we can sign our screen over to them.  In this case I was having technical issues logging on and he wanted to see what the error messages were on my screen, to see for himself what was happening.

When he took control of my mouse, I had to let him by clicking a button on the meeting soft ware.  He then tried to download new software and set it up...kind of as if he were in my home playing with my computer.  I don't think they can control my computer from work, heck when I first got this job I assumed that they would automatically tally my time card from when I logged on and off, and they can't even to that.

I have no set work hours; I have 1 month to finish my work and can work at 9am or 11pm and nobody cares.

Jay

Posted on: April 17, 2008, 11:37:55 AM

I think we should send Guido and the boys over to silence him.

Kristi

OMG that made me laugh!!!

Well, I have to come out anyway...lol

Jay

[Kate]

My computer is at home...

Keep in mind though, if your employer actually owns the computer you're using, they have every right to look and snoop through anything on it, and whenever they'd like. Nothing on it is "personal," including every email, every file, your browser history... it's all theirs for the viewing.

~Kate~

[sneakersjay]

I own the computer, not my employer.

But good point.

Jay

[Suzy]

If you own it, you can hold it over him that he had no right to go through your personal files.

Kristi

[Dev]

The downside is processes are not personal files and a good NT will look at that in the early stages of trouble shooting.   My advice to anybody who may need computer help is to make sure you never minimize anything you don't want seen because it will be seen in the processes and if something causes IE to hang up, it can also bring attention to whats open.

Really sucks it happened at work for you though.  I dread the day I have to find a few job in a few years.  After reading some of the post here, I keep thinking to myself, what kinda job will I actually apply for because I am not sure how I will handle some of the experiences forlks here have.

[sneakersjay]

Yeah, Devlin, that's what happened.  If I'd known he was going to do that (ie take control) I'd have closed everything.  I didn't even know that was possible, LOL.  The more I know about computers and technology the less I seem to know.

While I understand these sites need to use these terms so people can find them when searching, I wish they could just have a generic name for titles and processes so it's not so obvious.

Oh, well.  At that job I work from home and never have to see those people anyhow.  And when I legally change my name they're going to know.

Jay

[Just Mandy]

I seem to remember a utility for windows that will allow you to re-order the icons on your task bar and
also change the titles that show up in the task manager. Anyone use that or remember what it's called? That
might help for the future Jay... but I'm sure you're going to close those windows after this.

Amanda

[sd]

Being that it is not a company computer, the tech has no idea who else uses your computer, or if maybe you were looking up information for or about someone else or thought it was a porn site. Most techs pay little attention after a while because they see all sorts of things.

In all honesty, you probably made more of a big deal about than he did or will.

[Just Mandy]

Most techs pay little attention after a while because they see all sorts of things.

Yea... I agree to an extent... normal porn for sure would not cause a tech to take notice since it is
so prevalent... but they might talk about it later if it's unusual.... as in "that guy had 4 gizzillon pictures
of a babe and a horse"... I know, I've heard it 

Amanda

[sneakersjay]

thanks, sd.  You're probably right.

It was before he opened that that he said the thing about Jay's documents, which I thougt was odd, because how does he know who uses my computer, like you said??

Maybe he didn't see it, or pay attention to it, either way he didn't say anything, and I'm sure it doesn't matter.

It's just that I'm not out to anyone but online and my best friend, and I'm not sure I want to be accidentally outed yet.

Jay