[itwasntme]

Our organization has also abolished usage of phone-based or dedicated mobile hotspot devices when inside company premises.

This was done as some users were noted to be connected to their mobile hotspots while connected to the office wired LAN. At least 5 users were formally warned 2 days after the original red flag 'advisory' went out.

[sathish81]

Originally Posted by Debashis_1

Could you please let us know name of your organization? Also I was wondering if the employees are aware key stroke loggers and screenshot loggers have been installed on the office machines?

I understand that organization are sensitive about security and we create a lot awareness workshops to make employees understand the pros and cons.. However in my opinion installing key stroke loggers and screenshot loggers are violation of privacy itself.

Might seem like a shocker, but as someone who has worked in various roles in IT, product development(and have a glimpse of future of networking)I know privacy should no longer be considered as given.

If not key/screen loggers, organization would use network taps. These essentially sample network traffic from your devices or in some cases just copies everything to a centralised server. ML/Deeplearning system analyses traffic looking for anamolies. The definition of anamoly varies from org to org- for some it might be visiting porn sites and others it might be just accessing Facebook.

TOR saves you to some extent, but if your network admin has reasonable knowledge he can (and will) block TOR- assuming network hardware including firewalls/DPI systems are not more than few years old.

[RiderZone]

Try using uBlock and Privacy Badger extensions, they do a decent job against tracking and annoying ads too.

[VeluM]

The boss may not be entirely justified in asking not to use incognito mode - not because of employee privacy concerns but because the mode itself is pointless in light of the IT Dept tracking - but an employee is not justified in making an issue of it.

Company hardware, software, and internet, company rules. Plain and simple. I agree with the others who have suggested that you either wait until you’re home or use your mobile for personal browsing due to your privacy concerns.

Most companies have an IT Security Team which formulates an “acceptable use” policy. This is an agreement that the employee Will have to read and confirm, and abide by. The policy includes acceptable use of company IT resources, and details what all is tracked on company systems, whether on company network or off. This is not something new, nor is it shady or illegal.

Going a step further, my suggestion will be to not use company hardware even on your home or other non-company network if concerned about your privacy.

[Samfromindia]

In my organization (Vodafone Shared Services), we are given two laptops:

1: Official Company Laptop: Where we do not get admin rights and use it mostly to do Outlook, Skype & connect VDI for development. We can use all popular browsers & normal / incognito mode, however some websites are blocked for obvious reasons like ones with adult content & social media + Youtube. Also downloading exe is blocked for most cases. TeamBhp is thankfully open

2: OEM Laptop : This second laptop provided has full admin access & it cannot be connected to company network. Instead they have something called guest wifi which we can use to connect www & browse everything unrestricted. We can also connect mobile hotspot with it. The goal of providing this machine is to quickly install a new tool or do some POC which will otherwise take lot of time to be installed on main machine following approval process. We can also use this to browse social media / youtube in office.

Apart from these we are also provided money to buy smartphone and get free postpaid number with unlimited calls / sms & 40GB data PM.

So being used to these facilities, i wonder how other companies can be so strict with their policies and do micro management with what employees are doing on their spare time !

[Tucker48]

Incognito mode is useless. One can always delete browsing data from browser settings. Use VPN for privacy or use tor. But whatever you do, you will always leave bread crumbs behind you.
More importantly, follow the rules at work which are set up by your superiors. Remember your boss is taking a lenient view of you accessing your social media websites, be thankful to him.

[DudeWithaFiat]

Tor would be painfully slow to use.

Most offices block the Tor protocol too.

If you are really concerned about your privacy, then you should start using your cellphone for private browsing when you are in office.

[RedTerrano]

Originally Posted by dragracer567

I would be glad to hear the thoughts of the esteemed and experienced Team-bhpians on this. Are my concerns about privacy giving the wrong message to my company?

IMO you are over engineering this.
The bitter fact remains: My house my rules.

What stops you from creating a new google id, login to the browser with it and do whatever you want? And if you can make the id "as close as possible" to your boss's real name, the better. Once in a while just for the heck of it google for properties to rent/purchase. Then bring out the popcorn and watch the fun as the boss starts getting spam calls from estate agents! Perhaps then he will change his views on privacy and you can be declared employee of the month!

[McLaren Rulez]

Originally Posted by dragracer567

Recently at work, my boss noticed that I was using incognito mode (I don't use VPN at work) in my browser and brought it up during a recent meeting. He announced that I am not allowed to use incognito mode and that I wouldn't need to use incognito if I didn't have anything to hide.

The most important lesson to learn from this episode is that your boss is a bit on the low end of the IQ scale. In my book, anyone who cares about this sort of thing (and then brings it up in company meetings!) is bound for a permanent middle-manager paper-pusher type of role.

You will need to figure out if his incompetence and focus on trivialities affects your long term career prospects and if yes, you should start figuring out your next move.

[dragracer567]

Originally Posted by McLaren Rulez

you should start figuring out your next move.

I should've mentioned that this is my first job and that explains my inability to deal with a trivial matter such as this. But as I specified earlier, I've other more important issues with the work culture as well. For example, my boss gets annoyed if I leave exactly at 5 PM when our working hours end because 'it sends the wrong message', and I should stress that I do stay back if I have actual work to do but I leave at the stipulated time if I don't. Here is an article I found on that as well (Link)

On that note, I am indeed thinking of moving on.

[McLaren Rulez]

Originally Posted by dragracer567

For example, my boss gets annoyed if I leave exactly at 5 PM when our working hours end because 'it sends the wrong message'

Such people are not worth any further consideration. They are destined for a dead-end career and will do very poorly in life with that kind of thinking. You absolutely should move on and surround yourself with smarter people and better mentors for your own growth.

You have the right attitude towards work. Remember to push for this kind of work culture when you reach positions where there are people working under you.

[RedTerrano]

There is one place where everyone can safely go and voice their opinions about their bosses, employers and work culture.
https://www.glassdoor.co.in/