Is there anyone in the IT field who can share a bit of info on how you normally deal with users who surf adult content at work?  

I have a few questions:

1. [out of office] I use a company laptop and search 141, adult escorts etc... when im out of the country.  Is there anyway that they can know apart from the history on the laptop?  Does it help if i use private browsing?  Again, im not in the office so not using their network.

2. [out of office] I sometime use the blackberry and browse sex141 and other xxx sites, can they find out what pages im surfing without physically taking the blackberry?

3.  [in the office] Our company blocks certain sites, mostly ones with adult content but there are some adults sites that i can access.  I'm pretty sure they keep tabs but i just want to know how they actually monitor this?  

I have since stopped searching adult related sites at work since I have had the block page pop up a couple times, figure they found out that i was searching adult content and block these specific sites (Im assuming).

Be great if anyone in the IT field can share their expert opinions with me (us, lol)..

Thanks in advance...

Use this info at your own risk as it may not be complete and/or be suitable in your circumstances. I make no guarantees and take no responsibility for any harm, loss or damage (so don't blame me if you lose your job, etc).

Assumptions:
- a relaxed IT policy given you haven't been caught yet (i.e. the company is not actively out to monitor what you're doing with company property/networks).
- no attempts by you to mask the traffic.

1. On a foreign network, your laptop would be the easiest source of history and thus private browsing is likely to minimize any records on your laptop (but it'll really depend on how effective your browser setup is at it, since Flash and other plugins may allow records to be kept outside of the browser).  This also assumes that your company has not gone to the effort of installing software on your machine to monitor traffic.  If for example your company laptop runs some kind of software antivirus/firewall, it may be possible to configure it to log all network traffic (making the browser's private mode ineffective). It should go without saying that disabling/removing your company installed antivirus/firewall is a bad idea.

2. Depends on whether you're on the cellular network or using WiFi to browse on the Blackberry. If using a foreign WiFi network, then your phone is obviously the easiest source of history. However, if you use the cellular network to browse on the phone, then the records would probably be stored by the phone company (pretty sure it would be mandated by telecommunications regulations for most countries). That said, not sure whether your company can access these records easily (it may require resorting to legal avenues to get access).

3. Company's office network traffic can be fully tracked regardless of device. Since they are already running a filter that blocks certain sites, it means they should already have the means to monitor where the traffic is going to/coming from within the company network.  The traffic monitor/filter may be implemented by hardware or by software (or both). In any case, traffic records should be easily accessible by the company (it would just be a matter of how often these records are actually checked and acted upon, if at all).

Final words: If they really wanted to they should be able to catch you out already.

[ Last edited by  yyy111 at 5-1-2012 02:12 ]

In my opinion it depends on how big your company and potential red flags. If they are even slight suspicious about your productivity they will do a check if they can based on their IT coverage. Basically if you fuck up once in any area they can check as a reason to fire you. I wouldn't risk it as the pros don't outweigh the cons in this case. Again just my opinion bro

IMHO:

"1. [out of office] I use a company laptop and search 141, adult escorts etc... when im out of the country.  Is there anyway that they can know apart from the history on the laptop?  Does it help if i use private browsing?  Again, im not in the office so not using their network."

This is pretty safe.  Use private browsing or religiously delete your history and temporary files.

"2. [out of office] I sometime use the blackberry and browse sex141 and other xxx sites, can they find out what pages im surfing without physically taking the blackberry?"

This is pretty safe except that blackberry in particular uses a server unlike other phone providers.  This means different potential for revealing history as opposed to regular cell surfing.  Low risk though.

3.  [in the office] Our company blocks certain sites, mostly ones with adult content but there are some adults sites that i can access.  I'm pretty sure they keep tabs but i just want to know how they actually monitor this?  

NEVER do this.  Decent chance your history is logged if they block certain sites.

respones to #2 chances are if you are getting company email on the company blackberry then they are using Blackberry enterprise server.  With that you can track anything that is done on the blackberry that includes any browser history.  I've setup a few of these servers and have had to track users web habits because of excessive data usage.

If you can live without the blackberry have the company give you an android or a iphone where you have less ties to the corporate network but can still get all of your emails.

response to #3, depending on your IT admin there a numerous ways to filter adult content in the network, some of them use keywords, phrase and trigger words found on the website or urls or both.  I just wouldn't do it at all because getting fired for searching for adult content won't look good at your next job interview.

i'd say get your self a cheapo tablet or netbook and just do all of your things on it.

I'm also going to throw this disclaimer on whatever you do is at your own risk.

#1 Best not to use your company laptop. Use your own.  Use a tablet.  Something.  You don't know
what monitoring tools your company has and usually a company has a disclaimer where they can
monitor whatever is on your laptop.

#2 If you can install software on your laptop, you could install a remote viewing client on your laptop
to a computer you have at home.  So then even if the company is monitoring your keystrokes (unlikely but who knows if you work for a bank), they will only see you keystrokes and you going to your home computer - setup correctly they won't see where you go from there.

#3 blackberry is popular because of company security and control.  I would NOT use the blackberry at all

The detail replies are certainly helpful, guess the bottom line is to avoid using any company issued devices.. Better safe then sorry, I'm mean, at the end of the day, our job allows us for a healthy and vibrant punting life style..

Yes, going with the personal tablet or device would be much smarter..  Having said that, our company also has free wifi for customers use in our office.  Would that be safe to use?

Well they'd still be able to track the traffic. Since it's not a company device they won't be able to pin it to you straight away. Normally all devices will have unique IDs to distinguish themselves on the network (MAC address), so once they can determine this is your personal device well they've caught ya. This means that regular visits using the same device may arouse suspicion (e.g. they see traffic when you don't have any visitors or you do not regularly get the same clients visiting). I would say it isn't really worth the risk, but everyone has different levels of risk taking

[ Last edited by  yyy111 at 8-1-2012 03:17 ]

Oops. Sorry, removing double post

[ Last edited by  yyy111 at 8-1-2012 03:25 ]

"Yes, going with the personal tablet or device would be much smarter..  Having said that, our company also has free wifi for customers use in our office.  Would that be safe to use?"

REALLY?  REALLY?

The Company laptop is company property and company managed.
The Company wifi is company property and company managed.

still not connecting the dots?

If you are in Hong Kong as your profile lists, just pay the 100 - 200 HKD a month to do all your own Internet.  Its 100 - 200 HKD a month.  That's it.

I'll even point you to a sample link: Here's one for an ipad and NO CONTRACT $98 a month - max charge of $160
http://www.three.com.hk/website/ ... 710594&lang=eng

Im finding more and more that 141 is banned at a lot of public wifis (i.e hotels, banks, restaurants with courtesy wifi)

which are some of the places I try to 141 when im on my lunch break and cant get on at the office

Okay, appreciate your advice and yes, it's time I have my own data plan.  Thanks forthe link!