Every 6 months I see on here or on Reddit stories about personal projects or activities getting people fired with cause or sued. Now more than ever personal laptops cost so little. There is no reason anymore besides “simplicity” to use company laptops for anything other than work. Here are things you should know about company laptops: 1) all modern MDM tools track apps used, most track websites visited 2) companies that have a lot of regulated functions have it software that snaps occasional grabs of what is open on your laptop. This is stored as referential points to look at under suspicion. No one is watching every screen grab, they’re just there for audits. 3) of course the company vpn tracks all traffic It is boilerplate now for the following clauses in your employee handbook: 1) company laptop is for work only. 2) you cannot open games, adult sites, or conduct outside business on the laptop 3) any work you do on company time is the company’s work and the company has ownership of created ip’s or licenses Unless grossly overdone, none of those as your only infraction will get you fired. But if someone is looking to fire you, they will check the mdm for evidence of breaking these clauses. There’s no reason to even give yourself the opportunity to get fired for cause because you went to adult sites. Laptops cost $300 entry level. Also, you can depreciate personal laptops on taxes if you use them for any outside work. Hope this helps. Not ready for work anymore; just haven’t changed my account over. Tc:435k Yoe: 12
I literally have two laptops at home, one personal and one company. I also have two phones one personal and one for business. This is just common sense if you care about your privacy
Glad I am not the only one.... Also bonus points for helping maintain a better wlb
Sames. Never cross the wires, just stupid.
Great thread and note. Defn best practice to keep personal stuff totally separate( except copy of payslips etc with replica on cloud). Even in case of layoff, one still has every persona stuff intact , companies track everything on work device.
I think there is a major difference between watching netflix on your work laptop after hours versus watching porn on company VPN. Just use fuckng common sense.
It’s true. But don’t risk it. There is no reason to watch Netflix using company property. Don’t give them the ammo.
Based on some of the comments in here I think asking for common sense might be too high of a bar 🙄
My personal computer is windows and my work computer is OSX. Makes it easier to unconsciously associate my work laptop for work and my personal computer for personal stuff.
Except when you want to code something for personal use
Yeah, that's a good point. I don't like to do development in windows anymore since I'm used to the OSX shortcuts and UI.
I’m pretty sure minor stuff will be fine, like looking up local restaurants to order from, an instructional YouTube video or a few songs during the workday, or making doctor appointments. The point is don’t send clearly personal messages and be on your hobby sites.
Lmao, yeah, don't give them an easy excuse to fire you, instead download TeamViewer and do exactly what an attacker would do to exfil IP
Ok
How am I supposed to watch porn at work?!
Step one. Buy a folding phone. Step two. Buy a software book. Step three. Put folding phone in book...
Lol downloading TeamViewer is red flag number 1. Please do not do it!
I think, as long as you are going to legal/trusted websites it should be ok to use work laptop for some personal use. Companies firing employees for this are next level toxic.
Its more to give credence if someone wants you gone. These are scapegoat excuses to fire with cause
Why give them the data or the excuse? A good company can become toxic tomorrow if there's a leadership change, what you trusted before is still there to use against you later.