Using a colleague's laptop without asking for permission
In one of my previous jobs, I had the following situation, and I'm not sure what would have been the right way to react.
Once, during a team meeting, I was showing something work related on my laptop (I think, slides for a presentation) to my colleagues, and one of them wanted to search for missing information on some website. He took my laptop without asking for my permission, opened the browser and started typing the address of the website. I panicked, because it was my private laptop, and I had been using it to search for some very personal stuff. I didn't want my colleague to type "a", searching for amazon, and to see a suggestion like "am I pregnant?" instead. So I covered the screen with my palms and said something like: "Please don't, there can be something private!".
He apologized, but of course I felt very embarrassed because I overreacted. Most likely my colleagues thought that I had a collection of porn sites bookmarked there, or something similar to that.
I'm not sure if I actually had something incriminating in my browser's search history, but it just made me feel very uncomfortable. To me, using someone's laptop to google something is as impolite as opening this persons' backpack and rummaging through it. Maybe it's a cultural thing.
The laptop I'm currently using for work belongs to the company, and I wouldn't mind my colleagues using it, since I don't store anything private there. However, I might encounter a situation like this again sometime in the future, so I wonder how I should act.
- Does one have to ask for a colleague's permission if he/she wants to use this colleague's laptop? Does it matter whether it's a personal laptop or a laptop provided by the employer? Does it depend on the country (I live in Germany)?
- What would be a polite way to say that things like that make me feel uncomfortable? Should I even do that in case using a colleague's laptop is perfectly fine?
Update: I did not have a separate laptop for work, and there was no possibility to get it. Since all this happened in the past, I cannot change it now.
colleagues
asked 10 hours ago
lawful_neutrallawful_neutral
1845
add a comment |
In one of my previous jobs, I had the following situation, and I'm not sure what would have been the right way to react.
Once, during a team meeting, I was showing something work related on my laptop (I think, slides for a presentation) to my colleagues, and one of them wanted to search for missing information on some website. He took my laptop without asking for my permission, opened the browser and started typing the address of the website. I panicked, because it was my private laptop, and I had been using it to search for some very personal stuff. I didn't want my colleague to type "a", searching for amazon, and to see a suggestion like "am I pregnant?" instead. So I covered the screen with my palms and said something like: "Please don't, there can be something private!".
He apologized, but of course I felt very embarrassed because I overreacted. Most likely my colleagues thought that I had a collection of porn sites bookmarked there, or something similar to that.
I'm not sure if I actually had something incriminating in my browser's search history, but it just made me feel very uncomfortable. To me, using someone's laptop to google something is as impolite as opening this persons' backpack and rummaging through it. Maybe it's a cultural thing.
The laptop I'm currently using for work belongs to the company, and I wouldn't mind my colleagues using it, since I don't store anything private there. However, I might encounter a situation like this again sometime in the future, so I wonder how I should act.
- Does one have to ask for a colleague's permission if he/she wants to use this colleague's laptop? Does it matter whether it's a personal laptop or a laptop provided by the employer? Does it depend on the country (I live in Germany)?
- What would be a polite way to say that things like that make me feel uncomfortable? Should I even do that in case using a colleague's laptop is perfectly fine?
Update: I did not have a separate laptop for work, and there was no possibility to get it. Since all this happened in the past, I cannot change it now.
colleagues
asked 10 hours ago
lawful_neutrallawful_neutral
1845
3
In the future, if you need a personal laptop at work I'd suggest creating 2 accounts and using one for work only. It's perfect, but would reduce risks like this.
– Laconic Droid
6 hours ago
add a comment |
In one of my previous jobs, I had the following situation, and I'm not sure what would have been the right way to react.
Once, during a team meeting, I was showing something work related on my laptop (I think, slides for a presentation) to my colleagues, and one of them wanted to search for missing information on some website. He took my laptop without asking for my permission, opened the browser and started typing the address of the website. I panicked, because it was my private laptop, and I had been using it to search for some very personal stuff. I didn't want my colleague to type "a", searching for amazon, and to see a suggestion like "am I pregnant?" instead. So I covered the screen with my palms and said something like: "Please don't, there can be something private!".
He apologized, but of course I felt very embarrassed because I overreacted. Most likely my colleagues thought that I had a collection of porn sites bookmarked there, or something similar to that.
I'm not sure if I actually had something incriminating in my browser's search history, but it just made me feel very uncomfortable. To me, using someone's laptop to google something is as impolite as opening this persons' backpack and rummaging through it. Maybe it's a cultural thing.
The laptop I'm currently using for work belongs to the company, and I wouldn't mind my colleagues using it, since I don't store anything private there. However, I might encounter a situation like this again sometime in the future, so I wonder how I should act.
- Does one have to ask for a colleague's permission if he/she wants to use this colleague's laptop? Does it matter whether it's a personal laptop or a laptop provided by the employer? Does it depend on the country (I live in Germany)?
- What would be a polite way to say that things like that make me feel uncomfortable? Should I even do that in case using a colleague's laptop is perfectly fine?
Update: I did not have a separate laptop for work, and there was no possibility to get it. Since all this happened in the past, I cannot change it now.
colleagues
asked 10 hours ago
lawful_neutrallawful_neutral
1845
In one of my previous jobs, I had the following situation, and I'm not sure what would have been the right way to react.
Once, during a team meeting, I was showing something work related on my laptop (I think, slides for a presentation) to my colleagues, and one of them wanted to search for missing information on some website. He took my laptop without asking for my permission, opened the browser and started typing the address of the website. I panicked, because it was my private laptop, and I had been using it to search for some very personal stuff. I didn't want my colleague to type "a", searching for amazon, and to see a suggestion like "am I pregnant?" instead. So I covered the screen with my palms and said something like: "Please don't, there can be something private!".
He apologized, but of course I felt very embarrassed because I overreacted. Most likely my colleagues thought that I had a collection of porn sites bookmarked there, or something similar to that.
I'm not sure if I actually had something incriminating in my browser's search history, but it just made me feel very uncomfortable. To me, using someone's laptop to google something is as impolite as opening this persons' backpack and rummaging through it. Maybe it's a cultural thing.
The laptop I'm currently using for work belongs to the company, and I wouldn't mind my colleagues using it, since I don't store anything private there. However, I might encounter a situation like this again sometime in the future, so I wonder how I should act.
- Does one have to ask for a colleague's permission if he/she wants to use this colleague's laptop? Does it matter whether it's a personal laptop or a laptop provided by the employer? Does it depend on the country (I live in Germany)?
- What would be a polite way to say that things like that make me feel uncomfortable? Should I even do that in case using a colleague's laptop is perfectly fine?
Update: I did not have a separate laptop for work, and there was no possibility to get it. Since all this happened in the past, I cannot change it now.
colleagues
colleagues
asked 10 hours ago
lawful_neutrallawful_neutral
1845
asked 10 hours ago
lawful_neutrallawful_neutral
1845
edited 9 hours ago
lawful_neutral
asked 10 hours ago
lawful_neutrallawful_neutral
1845
asked 10 hours ago
lawful_neutrallawful_neutral
1845
asked 10 hours ago
lawful_neutrallawful_neutral
1845
1845
3
In the future, if you need a personal laptop at work I'd suggest creating 2 accounts and using one for work only. It's perfect, but would reduce risks like this.
– Laconic Droid
6 hours ago
add a comment |
3
In the future, if you need a personal laptop at work I'd suggest creating 2 accounts and using one for work only. It's perfect, but would reduce risks like this.
– Laconic Droid
6 hours ago
3
3
In the future, if you need a personal laptop at work I'd suggest creating 2 accounts and using one for work only. It's perfect, but would reduce risks like this.
– Laconic Droid
6 hours ago
In the future, if you need a personal laptop at work I'd suggest creating 2 accounts and using one for work only. It's perfect, but would reduce risks like this.
– Laconic Droid
6 hours ago
add a comment |
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
Lets make this simple. Don't use your personal laptop for work. Don't bring your personal laptop into a team meeting.
If I needed to hijack or borrow a machine somebody is using at work I would ask for permission, but I would expect that they would not have a problem with it. Of course I would also expect that at a team meeting all the machines are owned by the company. The fact that you were using it to go over work slides would reinforce my belief.
answered 10 hours ago
mhoran_psprepmhoran_psprep
44.7k669159
It was the only laptop I had, and I couldn't afford buying a new laptop just for work. Sometimes our meetings were in rooms without computers at all, and I don't think my colleagues would have been happy with me sending them the slides, the code and all other things before each meeting. So I had to use my personal laptop for work.
– lawful_neutral
10 hours ago
4
@lawful_neutral If you need a computer at work the company must provide it. If the room has no computers and you do not have a portable then the company wants you to use printouts etc. You never have to use your own computer at work.
– Mark
10 hours ago
@Mark the company didn't provide it. It was a part-time job and I was working from home, probably that's the reason. And, obviously, I couldn't work without a laptop. Well, it doesn't matter, I can't change the fact of not having a laptop for work now.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
I understand that having a computer for work is better than not having one, but this doesn't really answer the question.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
If you really had to use your personal laptop for work, then create two different accounts. That would solve 95% of your privacy problems. And if you still want more safety, use a different OS.
– P.Manthe
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
Does one have to ask for a colleague's permission if he/she wants to use this colleague's laptop?
Yes, even it's a company laptop.
Now, you shouldn't be doing anything on a company laptop which you shouldn't be doing, or which can embarrass you. (I'm not saying you shouldn't do anything private -- whether that's allowed or not is company policy; the company I work for allows you do some personal stuff on your laptop). But your laptop is an extension of you. It authenticates you and not your colleague. You may have information in a window your colleague isn't allowed to see. You may be logged in to a machine your colleague has no business to. You may be half way typing an email to HR with personal information. You should always ask to use someone else's computer, and you should expect other people to ask before using yours. Etc.
That's why I always lock my screen even if step one meter away from by desk.
answered 9 hours ago
AbigailAbigail
2,6251814
Coming from an infosec perspective, I completely agree with this. The issue isn't so much the physical laptop itself, but the session logged into the domain and likely several secure sessions in the browser. Even if the coworker has access to the information, any actions they take would be logged as the OP, interfering with future audits. Of course, if the company policy allows this, or the CEO comes and personally takes it, I guess there's no right to complain, but I highly doubt that's the case here.
– aidanh010
2 hours ago
add a comment |
The other possibility that comes to mind is to have a work account and a private account on the laptop, that way you won't have the risk of "private" or "personal" searches coming up.
But the other answer stands about a work machine, while there are places that do offer "funding" to people providing their own machine...
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
1814
1
I like the idea of having two accounts. I didn't think of it back then, maybe because I wasn't spending a lot of time with colleagues.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
I suggest it to students, when they are using their own laptops for presentations and their chosen screen background comes up... Never too bad, but enough for them to think for the future. But I always have an ADMIN account and my user account... Even for visitors I create them an account - did one for my niece...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
add a comment |
Your laptop is your personal property and nobody gets to use it without your permission. If you are going to give someone permission, they'd better be gracious enough to let you secure any personal stuff that you might have left open on it too.
Work computers, on the other hand, are company property. They can and will be co-opted by your colleagues at a moment's notice and you're going to have to have a very good excuse if you want to refuse them. It's still the done thing for them to ask politely first, but you shouldn't always count on that. For instance, if your CEO walks in with a broken laptop and needs to send an urgent e-mail, you'd better be prepared to hand it right over.
answered 5 hours ago
Matthew BarberMatthew Barber
712
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Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
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4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Lets make this simple. Don't use your personal laptop for work. Don't bring your personal laptop into a team meeting.
If I needed to hijack or borrow a machine somebody is using at work I would ask for permission, but I would expect that they would not have a problem with it. Of course I would also expect that at a team meeting all the machines are owned by the company. The fact that you were using it to go over work slides would reinforce my belief.
answered 10 hours ago
mhoran_psprepmhoran_psprep
44.7k669159
It was the only laptop I had, and I couldn't afford buying a new laptop just for work. Sometimes our meetings were in rooms without computers at all, and I don't think my colleagues would have been happy with me sending them the slides, the code and all other things before each meeting. So I had to use my personal laptop for work.
– lawful_neutral
10 hours ago
4
@lawful_neutral If you need a computer at work the company must provide it. If the room has no computers and you do not have a portable then the company wants you to use printouts etc. You never have to use your own computer at work.
– Mark
10 hours ago
@Mark the company didn't provide it. It was a part-time job and I was working from home, probably that's the reason. And, obviously, I couldn't work without a laptop. Well, it doesn't matter, I can't change the fact of not having a laptop for work now.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
I understand that having a computer for work is better than not having one, but this doesn't really answer the question.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
If you really had to use your personal laptop for work, then create two different accounts. That would solve 95% of your privacy problems. And if you still want more safety, use a different OS.
– P.Manthe
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
Lets make this simple. Don't use your personal laptop for work. Don't bring your personal laptop into a team meeting.
If I needed to hijack or borrow a machine somebody is using at work I would ask for permission, but I would expect that they would not have a problem with it. Of course I would also expect that at a team meeting all the machines are owned by the company. The fact that you were using it to go over work slides would reinforce my belief.
answered 10 hours ago
mhoran_psprepmhoran_psprep
44.7k669159
It was the only laptop I had, and I couldn't afford buying a new laptop just for work. Sometimes our meetings were in rooms without computers at all, and I don't think my colleagues would have been happy with me sending them the slides, the code and all other things before each meeting. So I had to use my personal laptop for work.
– lawful_neutral
10 hours ago
4
@lawful_neutral If you need a computer at work the company must provide it. If the room has no computers and you do not have a portable then the company wants you to use printouts etc. You never have to use your own computer at work.
– Mark
10 hours ago
@Mark the company didn't provide it. It was a part-time job and I was working from home, probably that's the reason. And, obviously, I couldn't work without a laptop. Well, it doesn't matter, I can't change the fact of not having a laptop for work now.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
I understand that having a computer for work is better than not having one, but this doesn't really answer the question.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
If you really had to use your personal laptop for work, then create two different accounts. That would solve 95% of your privacy problems. And if you still want more safety, use a different OS.
– P.Manthe
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
Lets make this simple. Don't use your personal laptop for work. Don't bring your personal laptop into a team meeting.
If I needed to hijack or borrow a machine somebody is using at work I would ask for permission, but I would expect that they would not have a problem with it. Of course I would also expect that at a team meeting all the machines are owned by the company. The fact that you were using it to go over work slides would reinforce my belief.
answered 10 hours ago
mhoran_psprepmhoran_psprep
44.7k669159
Lets make this simple. Don't use your personal laptop for work. Don't bring your personal laptop into a team meeting.
If I needed to hijack or borrow a machine somebody is using at work I would ask for permission, but I would expect that they would not have a problem with it. Of course I would also expect that at a team meeting all the machines are owned by the company. The fact that you were using it to go over work slides would reinforce my belief.
answered 10 hours ago
mhoran_psprepmhoran_psprep
44.7k669159
answered 10 hours ago
mhoran_psprepmhoran_psprep
44.7k669159
answered 10 hours ago
mhoran_psprepmhoran_psprep
44.7k669159
answered 10 hours ago
mhoran_psprepmhoran_psprep
44.7k669159
44.7k669159
It was the only laptop I had, and I couldn't afford buying a new laptop just for work. Sometimes our meetings were in rooms without computers at all, and I don't think my colleagues would have been happy with me sending them the slides, the code and all other things before each meeting. So I had to use my personal laptop for work.
– lawful_neutral
10 hours ago
4
@lawful_neutral If you need a computer at work the company must provide it. If the room has no computers and you do not have a portable then the company wants you to use printouts etc. You never have to use your own computer at work.
– Mark
10 hours ago
@Mark the company didn't provide it. It was a part-time job and I was working from home, probably that's the reason. And, obviously, I couldn't work without a laptop. Well, it doesn't matter, I can't change the fact of not having a laptop for work now.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
I understand that having a computer for work is better than not having one, but this doesn't really answer the question.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
If you really had to use your personal laptop for work, then create two different accounts. That would solve 95% of your privacy problems. And if you still want more safety, use a different OS.
– P.Manthe
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
It was the only laptop I had, and I couldn't afford buying a new laptop just for work. Sometimes our meetings were in rooms without computers at all, and I don't think my colleagues would have been happy with me sending them the slides, the code and all other things before each meeting. So I had to use my personal laptop for work.
– lawful_neutral
10 hours ago
4
@lawful_neutral If you need a computer at work the company must provide it. If the room has no computers and you do not have a portable then the company wants you to use printouts etc. You never have to use your own computer at work.
– Mark
10 hours ago
@Mark the company didn't provide it. It was a part-time job and I was working from home, probably that's the reason. And, obviously, I couldn't work without a laptop. Well, it doesn't matter, I can't change the fact of not having a laptop for work now.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
I understand that having a computer for work is better than not having one, but this doesn't really answer the question.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
If you really had to use your personal laptop for work, then create two different accounts. That would solve 95% of your privacy problems. And if you still want more safety, use a different OS.
– P.Manthe
2 hours ago
It was the only laptop I had, and I couldn't afford buying a new laptop just for work. Sometimes our meetings were in rooms without computers at all, and I don't think my colleagues would have been happy with me sending them the slides, the code and all other things before each meeting. So I had to use my personal laptop for work.
– lawful_neutral
10 hours ago
It was the only laptop I had, and I couldn't afford buying a new laptop just for work. Sometimes our meetings were in rooms without computers at all, and I don't think my colleagues would have been happy with me sending them the slides, the code and all other things before each meeting. So I had to use my personal laptop for work.
– lawful_neutral
10 hours ago
4
4
@lawful_neutral If you need a computer at work the company must provide it. If the room has no computers and you do not have a portable then the company wants you to use printouts etc. You never have to use your own computer at work.
– Mark
10 hours ago
@lawful_neutral If you need a computer at work the company must provide it. If the room has no computers and you do not have a portable then the company wants you to use printouts etc. You never have to use your own computer at work.
– Mark
10 hours ago
@Mark the company didn't provide it. It was a part-time job and I was working from home, probably that's the reason. And, obviously, I couldn't work without a laptop. Well, it doesn't matter, I can't change the fact of not having a laptop for work now.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
@Mark the company didn't provide it. It was a part-time job and I was working from home, probably that's the reason. And, obviously, I couldn't work without a laptop. Well, it doesn't matter, I can't change the fact of not having a laptop for work now.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
I understand that having a computer for work is better than not having one, but this doesn't really answer the question.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
I understand that having a computer for work is better than not having one, but this doesn't really answer the question.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
1
If you really had to use your personal laptop for work, then create two different accounts. That would solve 95% of your privacy problems. And if you still want more safety, use a different OS.
– P.Manthe
2 hours ago
If you really had to use your personal laptop for work, then create two different accounts. That would solve 95% of your privacy problems. And if you still want more safety, use a different OS.
– P.Manthe
2 hours ago
|
show 1 more comment
Does one have to ask for a colleague's permission if he/she wants to use this colleague's laptop?
Yes, even it's a company laptop.
Now, you shouldn't be doing anything on a company laptop which you shouldn't be doing, or which can embarrass you. (I'm not saying you shouldn't do anything private -- whether that's allowed or not is company policy; the company I work for allows you do some personal stuff on your laptop). But your laptop is an extension of you. It authenticates you and not your colleague. You may have information in a window your colleague isn't allowed to see. You may be logged in to a machine your colleague has no business to. You may be half way typing an email to HR with personal information. You should always ask to use someone else's computer, and you should expect other people to ask before using yours. Etc.
That's why I always lock my screen even if step one meter away from by desk.
answered 9 hours ago
AbigailAbigail
2,6251814
Coming from an infosec perspective, I completely agree with this. The issue isn't so much the physical laptop itself, but the session logged into the domain and likely several secure sessions in the browser. Even if the coworker has access to the information, any actions they take would be logged as the OP, interfering with future audits. Of course, if the company policy allows this, or the CEO comes and personally takes it, I guess there's no right to complain, but I highly doubt that's the case here.
– aidanh010
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Does one have to ask for a colleague's permission if he/she wants to use this colleague's laptop?
Yes, even it's a company laptop.
Now, you shouldn't be doing anything on a company laptop which you shouldn't be doing, or which can embarrass you. (I'm not saying you shouldn't do anything private -- whether that's allowed or not is company policy; the company I work for allows you do some personal stuff on your laptop). But your laptop is an extension of you. It authenticates you and not your colleague. You may have information in a window your colleague isn't allowed to see. You may be logged in to a machine your colleague has no business to. You may be half way typing an email to HR with personal information. You should always ask to use someone else's computer, and you should expect other people to ask before using yours. Etc.
That's why I always lock my screen even if step one meter away from by desk.
answered 9 hours ago
AbigailAbigail
2,6251814
Coming from an infosec perspective, I completely agree with this. The issue isn't so much the physical laptop itself, but the session logged into the domain and likely several secure sessions in the browser. Even if the coworker has access to the information, any actions they take would be logged as the OP, interfering with future audits. Of course, if the company policy allows this, or the CEO comes and personally takes it, I guess there's no right to complain, but I highly doubt that's the case here.
– aidanh010
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Does one have to ask for a colleague's permission if he/she wants to use this colleague's laptop?
Yes, even it's a company laptop.
Now, you shouldn't be doing anything on a company laptop which you shouldn't be doing, or which can embarrass you. (I'm not saying you shouldn't do anything private -- whether that's allowed or not is company policy; the company I work for allows you do some personal stuff on your laptop). But your laptop is an extension of you. It authenticates you and not your colleague. You may have information in a window your colleague isn't allowed to see. You may be logged in to a machine your colleague has no business to. You may be half way typing an email to HR with personal information. You should always ask to use someone else's computer, and you should expect other people to ask before using yours. Etc.
That's why I always lock my screen even if step one meter away from by desk.
answered 9 hours ago
AbigailAbigail
2,6251814
Does one have to ask for a colleague's permission if he/she wants to use this colleague's laptop?
Yes, even it's a company laptop.
Now, you shouldn't be doing anything on a company laptop which you shouldn't be doing, or which can embarrass you. (I'm not saying you shouldn't do anything private -- whether that's allowed or not is company policy; the company I work for allows you do some personal stuff on your laptop). But your laptop is an extension of you. It authenticates you and not your colleague. You may have information in a window your colleague isn't allowed to see. You may be logged in to a machine your colleague has no business to. You may be half way typing an email to HR with personal information. You should always ask to use someone else's computer, and you should expect other people to ask before using yours. Etc.
That's why I always lock my screen even if step one meter away from by desk.
answered 9 hours ago
AbigailAbigail
2,6251814
answered 9 hours ago
AbigailAbigail
2,6251814
answered 9 hours ago
AbigailAbigail
2,6251814
answered 9 hours ago
AbigailAbigail
2,6251814
2,6251814
Coming from an infosec perspective, I completely agree with this. The issue isn't so much the physical laptop itself, but the session logged into the domain and likely several secure sessions in the browser. Even if the coworker has access to the information, any actions they take would be logged as the OP, interfering with future audits. Of course, if the company policy allows this, or the CEO comes and personally takes it, I guess there's no right to complain, but I highly doubt that's the case here.
– aidanh010
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Coming from an infosec perspective, I completely agree with this. The issue isn't so much the physical laptop itself, but the session logged into the domain and likely several secure sessions in the browser. Even if the coworker has access to the information, any actions they take would be logged as the OP, interfering with future audits. Of course, if the company policy allows this, or the CEO comes and personally takes it, I guess there's no right to complain, but I highly doubt that's the case here.
– aidanh010
2 hours ago
Coming from an infosec perspective, I completely agree with this. The issue isn't so much the physical laptop itself, but the session logged into the domain and likely several secure sessions in the browser. Even if the coworker has access to the information, any actions they take would be logged as the OP, interfering with future audits. Of course, if the company policy allows this, or the CEO comes and personally takes it, I guess there's no right to complain, but I highly doubt that's the case here.
– aidanh010
2 hours ago
Coming from an infosec perspective, I completely agree with this. The issue isn't so much the physical laptop itself, but the session logged into the domain and likely several secure sessions in the browser. Even if the coworker has access to the information, any actions they take would be logged as the OP, interfering with future audits. Of course, if the company policy allows this, or the CEO comes and personally takes it, I guess there's no right to complain, but I highly doubt that's the case here.
– aidanh010
2 hours ago
add a comment |
The other possibility that comes to mind is to have a work account and a private account on the laptop, that way you won't have the risk of "private" or "personal" searches coming up.
But the other answer stands about a work machine, while there are places that do offer "funding" to people providing their own machine...
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
1814
1
I like the idea of having two accounts. I didn't think of it back then, maybe because I wasn't spending a lot of time with colleagues.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
I suggest it to students, when they are using their own laptops for presentations and their chosen screen background comes up... Never too bad, but enough for them to think for the future. But I always have an ADMIN account and my user account... Even for visitors I create them an account - did one for my niece...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
add a comment |
The other possibility that comes to mind is to have a work account and a private account on the laptop, that way you won't have the risk of "private" or "personal" searches coming up.
But the other answer stands about a work machine, while there are places that do offer "funding" to people providing their own machine...
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
1814
1
I like the idea of having two accounts. I didn't think of it back then, maybe because I wasn't spending a lot of time with colleagues.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
I suggest it to students, when they are using their own laptops for presentations and their chosen screen background comes up... Never too bad, but enough for them to think for the future. But I always have an ADMIN account and my user account... Even for visitors I create them an account - did one for my niece...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
add a comment |
The other possibility that comes to mind is to have a work account and a private account on the laptop, that way you won't have the risk of "private" or "personal" searches coming up.
But the other answer stands about a work machine, while there are places that do offer "funding" to people providing their own machine...
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
1814
The other possibility that comes to mind is to have a work account and a private account on the laptop, that way you won't have the risk of "private" or "personal" searches coming up.
But the other answer stands about a work machine, while there are places that do offer "funding" to people providing their own machine...
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
1814
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
1814
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
1814
answered 9 hours ago
Solar MikeSolar Mike
1814
1814
1
I like the idea of having two accounts. I didn't think of it back then, maybe because I wasn't spending a lot of time with colleagues.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
I suggest it to students, when they are using their own laptops for presentations and their chosen screen background comes up... Never too bad, but enough for them to think for the future. But I always have an ADMIN account and my user account... Even for visitors I create them an account - did one for my niece...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
add a comment |
1
I like the idea of having two accounts. I didn't think of it back then, maybe because I wasn't spending a lot of time with colleagues.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
I suggest it to students, when they are using their own laptops for presentations and their chosen screen background comes up... Never too bad, but enough for them to think for the future. But I always have an ADMIN account and my user account... Even for visitors I create them an account - did one for my niece...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
1
1
I like the idea of having two accounts. I didn't think of it back then, maybe because I wasn't spending a lot of time with colleagues.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
I like the idea of having two accounts. I didn't think of it back then, maybe because I wasn't spending a lot of time with colleagues.
– lawful_neutral
9 hours ago
1
1
I suggest it to students, when they are using their own laptops for presentations and their chosen screen background comes up... Never too bad, but enough for them to think for the future. But I always have an ADMIN account and my user account... Even for visitors I create them an account - did one for my niece...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
I suggest it to students, when they are using their own laptops for presentations and their chosen screen background comes up... Never too bad, but enough for them to think for the future. But I always have an ADMIN account and my user account... Even for visitors I create them an account - did one for my niece...
– Solar Mike
9 hours ago
add a comment |
Your laptop is your personal property and nobody gets to use it without your permission. If you are going to give someone permission, they'd better be gracious enough to let you secure any personal stuff that you might have left open on it too.
Work computers, on the other hand, are company property. They can and will be co-opted by your colleagues at a moment's notice and you're going to have to have a very good excuse if you want to refuse them. It's still the done thing for them to ask politely first, but you shouldn't always count on that. For instance, if your CEO walks in with a broken laptop and needs to send an urgent e-mail, you'd better be prepared to hand it right over.
answered 5 hours ago
Matthew BarberMatthew Barber
712
New contributor
Matthew Barber is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Your laptop is your personal property and nobody gets to use it without your permission. If you are going to give someone permission, they'd better be gracious enough to let you secure any personal stuff that you might have left open on it too.
Work computers, on the other hand, are company property. They can and will be co-opted by your colleagues at a moment's notice and you're going to have to have a very good excuse if you want to refuse them. It's still the done thing for them to ask politely first, but you shouldn't always count on that. For instance, if your CEO walks in with a broken laptop and needs to send an urgent e-mail, you'd better be prepared to hand it right over.
answered 5 hours ago
Matthew BarberMatthew Barber
712
New contributor
Matthew Barber is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
Your laptop is your personal property and nobody gets to use it without your permission. If you are going to give someone permission, they'd better be gracious enough to let you secure any personal stuff that you might have left open on it too.
Work computers, on the other hand, are company property. They can and will be co-opted by your colleagues at a moment's notice and you're going to have to have a very good excuse if you want to refuse them. It's still the done thing for them to ask politely first, but you shouldn't always count on that. For instance, if your CEO walks in with a broken laptop and needs to send an urgent e-mail, you'd better be prepared to hand it right over.
answered 5 hours ago
Matthew BarberMatthew Barber
712
New contributor
Matthew Barber is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Your laptop is your personal property and nobody gets to use it without your permission. If you are going to give someone permission, they'd better be gracious enough to let you secure any personal stuff that you might have left open on it too.
Work computers, on the other hand, are company property. They can and will be co-opted by your colleagues at a moment's notice and you're going to have to have a very good excuse if you want to refuse them. It's still the done thing for them to ask politely first, but you shouldn't always count on that. For instance, if your CEO walks in with a broken laptop and needs to send an urgent e-mail, you'd better be prepared to hand it right over.
answered 5 hours ago
Matthew BarberMatthew Barber
712
New contributor
Matthew Barber is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
Matthew BarberMatthew Barber
712
New contributor
Matthew Barber is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered 5 hours ago
Matthew BarberMatthew Barber
712
answered 5 hours ago
Matthew BarberMatthew Barber
712
712
New contributor
Matthew Barber is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Matthew Barber is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Matthew Barber is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
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In the future, if you need a personal laptop at work I'd suggest creating 2 accounts and using one for work only. It's perfect, but would reduce risks like this.
– Laconic Droid
6 hours ago