Did Gchat change?

[Zolty]

Work is supposed to block the protocol but the block no longer works.

I am in IT, we didn't update anything today. This morning Gchat (in the browser) didn't work about 10 minutes ago I noticed a chat message in gmail. As nice as this is for me I cannot figure out what was done to cause this. I checked with our net admin and the jabber protocol is still blocked, and no updates or changes are scheduled for today. Does anyone have any Ideas?

 

[tw1164]

Last week I noticed this too. My employee blocked Gchat, but you could use Gmail. I'm able to use both now.

 

[nweaver]

It's probably hard to allow Gmail, but block the chat elements inside of the GMAIL page. You might be able to, with some sniffing and blocking.

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: nweaver
It's probably hard to allow Gmail, but block the chat elements inside of the GMAIL page. You might be able to, with some sniffing and blocking.

The point is we did do it and actively when gchat was introduced. For whatever reason it works now.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: Zolty

Originally posted by: nweaver
It's probably hard to allow Gmail, but block the chat elements inside of the GMAIL page. You might be able to, with some sniffing and blocking.

The point is we did do it and actively when gchat was introduced. For whatever reason it works now.

Pardon the dumb question, but why allow gmail but not chat? It's not like it's IRC or something. I don't see any additional corporate risk that you haven't already accepted by allowing gmail.

 

[Zolty]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: Zolty

Originally posted by: nweaver
It's probably hard to allow Gmail, but block the chat elements inside of the GMAIL page. You might be able to, with some sniffing and blocking.

The point is we did do it and actively when gchat was introduced. For whatever reason it works now.

Pardon the dumb question, but why allow gmail but not chat? It's not like it's IRC or something. I don't see any additional corporate risk that you haven't already accepted by allowing gmail.

Personal email can easily be used for business purposes. Chat programs are prohibited in most corporate environments as it is difficult to justify their usefulness to the company.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: Zolty
Personal email can easily be used for business purposes. Chat programs are prohibited in most corporate environments as it is difficult to justify their usefulness to the company.

Viruses/worms/open two way communication are the main concern.

 

[Zolty]

In other news today it doesn't work, weirdness.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: spidey07

Originally posted by: Zolty
Personal email can easily be used for business purposes. Chat programs are prohibited in most corporate environments as it is difficult to justify their usefulness to the company.

Viruses/worms/open two way communication are the main concern.

That was the point I was getting at, yeah, people can waste time in chat rooms but allowing access to external email opens you up from a security perspective and provides an easy way for people to send sensitive documents out unmonitored. To each his own and the need to lock things down certainly depends on the nature of the business.