tracking internet usage at work?

[ric1287]

So i just got the "stop surfing the internet" email from the boss (sent to everyone). She said that they track what sites and how long you are on them. My question is, how would they track the time you are on them? Just by how long they are open? And secondly, if they really did, wouldn't just tell people to stop? I have ATOT open all day, so it would be like 8 hours of surfing if they actually did it.

I am hoping they just saw some secretaries close out of IE quickly since my screen is not visible to anyone but me.

This job is unbearable without internet so im looking for some help

(posting this term-served into my home machine just in case)

 

[George P Burdell]

Hi,
This is Ted from IT. We know where you go and what you do.

Take care,
Ted

 

[JRock]

Depends on what device/software they are using. I am sure there are devices that can track how much time is spent on a page but MOST just track how many times a page is hit.

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: JRock
Depends on what device/software they are using. I am sure there are devices that can track how much time is spent on a page but MOST just track how many times a page is hit.

so every refresh is a hit then right? I need a way around this or a new job

and the IT guy is Steve not ted

 

[JRock]

Originally posted by: ric1287
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JRock
Depends on what device/software they are using. I am sure there are devices that can track how much time is spent on a page but MOST just track how many times a page is hit.</end quote></div>

so every refresh is a hit then right? I need a way around this or a new job

and the IT guy is Steve not ted

http://www.hidemyass.com

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: JRock
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ric1287
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JRock
Depends on what device/software they are using. I am sure there are devices that can track how much time is spent on a page but MOST just track how many times a page is hit.</end quote></div>

so every refresh is a hit then right? I need a way around this or a new job

and the IT guy is Steve not ted </end quote></div>

http://www.hidemyass.com

my company blocks anonymizers

 

[JRock]

Originally posted by: zerocool1
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JRock
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ric1287
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JRock
Depends on what device/software they are using. I am sure there are devices that can track how much time is spent on a page but MOST just track how many times a page is hit.</end quote></div>

so every refresh is a hit then right? I need a way around this or a new job

and the IT guy is Steve not ted </end quote></div>

http://www.hidemyass.com </end quote></div>

my company blocks anonymizers

We block everything. We use Whitelists to allow specific work related sites.

 

[ric1287]

yeah they dont block anything (which is why im guessing they are bluffing about tracking), so that might be my solution

 

[ric1287]

are there any other good "hidemyass" websites that dont have such a obvious name?

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: ric1287
are there any other good "hidemyass" websites that dont have such a obvious name?

If they have a filter it will still show you hitting a site. I can track minutes and hits. If I saw someone using a proxy I would notify the higher-ups.

 

[iamwiz82]

DP :roll:

 

[ric1287]

dammit. Well theres no IT on site, just comes in from time to time. And the bosses dont know what they are doing. I dunno, i shall just call there bluff and see what happens.

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: JRock
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: zerocool1
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JRock
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: ric1287
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: JRock
Depends on what device/software they are using. I am sure there are devices that can track how much time is spent on a page but MOST just track how many times a page is hit.</end quote></div>

so every refresh is a hit then right? I need a way around this or a new job

and the IT guy is Steve not ted </end quote></div>

http://www.hidemyass.com </end quote></div>

my company blocks anonymizers</end quote></div>

We block everything. We use Whitelists to allow specific work related sites.

clearly my company doesn't block non-work-related sites

 

[TallBill]

What do you do anyways? If you get your work done then who gives a damn.

 

[TheUnk]

It doesn't take a very advanced firewall/log to track each hit and the date/time it took place. For example if you opened AnandTech at 8AM and refreshed every 5 mins until 5PM, each refresh would be logged and it would appear as if you were browsing all day long.

The logging software can usually be configured to send daily reports of internet usage to a specified email address, reporting websites that by bandwidth, hits, all sorts of stuff, and which IP/PC accessed that website and when.

Just cause you do not have an IT guy on-site does not mean your boss doesn't get daily reports!

 

[hanoverphist]

Originally posted by: ric1287
yeah they dont block anything (which is why im guessing they are bluffing about tracking), so that might be my solution

i wouldnt assume that. i dont block much either, but i log traffic, sites visited and session times regardless. i could see at any given time what program you are using, then cross that with my logs and see what site you were on. if i wanted to do that. so far the owner hasnt asked for that kind of control, he believes that as long as people are getting their stuff done on time and we are making good cash for the company, a little slack off once in a while is ok.

 

[FoBoT]

post the email so we can give you the best advice on getting fired

 

[Laughingman12]

To OP, why would your boss want you to stop surfing the internet?

 

[ric1287]

wow, lotta responses. Yeah i get all my work done, its like 3 hours of work i have to spread into 8....so no internet = bad news.

I have been 'surfin' for a month now (refreshing ATOT every few minutes) and havent been told anything. I am just thinking they caught someone closing out of IE quickly.

I plan on quitting soon so maybe this will help me get out faster, heh.

 

[ric1287]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: FoBoT
post the email so we can give you the best advice on getting fired</end quote></div>

"As I have told you before, I am not your babysitter. STAY OFF THE INTERNET. Unless it is work related, and yes, I know the difference, you are not to be on it. Don't think you're fooling anyone when you click on and off to hide it. We have the ability to monitor the time and sites you are going to. We will be monitoring same and we may dock your pay for the amount of time you spend on sites that are not work related. Just so we are all clear, STAY OFF THE INTERNET. Stop acting like sneaky thieves. "

there you go

off to the train now

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Remote desktop into your rig at home and just browse through it.

 

[ric1287]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones
Remote desktop into your rig at home and just browse through it.

dsl is god aweful at home, to slow to browse.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

do you have a written computer usage policy? without one in place, they will pretty much be unable to enforce anything short of you surfing porn.

 

[DaiShan]

Originally posted by: TallBill
What do you do anyways? If you get your work done then who gives a damn.

If someone is very low level this might be an acceptable argument, but for someone that has many open long term projects without firm deadlines, you want them done ASAP, not ASAP including time to browse the net.

 

[bctbct]

Hope you dont need this job.