Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

Bosses Panic-Buy Spy Software to Keep Tabs on Remote Workers

posted by Fnord666 on Tuesday March 31 2020, @04:14AM   Printer-friendly
from the who-watches-the-watchers? dept.

DannyB writes:

Bosses Panic-Buy Spy Software to Keep Tabs on Remote Workers
Phones are ringing off the hook at companies providing a bit of Big Brother.

The email came from the boss.

We're watching you, it told Axos Financial Inc. employees working from home. We're capturing your keystrokes. We're logging the websites you visit. Every 10 minutes or so, we're taking a screen shot.

So get to work — or face the consequences.

[...] Workers at various companies have complained of excesses, but many of them are new to telecommuting, with its temptations of a midday nap or the demands of children out of school. Employers justify going full Orwell by saying that monitoring curbs security breaches, which can be expensive, and helps keep the wheels of commerce turning.

Breaches can result in disciplinary action up to and greatly in excess of mere termination.

Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Bosses Panic-Buy Spy Software to Keep Tabs on Remote Workers | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 30 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 31 2020, @08:19AM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday March 31 2020, @08:19AM (#977555)

    So, they want to install spying software on worker's own computers. I wonder if that's even legal to do.

    Starting Score:    0  points
    Moderation   +2  
       Insightful=1, Interesting=1, Total=2
    Extra 'Insightful' Modifier   0  
    Total Score:   2  

  • (Score: 2) by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us on Tuesday March 31 2020, @06:56PM

    by All Your Lawn Are Belong To Us (6553) on Tuesday March 31 2020, @06:56PM (#977721) Journal

    Yes. Almost invariably, yes. Because the computer doesn't belong to the worker, it belongs to the company. And most companies are smart enough to have something explicitly outlining this in a handbook. "We own the machine, you are on our time, we have every right to be aware of what you are doing every second." And then the really smart company hires enough people that the threats are unnecessary to carry out.

    --
    This sig for rent.

  • (Score: 2) by Mykl on Tuesday March 31 2020, @09:06PM

    by Mykl (1112) on Tuesday March 31 2020, @09:06PM (#977772)

    It would definitely be legal to do if the company supplied a computer to you. For BYOD (i.e. your computer that you bought being used at work), it would definitely be illegal.

    I actually work under both arrangements (I have a company supplied laptop, but sometimes use my desktop at home when I need more desktop space).

    One client I worked for permitted their email system to be accessed from personal devices (phones), but the conditions included installation of spyware, ability to remote-wipe my phone etc. No thanks.