KSL INVESTIGATES

Why you should stop using your work computers, phones for personal use

Jun 30, 2022, 6:20 PM | Updated: 10:34 pm

SALT LAKE CITY — Many Utahns are still working from home, spending a lot of time on their work computers. That can make it easy to forget it is not a personal computer. Many of us do blend work and personal stuff, in fact a study finds over half of us use our work devices for personal use, too. But clearing out the browser history is not enough to hide traces of personal browsing, shopping or posting on our work machines. And there are a lot things that can get us in trouble.

Over at Nexus IT Consultants, they handle IT and cybersecurity for scores of Utah businesses. Owner Earl Foote says part of that means monitoring activity on work devices issued to their clients’ employees.

“We deploy technologies that help us monitor activity that’s happening on computers,” Foote said. “Activity that can be malicious, or nefarious, or can cause vulnerabilities.”

So, Foote cautions anyone using their work computers and phones for personal stuff: “It’s definitely a bad idea.”

Reason number one: You are jeopardizing your employer’s security. Say you open a personal email with a link from a friend saying, “Hey, you’ve got to see this!” Turns out, it is really from a hacker and that link infects your work computer with malware or some sort of ransomware.

“It spreads that ransomware across dozens, maybe hundreds or even thousands of computers within a few hours, and locks up the whole the whole entire system,” Foote explained.

That can also put highly sensitive information about your employer, your coworkers, your customers in the wrong hands.

Here is another reason: You are risking your own privacy. Personal stuff like accessing your bank account, checking Gmail, or paying a bill on a work computer can be seen by IT. And while remote, there is always the possibility of an IT insider going rogue with that information.

“This is not super common, but you do have situations sometimes where you have what we call a rogue insider in an internal IT department, who is gathering private data of other team members. They might be stealing information about bank accounts, or they might be getting into their personal Gmail accounts and executing phishing campaigns and things like that,” Foote said. “Those malicious insiders, or rogue insiders, are a real deal.”

Reason three: What you do online can come back to haunt you or get you fired. Whether you are catching up on Ted Lasso, writing the great American novel while on the clock, or spending hours scrolling through social media — IT sees all that. Foote said it is not all about paranoid employers or micromanaging.

“We are constantly looking at what’s going on and how we mitigate risk, right, because that’s our job is to mitigate that risk.”

Foote says using your personal devices on your workplace’s network is just as risky. You can view any website or use any app you want, which opens up the potential for data theft, malware and other security nightmares for any IT department.

KSL 5 TV Live

KSL Investigates

(KSL TV)...

Matt Gephardt & Cimaron Neugebauer

Bountiful woman left without phone service or answers days after her husband dies

When you pay for a phone service, you expect it to work. But after being unable to make or receive calls despite reaching out to the provider multiple times to fix it – a Utah woman decided it was time to Get Gephardt.

2 days ago

Cami Johnson reported to police in 2017 that she was drugged and sexually assaulted by her ex-husba...

Daniella Rivera

Sexual assault survivor says delays in police investigation allowed perpetrator to attack a teenager

A Utah woman said delays in properly investigating her report of sexual assault allowed her perpetrator to remain free and attack a teenage girl more than a year later. The KSL Investigators examined the timeline of multiple investigations involving the same man.

2 days ago

In the moment they feel like small purchases, right? An ornament here. A stocking stuffer there. A ...

Matt Gephardt

How you can avoid holiday debt despite the pressure to spend

In the moment they feel like small purchases, right? An ornament here. A stocking stuffer there. A last-minute office gift. But all this can quickly add up to a financial holiday hangover. And perhaps it’s one you’re still feeling from the last holiday season.

3 days ago

After a yearlong fight for a copy of the Utah attorney general’s schedule, KSL’s attorneys have...

Annie Knox and Daniella Rivera

KSL files motion seeking release of AG’s calendar in public records fight

After a yearlong fight for a copy of the Utah attorney general’s schedule, KSL’s attorneys have asked a judge to order the release of the records, without the case going to trial.

4 days ago

Man's picture with details about him...

Daniella Rivera

Sandy case highlights challenges tracking sex offenders who move across state lines

The KSL Investigators have been following the case of a convicted sex offender from California who moved into a Sandy neighborhood but did not show up on Utah's registry for nearly a year. Now, we don't know where he is, but we do know he's not a resident at the latest address he gave to authorities.

4 days ago

Debra Gamero teaches a student...

Matt Gephardt

The insurance you didn’t know you needed to protect your side hustle

Having a side hustle to bring in extra cash requires determination and hard work. But if you do it without the right insurance policy, you might find an unexpected event could blow up your side hustle along with your finances.

11 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Users display warnings about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), access to malicious software ...

Les Olson

How to Stay Safe from Cybersecurity Threats

Read our tips for reading for how to respond to rising cybersecurity threats in 2023 and beyond to keep yourself and your company safe.

Design mockup half in white and half in color of luxury house interior with open plan living room a...

Lighting Design

Lighting Design 101: Learn the Basics

These lighting design basics will help you when designing your home, so you can meet both practical and aesthetic needs.

an antler with large horns int he wilderness...

Three Bear Lodge

Yellowstone in the Fall: A Wildlife Spectacle Worth Witnessing

While most people travel to this park in the summer, late fall in Yellowstone provides a wealth of highlights to make a memorable experience.

a diverse group of students raising their hands in a classroom...

Little Orchard Preschool

6 Benefits of Preschool for Kids

Some of the benefits of preschool for kids include developing independence, curiosity, and learning more about the world.

Why you should stop using your work computers, phones for personal use