What Can Your Employer See While On Your Home Wifi?
You work from home so you want to know if your employer can see what you’re doing on your computer. You want to ensure that they don’t see anything personal. Keeping work and your personal life separate is important. So can they see?
For the most part, yes they often have access to what you are doing. But this all depends on several different things. There are many instances where your employer cannot see your personal data.
The circumstances change if you are working on an employer’s computer, their account, or even if they are providing the Wifi themselves. Here is everything you need to know so you don’t share all your personal information.
What Can Your Employer See While On Your Home Wifi?
This all depends on a few things. This includes the following:
- If the employer pays for the internet services.
- You are using a work computer or not.
- You are logged into an account work has provided for you.
There are many ways that employers can see your information with these three ways.
Employer Is Paying For Internet Services
If your employer is providing the internet service within your home, then they have access to all of your data. Any device that is connected to that internet can be seen by your employer.
It doesn’t matter if you have encrypted the internet services. By allowing the employer to provide those services, you have agreed to share your information.
This does not include if the employer is reimbursing you for the internet services. They will not have access if the account with the internet services is under your name, only if it is under the employer’s name.
You Are Using A Work Computer
If you are using a work computer, understand that your employers can see everything. This means every single word you are typing, what you search, which websites you access. Everything.
There is no such thing as privacy when you use a work computer. So it is best not to do anything personal when using a work computer, not only to protect your information but to keep your work a personal things separate.
You Are Logged Into A Work Email
When you are logged into your work email or work account, they can often see some of the things you do. Not everything, but they can see quite a bit.
This is definitely the case if your employer uses G Suites. When you are logged into your email account with G Suites and you use Google Chrome, your employer can access that information.
Your employer can also access the following:
- Documents in G Suite
- Browser history
- Search history
- Youtube history
So be careful when you are logged into your employee email or account.
How To Keep Your Information Private
There are many ways you can keep your information private. The last thing you want is for any of your bosses to have access to your personal information and see what you are doing off the clock.
Here are the many ways you can keep your information and personal life private:
- Only use your work computer for work.
- Buy a separate internet service.
- Close out any private documents.
- Turn off any tracking applications.
- Sign out of work email or account.
- Use a VPN.
These are all things that will help protect you.
Only Use Your Work Computer For Work
The best thing you can do when you have a work computer is to use it only for work. If you absolutely need to do something personal, ensure that you are using your computer.
Even when you are doing something personal and it doesn’t seem to be that private, it is still best to just do it on your own computer.
Buy A Separate Internet Service
If your employer provides the internet services for you, it may seem nice to just use it for your personal devices. Don’t. You are allowing them full access to all your personal devices.
Buy a separate internet service. It doesn’t have to be completely high quality. There are many providers with low rates. This is to protect your private information.
Close Out Any Private Documents
If you are using your personal computer for work, ensure that any private documents are closed out before using your computer for work. You definitely want to do this if you are about to log into your work account.
Turn Off Any Tracking Applications
Sometimes employers require that you have a tracking application turned on so that you stay on task and don’t get distracted when working remotely. But this doesn’t mean you need to have them on all the time.
When you are done with work, ensure that you turn off any tracking applications. Ensure that they are off in the background as well. This will ensure that your data is no longer being connected now that you are off the clock.
Sign Out Of Work Email
Always, always, always, sign out of your work email or account. When you stay logged in, they can continue to track you.
Your employer can see what websites you look at and what you are doing. Signing out of your work email is a simple step that can protect your information and your privacy.
Use A VPN
Using a VPN can help you on so many levels. It not only can change the location of the device, but it can encrypt your data so that your employer cannot access information on your personal computer.
There are some free VPN programs out there, but many of the better ones, you will have to pay for. It isn’t too much but it may be necessary if you really want to protect your personal and private information.
Conclusion
Using a personal computer on your home wifi will provide you with a little more privacy as long as you follow some of these steps. There will always be a form of tracking while working, but these will help you stop any tracking on your own time.