I use a vpn extension on my browser. Usually I use it to bypass blocks on some social media sites. Even for posting this, I am connected to the VPN. Can the IT team see what I am browsing when my VPN is turned on in my browser? If they can see, how much are they seeing?
Are you using company property? If so then always assume they can see everything you do down to the click. If you’re doing something you shouldn’t and generate unusual activity on their network it would be easy enough to target who is doing what.
Hi. I work in IT, and I manage the computers for over a dozen clients with different security protocols.
Even in our most lax environment I can see everything you do down to the most mundane thing. If I cared to I could see what you’ve typed all day, where your mouse has moved, and yes I can definitely see everything you’ve accessed using a VPN or not, same with incognito mode, a proxy, etc etc etc
We are paid a lot of money to ensure sillywillys like you cannot get away with anything on company property, a VPN alone will not fool us.
Your safest bet is to assume everything you do can be monitored if IT cares to, or is told to.
Personal or company device?
If it’s just the network being monitored, the VPN will hide your browsing activity as long as there are no IP or DNS leaks. But if it’s a work computer and IT has full admin access, they’ll likely have the ability to monitor all your open programs and browser tabs, and even your keystrokes and mouse clicks if they wanted.
Is the VPN configured with split tunneling or is it passing everything?
They likely cannot see much, besides the fact that an unusual amount of traffic is going to a single IP address. But that really comes down to what you’re doing…if you’re watching Netflix or streaming music, it’s more noticeable.
If your company owns the device, they may have a lot more information, including what browser extensions are installed.
Bro… So many things.
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Your browsing history is stored on the computer regardless of whether or not you are using a VPN.
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They probably have a company DNS server permanently set on the PC (Governed by Group Policy), which means anytime your computer tries to resolve a Domain name for a website… They know about it.
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VPNs use certain ports that are easily noticed as being trafficked on their gateway router.
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They likely also have a security appliance running on the laptop that is going to tattle on everything you do. My company logs everything in real time and sends all the data to be analyzed by AI in the Cloud. The AI spying on you is smarter than all of us.
maybe ur DNS is set up to go through their servers over VPN in which case yes
If you’re using a free vpn I’d be worried about the implications of where your data is going and who has access. VPNs are not privacy tools but a way to remotely access services. I mean they can offer some privacy services but if you’re using a free VPN assume that you’re the product.
Anything you can see on your screen they can mirror to theirs. RMM software is powerful.
I agree with everything thats already been said, and having experienced it myself from the IT perspective, they could even be recording your screen if they wanted to and all recordings can be kept for review later on
Everything you do at work is monitored. VPN or not. Plain and simple. Actually the fact that you trying to use a VPN will make them become more aware of it due to what ports the VPN uses. Never browse or do anything that you don’t want your workplace to know about. Always connect via mobile network and never use company network for anything other than strictly work. Simplest rule to follow.
If it’s company property, they may have monitors on the hardware too and not just the network. I’d never use a VPN, bypass plugin, etc. on my work computer. In the last 8 years I can count the number of times I visited my personal email, or any such personal sites, on a work computer on one hand and that was usually to get an email because I was testing sending to an external address from my code.
What about using a personal laptop on a work network using a secure VPN with no IP leaks? You can see that I’m using a VPN, but is that it?
Can I use vpn to wfh from a different country if company wants us to work from a specific country? I would use the company laptop for official purposes only
Yeah, I work in IT so I’m aware of what can be seen. One of my early jobs I got to print out “web usage” reports which included site names, time spent on the site, etc. we could see everything down to where you were clicking. Since then things have only evolved. My rule of thumb is to never use company property for personal use unless it’s “needed”.
Nowadays it seems that’s what your personal phone is for while you’re on company property/IT networks
Nope. I can still see everything you do on my network because any traffic you make goes through my firewall.
Think of it this way. If your computer was a line that has to pass through several holes here is the holes they would go through. Your computer would send a line to go through your VPNs hole, then it would go through my firewalls hole before it reaches the internet hole. And it’s very easy to find who’s going through the VPN hole if they have to pass through my firewall hole. I can still trace the line back to your laptop. While i may not know exactly who your laptop is I can deduce it rather easily because I have your Mac and lan address before you connect to the VPN. Then it’s just a matter of asking who is connected with the HP ProBook or walking through the office to find it.
This is really dependent on your companies policies regarding work.
Unfortunately I cannot give you an answer because I wouldn’t want to be at fault for encouraging behavior that another IT team doesn’t like, your best bet would be to take an IT guy out for a beer and ask him
Can you see which city somebody is working from? I’ve posted yesterday about this in my mum’s fairly unique circumstance with no luck yet. I can explain if needed but to cut to the chase I’ll summarise.
She is working from home with a work laptop and connects to the company using their VPN.
We’re debating and looking into whether or not a VPN router or something similar will help hide her physical location, because ideally she doesn’t want them to see it.
Would really appreciate your advice. Thank you