Quantcast
Work phones: what can the employer see? - Beyond.ca - Car Forums
Results 1 to 18 of 18

Thread: Work phones: what can the employer see?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    YYC
    Posts
    797
    Rep Power
    22

    Default Work phones: what can the employer see?

    A lot of us have work provided phones, and throughout the years (and at different companies) the topic of what you're divulging to your employers on the work phone usually comes up.

    My understanding is, unless they have tracking software installed on the phone, they can only get basic info off of the phone... like the location, name of apps installed, battery level, emails that go through the corp email server (of course), and call log (through the phone company). If you have a work iPhone, I believe iMessenger can't be recorded w/o tracking software installed on the phone.

    Just curious what people's experiences has been.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Parked in Baygirl's garage.
    My Ride
    '21 F150 PowerBoost
    Posts
    4,592
    Rep Power
    29

    Default

    the best a company can see on your phone without any software is the call log and sms log (not the actual messages), and only after the bill for that month is ready.

    Once they install software, the can track everything. Set permissions on who you can and can't call, sms, what programs you can download, emails, the whole works. They can even disable certain features of a phone like the camera.
    Boosted life tip #329
    Girlfriends cost money
    Turbos cost money
    Both make whining noises
    Make the smart choice.

    Originally posted by Mibz
    Always a fucking awful experience seeing spikers. Extra awful when he laps me.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    1917 Model T, VW Baja, '18 Ram 2500 CTD/6spd
    Posts
    655
    Rep Power
    20

    Default

    Mobile isn't my area of expertise, but for a medium-sized company I've consulted for, they can see absolutely everything. Call history, messages, location, location history, app usage, even force the web traffic through a proxy with SSL interception, decryption, and certificate replacement and see even things you thought were encrypted. Software can be installed that you can't see. It all depends how seriously your company takes security. There are really freaky tools readily available that can activate the cameras and microphone without alerting the end user, but fortunately those are not in use at the company I'm speaking of.

    Basically, if the company manages it, the sky is the limit. Even the common MDM platforms have pretty good out-of-the-box toolsets nowadays. The common sense answer is "Don't do anything on a company asset that you can't defend to your boss, and his boss, and his boss."

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    Ioniq 5
    Posts
    1,792
    Rep Power
    46

    Default

    It entirely depends on what they install and what they choose to manage. We just shifted to Comp Portal and it explicitly says in the setup that they cannot read your browsing history or text messages. However they can see what apps you have installed and remotely install or remove apps.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    Ford, Acura
    Posts
    2,219
    Rep Power
    56

    Default

    When they first installed MDM on our phones I asked our IT department if this means they would see all my dick pics because it took a long time for me to take all of them and it would be a shame if I had to do it from scratch again. Thankfully they said they had no access to my pictures.
    Quote Originally Posted by rage2 View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    ...Last thing I want is someone reading my posts and losing their cock over it...
    Quote Originally Posted by Sugarphreak
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    Meh, they all look like Jackie Chan to me
    Quote Originally Posted by ExtraSlow View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote
    I'm generally cute.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Red Deer, Alberta
    My Ride
    1995 WRX STi
    Posts
    1,560
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    Originally posted by schurchill39
    When they first installed MDM on our phones I asked our IT department if this means they would see all my dick pics because it took a long time for me to take all of them and it would be a shame if I had to do it from scratch again. Thankfully they said they had no access to my pictures.
    This is how I approach all corporate bullshit as well.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Calgary
    Posts
    10,406
    Rep Power
    35

    Default

    They shouldn't be able to see WhatsApp chats via company WiFi because of end-to-end encryption, but they can see anything you browse online, calls, and SMS texts. Our internet filters trickle down to the phones as well when on company WiFi (i.e. no games, weapons, etc. related websites) so make sure to swap back over to LTE before googling those sex dungeons.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    calgary
    My Ride
    CLK 55 / 2g Eclipse / EP3
    Posts
    4,422
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    My last company I worked for gave no fucks about how their phones were used, as long as the RCMP/CPS never showed up of course. One phone I got for field use had imagefap.com as a bookmark .... nice

    But some places I know, monitor every fucking thing - in fact one small financial services company (<10 people) on the West Coast had a contractor put in to literally watch one (former) associates phone almost 24/7.

    There was some shady shit going on with the company and the owners were worried this guy would spill the beans and thus were monitoring every email, phone call and sms from this associate.
    Last edited by revelations; 03-30-2017 at 03:32 PM.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    calgary
    My Ride
    CLK 55 / 2g Eclipse / EP3
    Posts
    4,422
    Rep Power
    22

    Default

    Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
    They shouldn't be able to see WhatsApp chats via company WiFi because of end-to-end encryption,
    P2P encryption does not matter if the phone has been setup to monitor everything it does.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Calgary
    Posts
    10,406
    Rep Power
    35

    Default

    Originally posted by revelations


    P2P encryption does not matter if the phone has been setup to monitor everything it does.
    Interesting - so it would be a key logger then or something?

    Good thing I have 2 phones to keep work/personal phones separate

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Homeless
    My Ride
    Blue Dabadee
    Posts
    9,599
    Rep Power
    100

    Default

    Any employer I have ever had never had anything on our phones. All they've ever done is a was filled in the exchange credentials and took care of billing lmao.

    I would watch what you do on the company wifi though.

    Just depends on what kind of shop they run end of day. For example do they encourage running to hr when your feelings are hurt? If so maybe watch what you do on your phone lol.

    Edit: was just chatting with our it guy, got the confirmation that there is 0 monitoring of our phones aside from the standard fact that our emails run through the exchange server and could be monitored. Again just make sure you don't do something illegal lol. Lucky us I guess.

    https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202837 For how the actual apple phone supervision tools work.
    Last edited by killramos; 04-09-2017 at 09:08 PM.
    Originally posted by Thales of Miletus

    If you think I have been trying to present myself as intellectually superior, then you truly are a dimwit.
    Originally posted by Toma
    fact.
    Quote Originally Posted by Yolobimmer View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

    guessing who I might be, psychologizing me with your non existent degree.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Calgary
    My Ride
    1917 Model T, VW Baja, '18 Ram 2500 CTD/6spd
    Posts
    655
    Rep Power
    20

    Default

    Originally posted by revelations


    P2P encryption does not matter if the phone has been setup to monitor everything it does.
    Exactly. If I screenscrape / keylog, I don't care what program you use, what encryption, etc. Even applications I've never heard of are covered. At a specific company I can think of, this process is done regularly, but only as a response to a concern, not as a global practice for everyone.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    AB
    Posts
    889
    Rep Power
    21

    Default

    Originally posted by pheoxs
    It entirely depends on what they install and what they choose to manage. We just shifted to Comp Portal and it explicitly says in the setup that they cannot read your browsing history or text messages. However they can see what apps you have installed and remotely install or remove apps.
    CPC?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2002
    Location
    The White Ghetto
    My Ride
    Altima Se-R
    Posts
    2,360
    Rep Power
    27

    Default

    Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt


    Interesting - so it would be a key logger then or something?

    Good thing I have 2 phones to keep work/personal phones separate
    I always prefer to have two phones. That way I don't feel connected to work all the time too. That way I go home, work phone goes in the drawer and doesn't come out til the morning.

    But if I was up to some shit, I'd just get a burner.
    sig deleted by moderator, click here for info

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Homeless
    My Ride
    Blue Dabadee
    Posts
    9,599
    Rep Power
    100

    Default

    What's the point of having a work phone if you don't answer it when you aren't at work?

    Has anyone just considered not accepting a work phone if you don't need one?

    Here I always thought my work phone was for more than just playing clash of clans in meetings.
    Originally posted by Thales of Miletus

    If you think I have been trying to present myself as intellectually superior, then you truly are a dimwit.
    Originally posted by Toma
    fact.
    Quote Originally Posted by Yolobimmer View Post
    This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

    guessing who I might be, psychologizing me with your non existent degree.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Stampede Central
    My Ride
    is pretty sharp lookin'
    Posts
    2,270
    Rep Power
    34

    Default

    Originally posted by killramos
    What's the point of having a work phone if you don't answer it when you aren't at work?

    Has anyone just considered not accepting a work phone if you don't need one?

    Here I always thought my work phone was for more than just playing clash of clans in meetings.
    Some of us don't sit in an office all day, always reachable by land line

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
    Location
    calgary, alberta, canada
    My Ride
    Faux X 4 Mall Crawler
    Posts
    5,678
    Rep Power
    42

    Default

    Originally posted by sexualbanana


    I always prefer to have two phones. That way I don't feel connected to work all the time too. That way I go home, work phone goes in the drawer and doesn't come out til the morning.

    But if I was up to some shit, I'd just get a burner.
    This, I would prefer if I didn't have a work phone or laptop but because I am technically a "mobile" employee it is required hardware. I have a clear understanding with my manager and director that outside of work hours, I'm not reachable.
    sig deleted by moderator, because they are useless

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Land of thy oil
    Posts
    21
    Rep Power
    0

    Default

    My company calls me if I go over 120gb in a month but engineering uses over 200+ so im not concerned.

    I would only get in shit if they had reason to believe I was doing something illegal or shady with the company.

Similar Threads

  1. Can an employer just transfer you?

    By kvg in forum Society / Law / Current Events / Politics
    Replies: 14
    Latest Threads: 03-04-2013, 12:41 PM
  2. Behind the Wheel - If You Can't See, You Can't Go!

    By skidmark in forum Society / Law / Current Events / Politics
    Replies: 9
    Latest Threads: 12-18-2008, 04:31 PM
  3. Employer RRSP contributions

    By TimG in forum Real Estate / Finance
    Replies: 12
    Latest Threads: 06-04-2007, 08:32 PM
  4. When an employer overpays & trys to recover

    By holden in forum Society / Law / Current Events / Politics
    Replies: 10
    Latest Threads: 05-20-2006, 11:52 PM
  5. Ex Employer playing games with me

    By 5hift in forum Society / Law / Current Events / Politics
    Replies: 12
    Latest Threads: 02-12-2006, 03:53 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •