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Editor's Caveat on Workplace Privacy

The tips and tools provided in this section may not be effective if used in the workplace. Your employer can -- and many do -- use sophisticated tools to monitor your Internet use and email communications. Employers justify employee monitoring for many reasons including increasing productivity, minimizing sexual harassment, assuring quality control and gauging employee productivity. Besides, the employer owns and operates the computer system in your workplace. It's good business practice to notify employees of the company's monitoring policy. Some companies provide such notice in the employee manual. However, it is not required by law and many do not.

Caveat: You should assume that your employer monitors your email and Internet travels with sophisticated tools that would make any tip or tool provided here in GetNetWise ineffective. Further, following these tips and using these tools in the workplace may violate your employer's computer and Internet use policy. Therefore, you should assume that you have very little privacy in the workplace.

More Resources: The Privacy Right Clearinghouse publishes a Fact Sheet on Workplace Privacy.