Comments on: Web Work: Not Everyone is There

By: GuyWithDogs

GuyWithDogs — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:41:10 +0000

Contrary to the post above, the ONLY time that viruses have come into 3 companies I’ve worked at were through email, and not IM. And while I agree that IM can allow files to get out, many companies are handing out Blackberry, iPhone and similar “smart” devices which can walk the files out the door without any trace of the transfer. While some place may claim to ban IM to prevent virus/malware problems, most that I’m familiar with are worried more about potential productivity losses than virus introduction. Similarly, the companies that block access to sites like YouTube and other sites that stream video aren’t worried about viruses – it’s the (probably justified – that stuff is addictive…) worry about employees watching too much of it on work time.

By: Khürt Williams

Khürt Williams — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 23:23:18 +0000

Contrary to what “Dan Weese” said companies do not filter IM to prevent employees from chatting with the outside world. IM is a vector for viruses and other malware. Almost all IM clients support some sort of file exchange making it very easy for employees send confidential and proprietary company documents to anyone.

By: Dan Weese

Dan Weese — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 21:25:08 +0000

The last company I worked for blocked all forms of IM to prevent employees from chatting with the outside world. If you found a way around the block, you faced immediate termination. All that did was move the conversations to email, and internally, if you wanted to ask someone a question, you got up from your desk and went to their office, thereby completely disrupting the workflow of both people. Productivity went down and has stayed there. They’re still clinging to this plan after 4 years. The CIO also believes in web access by exception. Block everything, and unblock sites as requested so he can personally determine if you *really* need to visit that site.