When it comes to using a work laptop, it’s crucial to set clear boundaries between personal and work-related activities. This is required if you want to restrict your employer’s access to your personal information.
When you join a company that requires the use of technological devices, it is common for your employer to assign you a computer or laptop to perform your duties, either in the office or away from home.
However, it is important to remember that even if you are tempted to do so, you should not use it as your own. It is essential to take into account the boundaries between work and private lifeis an important point that you should always keep in mind.
IT experts have shared the top things you should never do on a computer work computer. These lessons will help you immensely if you find yourself in that situation.
One of the recommendations cited by experts is that You should never treat your work computer as if it were your own.. Jacqueline Pitter, Senior Strategic Consultant at Vantage Technology Consulting Group, had this to say:
“No matter how often you use and own your work laptop, it’s never really your personal property, and yet it’s your responsibility to take good care of it.”
So it’s critical that employees never disable security features like idle lock or advanced antivirus features.
Do not use the work computer as if it were your personal device
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Cybersecurity professionals recommend that never forget to close the lid of the laptop when you leave your workplace, even if you just go to the toilet. This gives other people the chance to access your confidential information, personal data and other sensitive data.
It’s also important to avoid private conversations on your work laptop. This means you don’t have to chat with friends or family, nor install messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram or Facebook Messenger.
Another crucial point that you should keep in mind and avoid is perform personal Google searches or send emails from your personal account on your work laptop. This way you avoid embarrassing situations when you expose yourself, for example during a meeting.
Many employers block remote access to employees’ work computers after they are fired. Therefore, it is understandable that you never store personal documents on such devices as you could lose access to your files permanently.
While it may seem inconvenient to limit personal activities on your work laptop, it’s essential to create a clear separation between personal and professional to protect your privacy and maintain a safe work environment.