When you’re spending eight (or more) hours a day on your work computer, the lines between professional and personal use can get blurry. But the truth is: Work computers are company property, and every action you take on them can leave you vulnerable in ways you might not expect.
Here are eight things I never do on my work computer — and believe me, you shouldn’t either.
Logging into personal social media
I understand: checking your Facebook or Twitter during lunch seems harmless, but it’s a slippery slope. Once you’re logged in, it’s all too easy to spend “just a minute” scrolling through your feed or getting caught up in notifications. But do you really want your work network — or worse, your employer — to see how much time you’re spending on social apps? Personally, I’d prefer to keep my personal updates where they belong: on my phone.
Saving Passwords in the Browser
Saving passwords in your browser is easy. That little prompt pops up, and it feels like a relief to click “Save” so you don’t have to remember it next time. But this convenience comes at a price. There are many reasons to avoid your browser’s password manager, the main one being that browsers aren’t designed with the highest level of security in mind. Passwords saved on your browser are often vulnerable to being accessed by hackers or even someone with physical access to your machine.
If your work computer ever gets lost, stolen or compromised, those saved passwords could expose your personal accounts – and potentially your work accounts as well. Hackers know that once they get into the browser, they often have easy access to a treasure trove of stored credentials.
That’s why I never store passwords in my work browser. Instead, I rely on a password manager, which keeps passwords securely encrypted and only accessible via the master password. This way, I know that even if my computer is compromised, my credentials won’t be compromised.
Storing personal files
Storing personal files on your work computer seems tempting, especially when it’s so easy to keep things in a folder or on your desktop. Whether it’s photos, personal documents, or something you’re working on outside of your job, it may seem convenient at the time. However, storing personal files on a work machine is a bad idea for several reasons.
First of all, anything on your work computer can technically be accessed by your employer. Depending on the company’s IT policies, they can scan your files, back them up, or even delete them without notice. Not to mention the potential for those files to be exposed if the company experiences a security breach.
Then there’s the simple matter of separating your work and personal life. Keeping personal files on a work machine can blur those lines and lead to distractions. Instead of keeping personal items on my work computer, I use cloud storage like Google Drive and Dropbox or external hard drives. This way, my files stay safe and out of reach of any work-related issues.
Chat with friends and family
When you’ve been sitting at your desk for hours, it can be tempting to send your friends or family a quick message to end the day. However, your work computer is not the place for personal chat, even if you’re just there to check in or make dinner plans. Using personal email or messaging platforms from your work machine can expose you to potential privacy issues.
For starters, many companies monitor internet usage, and even personal communication platforms like Gmail or WhatsApp can show up on the company network. If you’re using work-provided software or devices, those communications may not be as private as you think. Plus, it’s a distraction that can pull you away from work.