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 limit 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 remotely 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 keep in mind the boundaries between work and personal lifeis an important point that you should always keep in mind.
IT experts have shared the top things you should never do on a work computer. These lessons will be of great help to you if you find yourself in that situation.
One of the recommendations mentioned by experts is that You should never treat your work computer as if it were your own property.. Jacqueline Pitter, Senior Strategic Consultant at Vantage Technology Consulting Group, had this to say:
“As much as you use and keep your work laptop in your possession, it is never really your personal property, and yet it is your responsibility to take proper care of it.”
Thus, it is critical that employees never disable security features such as inactivity 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 bathroom. Doing this gives other people the opportunity to access your confidential information, personal data and other sensitive data.
Also, it’s important to avoid having private conversations on your work laptop. This means not having to chat with friends or family, and also refraining from installing 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 will prevent any embarrassing situation that may arise if you expose yourself, such as during a meeting, for example.
Many employers block remote access to employees’ work computers after they are fired. Therefore, it is understandable that you should never store personal documents on such devices, as you could lose access to your files permanently.
Although it may seem inconvenient to restrict personal activities on your work laptop, establishing a clear separation between personal and professional is essential to safeguarding your privacy and maintaining a safe work environment.
