I feel like I haven’t seen this specific question asked, but I have my personal phone that I needed to get a work VPN on (to access apps like teams and edge). It’s called tunnel - what I want to know is if I am not connected to the VPN, what can they see about my activity on my own phone? The WiFi is also my home WiFi, but I’m curious as there are definitely things I don’t want them seeing. If I don’t use the apps that are “included” in the vpn according to my settings, can they see everything else on my phone anyway? I’m assuming they can see everything I do while im connected.
If the vpn is not connected, no. But when it is connected, they can see most traffic.
Also check the permissions your work apps have. My old school outlook account tried to get full remote access to all data on my phone.
Never use a personal device as a work device.
If they afford to pay you they can afford to give you the tools to do your job.
Generally all traffic will go through vpn when connected. Surfing to an external site will go through your work. It is also possible that some vpn installations allow access to external without going through the tunnel but don’t count on it.
This is asked so often… learn a little about how vpns work (yes, search function or you know, seach engines and wikis exist), hell, ask your IT guy… which would most likely lead to…
Why is it so hard for people to keep their work and personal devices separate?
The only half descent answer I’ve seen is, “I don’t want to carry two devices.” Sure but I guess I’m the guy that knows my work devices can disappear or be searched at any time. Why would I want to let them have access to anything of mine that’s personal? Family photos? Any search history or sites visited? My login cookies for gmail or whatever site?
And let me save a stupid reply, by disappear I mean they can upgrade my device and the old one and all it’s data is gone. Think they care about backing up your personal stuff? Nope. It’s a work device.
Literally got my work laptop upgraded a few weeks ago. Company wide laptop swaps. Walk into the office one day and it’s, hi, here’s your new laptop, give us your old one. Worked just fine. Cause it’s all work shit on it.
If you made it this far, congrats. I’m not trying to rail on anyone, but just be aware of your company’s policies on the devices they give you. Then make a judgment for yourself.
If you can connect to a vpn, then the only thing they will know is that you are connected to a vpn. Everything else you do will happen downstream of their access points. Double check your company policy regarding vpn. It may not be allowed without pre-authorization, and they’ll definitely know you are using one.
I think not, but inform yourself more to be sure.
its been asked a TON of times; search and you will find…
I agree with the sentiment, but people say this all the time as if I have a choice lol
That’s not really true. It’s true for most of the consumer VPNs for internet, but for corporate VPN a lot are split tunnel where only certain traffic goes through the VPN.
That’s what my second paragraph is for.
Ios and android won’t just let you do that. The app needs explicit permission. And you can check what permissions apps have.
Well, you do have a choice.
You have a choice to not take a job that requires you to use your own computer.
You have a choice to tell them a company supplied laptop is required for you to do your job.
Them giving you a laptop is in their best interest, right now there’s nothing stopping you stealing all their data right before you quit and leave with it all.
The only situation where there should be any expectation of someone using a personal device is when shopping one isn’t feasible and then there are still alternatives.
My company is based in Ireland but we had an employee in Argentina, she used her personal device to connect to an AVD and did all her work through that. We had agreement that for the time she was working with us if something happened with her computer the company would reimburse her for repairs.
What would your job do if you suddenly didn’t have your computer?
One place I worked allowed it, one (current) doesn’t.