Hidden Writing

[queenoftheskies]

I'm going to try something new today.

I like to write at lunchtime at work. I rarely take breaks, though I think we're allowed two. But, sometimes, I stop for 10-15 minutes and write, if something pops into my head.

However, they're upgrading some computers and one of the MIS guys (a real CREEPY guy left over from the old company) is nosy and has been fiddling around with MY computer. (Last time he did this, he was giving information to someone over five years ago who was interested in purchasing the company when the old owner ended up with it.)

It wouldn't surprise me if he's trying to get info for the old owner, but with all the ways to see what a person has been working on via last files accessed and all (even though I was saving my writing onto a floppy and they couldn't actually SEE the file itself), I decided to try something new. (And, yes, I do know that if someone REALLY wanted to know what I was working on they could check keystrokes and all that crap, but this guy doesn't know how to do that.)

I hope it'll work.

This morning, I copied what I'd written so far today and put it in a private LJ post. If I have time at lunch, I'll just edit it and update there. Then, when I get home, I can copy it off and delete the post.

Theoretically, I think that'll work, and then I don't have to fumble around with floppies.

Right?

Comments

[terri-osborne.livejournal.com]

I don't see why it wouldn't. I leave notes to myself in private posts all the time. :)

[aberrant1.livejournal.com]

I use a little flash drive that I keep on my keyring. I never save any of my personal writing on the hard drive -- more because I want to be able to work on it at home or at the library than because of privacy concerns since I don't think our IT people give a damn if I write on my lunch break.

[quiller77.livejournal.com]

My experience can't compare. I'm in a tiny library (the only worker). I keep my writing projects on my work computer as a kind of backup. My chairperson knows and doesn't care -- not even when I print off a story.
Yes, I know I'm lucky. Your LJ idea sounds very clever, btw.

[arkiewriter.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, if the creepy IT guy has a way to monitor the internet connections (not unusual nowadays for it to be "nannied"), he could see the data as it crosses from your PC to Livejournal's server.

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

Only as it's actually transferred? Or can he go back later (like after I leave for the day) and still see it?

I can't prove he's tinkering with my computer, and I can't be sure he's even interested in that type of data. I've only really found indication in my invoice files that someone was searching around.

However, I know that it was discovered that this jerk was actually running two personal companies of his own from the MAPICS mainframe when the Trustee's office came in during the summer. I just wondered if he got in trouble for it, maybe it's making him check out other people's computers to try to get a feather in his cap to make up for the black star.

Or, maybe, I'm just paranoid. That's possible, though I think that, with everything that's happened, I'm probably allowed a little paranoia these days. :)

Good luck with that job you interviewed for!!! I hope you get it!!!

[arkiewriter.livejournal.com]

Yep, anything that goes to LJ can be captured in travel (same with email) because it goes across an internet connection.

If you are truly worried about it, you may have to shift gears to pen and paper, as a USB drive isn't any different from a floppy. You'll still leave traces of the file on the computer because you open it with programs ON the computer.

But he'd have to be pretty determined to dig anything like that out. Check what processes run on your computer every day if you are concerned about monitoring software (such as keystroke recorders) as those could be a serious work security risk if you handle anything passworded that IT would not be normally allowed to access.

Personally, if you worry about it too much, see if you can invest in a cheap PDA. Some come with mini keyboards and others can translate handwriting to text. Then it's your property and less likely to be reviewed (or tampered with).

[arkiewriter.livejournal.com]

Oh and thanks on the good luck wishes. I'm feeling hopeful, but I won't be crushed if I get passed over. With any luck, my basic adaptability will win out for me.

[peartreealley.livejournal.com]

I understand on the work-monitoring stuff. Although I think it's just warnings more than practice, my workplace gives nonstop "everything you do on our computers' belong to us, are not private, can be accessed at any time, etc. etc." And, because of labor law paranoia, we are not allowed to be at our desks at breaks (which are enforced--which I like because I NEED those breaks between calls. LoL)

So what I did is what I would either bring in a stenopad and write notes, and now I bring my PDA and write on it instead (because it has a feature that translates scrawl to text so I don't have to retype it). I get my writing done inconspicuously (because it's small and quiet) and it doesn't touch anything work-owned.

[cicadabug.livejournal.com]

I want to second the suggestion of getting one of those keyring USB drives -- a truly evil sysadmin could, if he was determined enough, get at data not only directly on your system, but also via monitoring your network connection traffic (so a post to LJ, even if marked private, is viewable by anyone between you and the LJ servers if they've got packet sniffers running). OTOH, a key drive doesn't keep data on your system and you can take it with you when you're not at your desk.

Another alternative is archiving stuff with your ISP. If you have an ISP that uses unix on its servers, you can use an SSH/SFTP client to send your files over an encrypted connection up to a shell account on your ISP's servers, where 1) it'll get backed up, and 2) you can get it back from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. (Being in your account is not the same thing as being on the web -- I have no idea of your level of expertise with computer stuff, so don't hesitate to ask me questions).

I keep multiple copies of all my writing. I burn a CD once a month that I toss in my desk at work (I have my own office, so that's pretty safe), I copy stuff regularly up to my ISP, and I keep a copy of the latest revisions on my keydrive. I tend to be overly paranoid, but I haven't lost anything yet (-:

[kuroshii.livejournal.com]

Double-check your OS first...for example, WinNT does not support USB so even if your PC has one it won't work when you plug it in. :( I say this because you mentioned "upgrading" so I'm guessing yours is one of the older ones.

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

Hmm...this computer is kind of out-dated by "modern" standards, so it might not even have USB ports. I'll have to check.

The OS is Windows 98, and the computer was purchased by the company in 2000.

[cicadabug.livejournal.com]

Hard to say. I run Win98 at home with my USB drive, but I had to download and install the drivers for it (wasn't plug&pray).

Another thing that occured to me is that if your IT guy really is snooping on your computer, remember to empty the cache on your browser before you leave for the day (in Opera, it's under tools-advanced-cache. In netscape I think it's edit-preferences-somewhere)

[vincam.livejournal.com]

PDAs are good for working away from the home computer. You don't need a fancy-schmancy one for fooling with text, and the portable keyboards for them have become more affordable. Mine has Word To Go on it, and I can work in native Word format. No fuss, no muss. I realize your funds are limited these days, but it might be worth looking into a unit with no bells or whistles.

[jediknightmuse.livejournal.com]

Can this guy get in trouble and, oh, I don't know, lose his job, if you report him for fiddling around with crap on the computers? I mean, yeah, it might be his job, but you said he might be getting information for the old owner, which is something he could get in trouble for. Why didn't he get in trouble the first time he did it?

[allichaton.livejournal.com]

It should. I did that at work a lot, too.