T&T: E-Mail Security While Cruising

[Jeff Bacon]

Michael;

Time marches on, and progress creates change !  I admit to having mixed 
emotions about this new law. However, the employer really only has two 
options........ to act, or not act on a particular communication.

They would act for two reasons :
1. Non work communication is prohibited from a work station. Probably 
not an unreasonable request. Especially with so many different forms of 
communication available to us today.

2. The communication is sensitive enough to warrant action.

They would not act because :
1. They don't care
2. Waaay too many emails to peruse. They just save them, or,  have 
scanning capabilities to see if it fits into number 2 above

If you send communication that they would act on, shame on you. if you 
send communication they would not act on, no big deal (other than it may 
be saved for the next 40 years). We just need to make adjustments like 
we have always done

I guess what comes to my mind is, what type of communication is 
sensitive enough for you to want to scramble it ?

Jeff



Michael Liddle wrote:

>I suppose we all have this issue, but being cruisers we may not have
>as many alternatives as land dwellers.
>
>I send e-mails and instant messages (IM) to several people while I
>cruise, and vice-versa.  There are many cases, and on a regular basis,
>where the content is sensitive for any number of reasons.  Here's the
>rub.  E-mails and IM's sent to people that primarily use their
>computer at work or the laptop is provided by the employer, the
>employers are now going to be required by law to keep the messages for
>legal reasons.  They have the right, as I understand even before this
>to examine content of many of these as we speak.
>
>Many of my comm buddies and friends have separate, personal e-mail
>addresses, so that solves the problem of not sending personal e-mails
>to work e-mail addresses.  However, if they use the laptop, or phone
>PDA, or read those e-mails on their work provided laptop they may well
>be read and will be stored by the employer. Where the person is on the
>road on a regular basis, it is almost inevitable that they will have
>to use the laptop just to make necessary communications with family
>and friends.
>
>First question:  Short of carrying another laptop or using a third
>party computer such as at Kinko's how do we communicate via e-mail or
>IM securely?
>
>Second:  Is there a reasonably priced, easy to use scambling software
>that is available that could be used to protect the content?  I
>realize that most are breakable by the government, with code keys,
>etc.  but we are talking non-criminal communications that we are
>wanting to protect from casual perusal.
>
>Third:  Would using such software be merely a red flag for the company
>to look at the communications in more detail of those persons using
>it?
>
>It appears that even if you are checking e-mails from home, etc. even
>after working hours you are going to be subject to having those
>e-mails/IM's read if the computer is work supplied.  One of the
>primary rationale of having the computers issued to employees is to
>generate more productive time, and give them more flexibility on
>communications, and allow them to be able to function on the road and
>away from the office better.  If you are not allowed any type of
>secure usage then the value to the company and employee is greatly
>reduced and calls for the employee to find other expensive and
>cumbersome alternatives for communication that are private.  This
>definitely seems to be a right to privacy issue and beyond the scope
>of crusing applications discussion.
>
>So, how do we communicate with family and friends via e-mail or IM
>privately?  I know phone and in person.  But, the issues are directly
>related to the ease of use for cruisers and the inability at times to
>be able to reach/communicate with people on a timely basis while
>cruising.  E-mail just works great for many of our communication modes
>and activities.
>
>I probably did not put this very eloquently, but I think most will
>understand the underlying problem of wanting to keep our private
>communications ... private.
>
>Thanks for the input.  The list is great and generous with their
>expertise and comments as always. Thanks to all in advance and have a
>Happy Holidays.
>
>  
>

-- 
Jeff
39.42.411 N
82.59.444 W