Would you say anything...

[Paul H]

I know that I read here more than I post...but I just thought that I would get a general consensus on what other people would do...That being said...I know that we are all lovers of sailing. While it may seem trivial or petty...The IT manager of the company I work for walked by by desk this morning and saw that I had my sailboat set as my background...(I just love looking at her...same pic as in my avatar). He tells me that I'm not allowed to have downloaded pictures on my computer. I tell him that it wasn't downloaded, it's my boat, and it was taken with my camera, and transferred via my camera software. He then proceeds to tell me that he doesn't care, and that I was to remove it and delete the pic from my computer right in front of him. I did so...but then started thinking...WHY? The picture is just as safe as any "pre-loaded" windows picture. I don't want to rock the boat (pun intended)...but I also want to know his reasoning....am I being too trivial here?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Go look at HIS desktop

nm

 

[Hugh4753]

Doesn't seem right

Although it doesn't seem right I guess if it's a company computer the corporate pinhead can assert his authority over it. Why don't you try to get a look at his computer to see what noncompany stuff is on it? I'd bet there's personal stuff on most corporate computers.

 

[Phil Herring]

I suspect this has nothing to do with security

...and everything to do with ego.

 

[CalebD]

I just love the corporate mindset and buzzwords

Have you heard of risk management or zero tolerance? I am sure that they see people putting their own private data on THEIR networked computer system as a potential vector for viruses. Not that you would intentionally import a virus but you might inadvertantly. The answer: zero tolerance for personal data on THEIR computer networks reducing risk exposure. It seems rather draconian to me but it is THEIR network. I suggest you print out the picture and pin the hardcopy above your desk. They might not appreciate this either as it indicates you have interests that have nothing to do with your job, but no computer viruses can hide on a piece of paper. How long will it be before they issue a policy of eliminating all personal effects such as pictures of wife, kids, pets, or sailboat from all employees desks? Grin and bear it.

 

[Persy]

a reasonable request

It is impossible for a business to deal with each person on a case by case basis as to whether they have taken proper measures to protect the business network with their personal add ons. I think the company is acting in a responsible and fair manner if they have a policy that no personal pictures, programs, movies, music, games etc is allowed on company computers. It is their property after all.

 

[DRhoads]

Little knowledge of his job

If he were worth his salt he would have installed auto anti-virus, configuration conformation software, moved all software applications to the servers, locked out any administrative privileges to user systems, data movement and access notification and authorizations programs, blocked access to all I/Os on the computers except those authorized and a million other things he could have done rather than bug you.BTW deleting the picture would have no effect other than ego. If there were something "attached" to the file it would have alrady downloaded its goodies and is sitting there ticking away waiting to hammer the network or not. If the "hacker" "spy" or whatever is smart enough to embed something inside a picture without effecting the picture file size/function then they know how to hide and erase any trail. It did its work within miliseconds of activation.Just food for thought.

 

[Glenn17427]

Print your picture !

Print your picture to about the same size as your monitor screen, buy a nice frame, set it on your desk.

 

[Rob19574]

all ego driven

some people like to bark out the orders when they can because they never get the chance to. You can't say anything because technicaly he is right....next time he asks how your weekend was or if you could help him with something of a personal nature I think you know what your response will be

 

[Ctskip]

It sucks being the underling

He's the boss and you work under him. Just do as told. Copy the picture and enlarge it and have it mounted on your desk. Now we all have a better understanding of why some choose to work for themselves. Sometimes giving up a little of the financial gain and security. So just enjoy yourself when you clock out every night. Payback is best served cold and with a smile. Keep it up,  Ctskip

 

[Brian D]

For the purpose of increased...

moral and work enjoyment, have a discussion with your HR Director. They him/her that you understand the policy and can see why IT wants clean machines, but a simple picture does not jeopardized the work place environment. Be tactful, but be firm.

 

[Ross]

Ask me why I am self employed!

I tired of working for other fools and decided that if I had to work for a fool it may as well be me.

 

[newsailor06]

We have the same ....

Corporate policy here is that we put nothing on our laptops or PC's that is non company standard. That said, just about everyone I know has something in the way of personal screensavers with pictures, and wallpaper. In fact, I have a screensaver that rolls through the pictures we took on our sailing vacation in St. Maarten from two years ago. If it is really pressed though, we have to remove it. Depends on what kind of king you have running your department.

 

[Tommy T]

Ross a fool???

Ross, you are the only smart one!!Our so called IT guy tried the same thing with me.I manage the maintenance dept for the company I work forso I told him where to go.He went to the CEO of the company. Big mistake, the CEO andI sail together all the time. I still have the picture of my wife at the wheel of our Hunter 34 on my screen saver andthe IT guy will not talk to me any more.

 

[bob Gorman]

DIO Missing from his Title

You said he was th IT manager.

 

[Tim]

Easy fix.....

..........Just get your doctor to write a letter to the HR department stating that being forced into a cubicle for eight hours a day without a sailing picture to look at will cause you undo mental anguish. I think that allowing your screensaver would be "reasonable accomodations" for your "illness".Tim

 

[sleepy]

IT Guys

I have been retired from IT for a year now.32 years in a large county goverment(12000+ employees).The IT guy is right! He just used the wrong approach.Also he should not given you the ability to alter the desktopon your PC, much less install anything.We started our network up in 92 and I was the networkadmin. until I retired. Orignally I was liberal aboutscreensavers & email. After several total knockdownsfrom viruses and bots via email & screensavers I coppeda tude on them. Then the bigshots thought that theywere adult enough to have the policy excepted for themselves.Guess what? After getting their PC's trashed and thenrestored from weekold backups some of them finally sawthe light! and accepted the policy. Even then that wasjust my department!(350 PC's). We also had other knockdownsfrom the lax departments elsewhere. Hate to vent on you guysbut I have put in months of work and overtime cleaning upwhat's left. One good note, the bigshots allocated fundsfor a firewall & a more robust backup system.Still you can buy one of those electronic picture framesthat can store multiple images and rotate thru them, or postersas mentioned already.

 

[Bob]

I hope

Paul, I can only hope you are sending this from your work computer on company time. If not please wait till you get to work tomorrow! I own my own company and it's all my time. Even though this computer was paid for by one of my customers...By the way company laptops make great DVD players for the boat.

 

[Paul H]

WOW...more responses that I thought...

Thanks a million folks...One of the main reasons it was an issie with me is because many people walk by and say "...Wow, is that YOUR boat...and usually they'll ask a a few questions about sailing...and we will enjoy a good conversation for a minute or two...since I have taken off...3 people have asked..."did you sell your boat or something?...didn't you love that boat?"CtSkip...the funny thing is...I'm not an underling, and I don't report to him. I manage an entire division of the company...but he gets the last word in on IT matters. It seems as if the picture thing is the general consensus...but I really like the idea of the digital picture frame...so...there's gonna be LOTS of pictures of my boat on my desk...Splash for me is 9 days and counting....Thanks for all of the input.

 

[Bill; formerly S/V Calico Dragon]

A Couple of Good Ideas

A couple of the guys are on the right track with suggesting that you print the picture and place it in a frame on your desk. If it were me I'd print it and then tape the top edge to my monitor so that when I wasn't working on my PC I could just flip it down OVER the monitor screen. Legal!!!! Maybe career limiting but it would feel soooooo goooood!!!