Will I Get in Trouble?

[MonCapitan2002]

A while ago a co-worker who is higher up the food chain then I am had computer issues that fucked over her ability to access her e-mail. As a result of this, she went on the web and accessed her e-mail on the web. She told me that only select individuals had such access (which isn't entirely the case, everyone does technically, it's just that most don't know that they do).

Now here is the thing. I thought it was interesting that this capability was enabled by the company. Until a couple of days ago I had forgotten about this functionality. What made me remember it was when I was rooting around the network drives I have access to. One of the files made available to all users were instructions on how to access our e-mail over the web. I decided to check this functionailty out today to see if I could access said e-mail from it. It turns out that I can. Do you think that I will get in trouble for checking to see if I could? I am mildly worried about it.

[Shake]

Meh, I doubt it. Unless you go around telling everyone about it.

[MonCapitan2002]

I have no intention of doing so.

[Godless Dave]

I don't see how. If anyone were to get in trouble it would be your IT guys for not blocking your access. If you want to be safe, read your employer's email policy and see if you violated it. But I doubt you did.

[livius drusus]

It sounds to me like there's no policy against people accessing their mail via browser. They've just been lazy about educating people on how to do it.

[ChuckF]

What harm could possibly be caused by employees using webmail? (I should think they would encourage it, as it is away to improve the ability to work at home.) I wouldn't worry about it at all. Check around for a written e-mail policy. If it isn't a written policy, what's gonna happen?

[cappuccino]

Right. I don't see what's the harm in using webmail. Access is access, it doesn't matter how you're gaining access to your emails. If all users have access to an instruction document on how to access email over the Web, then it's just a case of people not bothering to read materials that was given to them, not violating any policies. Nevertheless, you should check what's the policy, if it says it's fine, or there's no policy, then you're in the clear.

[Miisa]

Do you think that I will get in trouble for checking to see if I could? I am mildly worried about it.
HA! I knew that following you here and patiently monitoring your posts would pay off in the end! :muahaha:

See ya on Monday!

[Leesifer]

We block all webmail at work, except for one pc in our IT room and then it is monitored. We needed to stop people downloading shit from teh Intarweb on their machines.

[lisarea]

One time a long time ago, I was contracting at this really huge multinational company, and one day, I needed to go do some shit to this one server. Now, in my previous positions, I'd pretty much always had root access. It even used to be part of one job to try to crack their security as they were developing it. So almost instinctually, I start fucking around trying out the default passwords. Nothing elaborate, just checking.

Then, it hits me. I'm a contractor. A new one, at that. This is a huge, probably intractable corporation, and I'm sitting here basically trying to guess the root password on a machine running mission-critical systems.

Oops.

Not being able to think of any other way to address this, I just said, "Hey, you guys. Sorry I was just trying to get root on the server. I just wanted to [do whatever], and was trying out passwords without really thinking."

They just laughed at me (and gave me the password).

Anyway, I don't think you should worry too much. Unless they're completely insane and capricious, I can't imagine you'd get too much grief, even if it is technically a violation of some policy. If you're worried, just don't do it again.

[Stormlight]

One of the files made available to all users were instructions on how to access our e-mail over the web.

If they don't want people to access webmail they shouldn't give them instructions on how to do it.

Manager: And here's how to access your email over the internet!
User: Oh cool.
User: Hey it works!
Manager: You bastard! Get out of here!