Work Not Play

Every other week, it seemed, a particular “geek” was called to Small Office because of “computer problems”. Every time the Geek arrived it was the same thing; the Secretary had downloaded some other piece of malware onto the computer. Every time the geek told the Secretary not to download any thing, she came with some explanation; i.e. she didn’t down load it from the Internet but from a thumb drive she brought from home, etc. Although the knee jerk would be to disconnect the computer from the Internet or switch to Linux and prevent anyone but “Root” having downloading powers, from the Geek standpoint…Why? Geeks like to appear indispensable.

It is cool to race in like the superhero, right all wrongs then race away…’Hi Ho!” In the case of this Secretary and her games one might shrug it away if one didn’t appreciate the dangers of spyware and malware being loaded onto a business computer. One must always remember that the same hand that downloads a game could download pornography or copyright protected material. The same person is who is employed to do work might be so wrapped into a discussion on Yahoo she can bearly squeeze in typing that document. Simply put, the abuse of the “Office” by the “Worker” has become prevalent.

The worker who may not have Internet access at home but at work could not be faulted if s/he accessed email or did some personal research during periods where the computer was not needed; but the worker who downloads games obviously intends to play them while being paid for work. And obviously has no notion of the dangers of malware, nor cares. Setting and limiting privileges goes a far way in protecting an office’s integrity. Companies which have on staff I.T. experts find that this is one of the first activities s/he has done. In smaller offices, where the computer is more a glorified typewriter with email/research capabilities, there needs to be a strong policy in effect to prevent making millionaires out of geeks.

Although it sounds Neanderthalic, I have suggested that using the slowest services possible, i.e. cell phone connections at 9.6 kps, does a great deal to end “computer as playstation”.