However, using your work computer for personal use is a dangerous game. You could be exposed to security threats beyond, blurring work and life boundaries. It might even put your job at risk.
Fear not, though, because you can stop yourself from making a big mistake before it’s too late. Here are seven things you should never do on your work computer.
1. Chat With Friends and Family
These days, you can access almost every messaging app on your phone from your computer, too. Skype, WhatsApp, and even iMessage all have cross-device syncing.
Since you can talk to your loved ones while away from your phone, you might find it tempting to chat with friends and family on your work laptop. However, that is a bad idea.
When talking to your personal acquaintances, you’ll likely rant about how much you dislike your job or a coworker if that’s how you feel. Alternatively, you might share an inside joke that isn’t politically correct. The third risk is that your boss will look over your shoulder.
You might think that nobody will find out about your engagements on your work laptop, but your company is most likely allowed to monitor your screen legally. And if they deem it necessary to do so, you could find yourself in hot disciplinary water.
2. Save Personal Passwords
If you use your work laptop for personal reasons (which you shouldn’t, as we’ll go into later), you’ll probably have saved at least a few of your personal passwords. This might seem like the most convenient option, but you need to consider the risks associated with doing so.
Businesses, especially larger corporations, are under the constant threat of cyberattacks. If a hacker gets lucky—and they only need to once—they might find your password within your company’s system.
Once someone else has your password, it might be more than your monthly report spreadsheet that is top of your mind. They could use it to access your accounts and steal more sensitive information, such as your banking details.
3. Access Public Wi-Fi
The death of the office job in a post-COVID world is a little exaggerated. However, trends show that employees want more flexibility. 73% of participants in 2021 Microsoft research, for example, said that they want more flexible working agreements to remain in place after the pandemic.
Whenever you’re not in the office, you might not want to work from home. You’ve got plenty of other options, such as a coworking space or café. But whichever you choose, do not use your work laptop to access public Wi-Fi.
Public Wi-Fi networks cause several security risks. Besides a hacker getting into your device, you could put yourself at risk of malware infections on your computer.
Instead of using public Wi-Fi networks, consider setting up a private hotspot on your smartphone. Alternatively, you can ask the staff if you’re allowed to join a more secure network.
4. Do Your Job Search or Update Your Resume
Even if you cannot wait to get out of your current job, it’s important to remember that you still need to fulfill your employer’s contract obligations.
While it might be difficult if you work long hours, you should update your resume and search for a new role in your spare time. Doing so on your company’s time is unprofessional, and they might see you doing this as grounds for dismissal—especially if you’re in the same industry.
This tip also applies to any freelance gigs or side-hustles you have. If you’re struggling for time, consider these planning calendar apps to allocate your time better.
5. Use Social Media, Unless It’s Part of Your Job
As reported by Forbes, the average American spent 1,300 hours on social media in 2020. Yep, you read that right—that’s just over 54 days scrolling through TikTok videos, reacting to Facebook posts, and doom scrolling on Twitter.
Social media has many benefits, and it’s unrealistic for many people to cut it out of their lives completely. However, you should schedule some time to have fun on these platforms once you’re finished working. Beyond wasting time, spending too much time on these platforms could impact your mental health.
In some cases, you might need to use social media as part of your job—whether that’s for research or because you manage your company’s accounts. When this is the case, make sure you only use it for work-related purposes and log off once you’re finished.
6. Download Third-Party Content From Sites You Don’t Trust
While you’ll sometimes need to download third-party apps and plugins to enhance your online experience, you must trust the website you’re doing this from.
Downloading third-party content from websites you don’t trust could put your device under threat from malware and other cyberattacks. And you’re going to have a difficult time explaining that to your IT team if you shouldn’t have been on that website anyway.
7. Check Your Emails Dozens of Times Each Day
Many of us check our notifications far more frequently than is necessary. This is especially true when it comes to looking at work emails every couple of minutes.
In almost every case, the chances are that you don’t need to check your email inbox anywhere near as frequently as you do. “Urgent” emails are often anything but, and the sender could have solved the problem in the time it took them to send their message to you.
Rather than randomly checking your emails, try to only check twice per day—once in the morning and once at the end of the day. Prioritize your messages to ensure you get back to everyone; you’ll find that you free up a lot more time in your day by taking this approach.
Streamline Your Work Computer Use for Maximum Productivity and Security
While using your work laptop as a personal device is tempting, you’re doing yourself more harm than good in the long run if you do this. Not having a separate device for personal use could put you at a higher risk of security breaches, and in extreme cases, might cause you to lose your job.
Even though buying a separate laptop is expensive, it’s a worthwhile investment. You’ll give yourself peace of mind and improve your productivity while in the office.
