How Private Are Your Searches?

An employee can try to protect him/herself from this.  By doing things like using lists, removing the search option from Facebook and Google, not being tagged in videos or pictures, or making contact information public, employees can try to protect themselves (O'Neill).  In this world of high technology and sharing information, it is a good reminder that anything a person posts online can be seen by anyone, even if it is private.  Employers may try to get the username and password to an applicant’s Facebook profile, which is definitely a privacy issue.  The applicant must also pay attention to what he/she is sharing online and who can see it.  Even though it is wrong, it is still possible.  The employer might see who you were having a party with last weekend, and it might keep you from getting a job.  But if this information does not post on Facebook, it will not be seen.  Be aware of what is being posted online, because it might cost you your job.

For me, online privacy does not exist. If someone really want to know everything about a person, most of time that person can't do anything to 100% prevent it. We are watching by the federal government as well as some other unknown people who are interested in people's online secret. What I will do is just don't do stupid thing online, save them in dairy, in your mind or share with your psyco-doctor.

I do believe employeers or future employeers should have the right to look at your socail media sights. You shouldnt be putting anything up that could ruin your professional career. But I dont know if I think people should be monitoring what you are looking at online. Some people are just curious and like learning about different types of things. You should be punshed for wanting to learn more about what is happening on in the world. If people are going to look at what you are browsing on the web then they should really determine if you are threat to society before they show up on your door step. 

 In regard to this situation, I have a difficult time deciding if I think this is an invasion of privacy or the nature of the web. Employers do have a right to monitoring social media accounts, since it is a way to decipher integrity and character. It should be common knowledge at this point that the Internet is public. I think that when you are at the work place, it is fair game for your search activity to be monitored. However, outside of the work place you should have your own privacy. While, it can be considered an invasion of privacy to some, if inappropriate searches are taking place during work hours then employers should be aware. If employers feel something is questionable they should approach those in positions of power before the cops; contacting the authorities first seems a little extreme.

I think employers monitoring the search activity and potentially contacting the authorities is kind of a violation of our right to privacy. However, if there was a threat at the workplace, I think they should do monitoring to keep track of what is going on. If that is not a reason and they are just keep tracking of the person, I think it is a violation of right to privacy. I do sometimes worry about online privacy. I think I'm going to freak out if someone is keep tracking of my online history.

This is a topic that I have always been on the fence about, on one hand I think it'd good that the government is trying to protect us but on the other hand I do not like having the feeling of being constantly surveyed. Ultimately I think that the government monitoring us is a waste of our resources. It probably cost them millions of dollars to have a program like this and I think that our money and time could be spent more wisely. 

Privacy, smrivacy. Yeah, the word "smrivacy doesn't really exist, just like one's privacy on the internet does'nt exist. I don't mind employers monitoring search activities (as long as they understand I might view Facebook a couple of times.. Just kidding), but if employers feel uncomfortable and feel the need to contact authorities in order protect the company, I don't have a problem with it. Do what you have to do.

I think there is a huge difference between having your searches monitored at home, and at work. If I'm in the privacy of my home, no one should be looking at what I search (within reason, I do believe that if I don't have anything to hide I don't have anything to worry about). If, however, I'm at work, I'm on my employer's time using their equiptment. I feel that they have the right to look at what I'm searching while I'm using their technology, but if that moves over to them looking while I'm at home, that seems like an invasion. I do struggle with people being so concerned about the government knowing too much about their personal lives while so many of the same people insist on posting every little detail of their personal lives on the internet.

I think that it is better to be safe than sorry. Being monitored at work is not a violation of privacy. You are choosing to search the things that you are searching in a public area rather then privately in your home. And since you chose to do that, I think that it is fair if your employer finds something suspicious to report it. I, thankfully, have not encountered something like this before. I think it would be scary to have the authorities show up at my door for something I recently searched on Google. But I understand how the world works today and that they are just trying to keep everyone safe. 

12/2/13

I believe that monitoring employees' searches on the web is totally fine - but to a certain extent. Once in a while, checking emails or browsing around on Facebook, Twitter or other social networks should not be a big of a deal. However, if employees browse around on inappropriate pages (that also may be a threat to the company), employers have the opportunity to intervene. I understand that no employee likes the idea of a workplace where employers constantly have an eye on what they do, but I think that it won't go away. Nowadays, much takes place online, so it is likely that employees may get distracted easily by e.g. social paltforms. However, I think that employers still should figure out a way not to monitor everything that the employees do, since many things are still non of his/her business. In addition, if having a good policy that has beend stated clearly right from the beginning on, I belive that employers should trust their employees. And I mean, checking or sending a private email here and there is not hurting anyone, right?!

I think that to a certain extent employers monitering your online use at the office is totally in bounds company ethics and is appropriate. I don't think that small things like facebook and twitter to a small extent, not overusing is a problem. But I do think that if they are using company time to do innaproptiate searches that have nothing to do with the company then that is in bounds for the company to deal with that problem accordingly. It needs to have somewhat of a checks and balances system, if someone is reading an article on credible news about something innapropriate it shouldn't be considered harmful, its just news. I think it needs to have good judgement but I do agree with workplace internet monitering. 

I believe that when you are at your workplace you should only be doing things on your computer and internet that are appropriate. You should not be doing anything that is threatening or out of line and if you are you should be held accountable. It is a lack of judgement, character, and respect to your employer, therefore you get what you deserve if there are consequences for your actions. 

I think in no way this is a reasonable thing to do. If someone wants to be educated on any public information why should they be stoped? I could understand an employer monitoring what their employees are looking at, but just to keep productivity at a high level. In no way should that lead to anythign outside of the office or anywhere else. 

Employers monitoring your search activity is not something thats new to me. My first week of my internship i was advised that our boss would be monitoring our web uses throughout the summer. It didn't bother me that much but at the same time it made me a little paranoid and feel like i was being watched by "the man". I'm all for keeping our surroundings safe, and if there is a threat that comes about I would wish it would be reported to authorties for our safety.

Employers monitoring your search activity is not something thats new to me. My first week of my internship i was advised that our boss would be monitoring our web uses throughout the summer. It didn't bother me that much but at the same time it made me a little paranoid and feel like i was being watched by "the man". I'm all for keeping our surroundings safe, and if there is a threat that comes about I would wish it would be reported to authorties for our safety.

I do not agree with any rules or regulations in reference to online searches. When personal things such as online searches are monitored it creates precedent – which enables regulation to become ever more intrusive as time goes on. However, I do recognize the positives that go along with monitoring suspicious activity on the web but I am willing to put myself at risk so I don’t have a task force knocking at my door for searching a pressure cooker. 

The article talks about how they were googling for these items at work and they were discovered by their employer. I am completely ok with companies monitoring what their employees do on company equipment, especially right after acts of terrorism. Internet privacy is something that would be nice, but like you said, if you don't want people to know what you're doing, you probably shouldn't be doing it. I do think an entire task force showing up at someone's door is a bit extreme, but the reason that they are monitoring I completely agree with, especially at work.

While on company property using company assets, an employer has the right to monitor your actions.  How is monitoring your behavior online any different than monitoring your attendance by asking employees to scan cards to enter/exit the workplace or access certain areas of the workplace.  Are they not also monitoring your location at all times by knowing when and where you have scanned your badge?  Along those lines, employers also have the right to monitor your activities while you are on company time while using company assets like computers and internet access.  Technically, they are funding those assets and could be associated with criminal activity should an employee be searching for such information to eventually use in a malicious manner.  With that in mind, reporting suspicious behavior that could reasonably be seen as an indicator of foul play is a matter of public safety and not a violation of one's rights.  

While I was aware that the government can basically track anything you do at this day in age, I guess I didn't realize it was to the point where they could show up at your house if they thought you were doing something suspicious online, even just searching on google. There's a fine line between keeping us safe and invading our privacy. A lot of people are obviously upset by this but I'm actually really happy the government can see what people are searching for and do something about it if they feel it is a threat. There have been so many tragedies, 9/11, the marathon bombing, school shootings...anything that might possibly prevent such horrific events from happening is verified in my opinion. And I couldn't agree with you more, if you're ashamed or worried about what you're doing, you probably shouldn't be doing it in the beginning. 

I can see why people are upset with the fact that the government monitors our online searches but I have no problem with it at all. I agree, if you have a problem with the government finding things that you have looked up you should just not look them up. In this day and age there is so much violence throughout the world every day. So if the government can just stop one terriost attack from happening I approve of what they are doing. I can see how the family that searched for pressure cookers could be upset but what if the next house they went to they found a bomb making lab? You don't know what is behind a door untill you open it. If it takes opening 100 doors to find one that has bombs behind it i feel like that is a job well done. My number one expectation of the government is for them to keep me safe. If this is the only way for them to do it I am fully on board!

I think it is totally acceptable for your employer to monitor your online activity. They hired you, and they should be able to tell if you are staying on task or not. Obviously there are lunch hours, but those searches can be time stamped. However, I do not think the employer has the right to contact the authorities if they feel there is a threat. "Feeling there is a threat" is something that is totally biased and can come from other agendas besides what you are actually searching. I do not think this keeps us safer at all. It just gives more people a reason to be paranoid and gives employers a reason to think totally normal behavior is suspicious when it's not. I have not encountered being monitored at work, but I also use private search windows at work any time I am not doing work related activities. I do that though, to stay safe, because I do not want my employers to think I was not doing my job if they did happen to look up the history or cookies. 

There should be a fine line between your privacy and what employers are aloud to do regarding your search history. Everyone wants there privacy respected, but if you are searching for something you should not be searching for then they should be able to know. If you have issues with privacy and what you are searching for, then you probably should not be searching for that anyway. If they can see what bad people are searching to keep us safer, then by all means do it. But in the instance of the random people searching backpacks and pressure cookers, at the wrong time, leave them alone.

I agree that there is a certain line that should not be crossed when it comes to privacy online. However, I am honestly not sure what that line should be. I believe that we do have the right to privacy of our seraches, however, there is so much about the internet that is not private. People need to know that what they do on the internet (such as social media) is out there for the world to see. Things such as Google searches may be something that shouldn't be tracked by employers and the government though. It may keep us all safer, but we all do have the right to search what we want to serach without being incriminated. 

Honestly I agree with the fact that if you're that worried about your privacy online than maybe you shouldn't be doing what you're doing. Others think "it's an invasion of privacy", but honestly those are the same people who think they should have control over whether or not a woman has a choice to have a baby or abortion. The government and employers are doing it for beneficial ways. They don't just search up random people to spy on them. Employers want to know who they're hiring, which they have the right to know. The government (or people who "protect us") should also have some control over that because how else is going to find out who terrorists are until it's too late? People need to look at the big picture and stop worrying about pointless things like "someone, maybe seeing them watching porn or etc.". 

I agree with your statement that if you're ashamed of what your searching, you probably shouldn't be searching it. There is a level of which monitoring searches becomes to much though. People who are searching undoubtedly, suspicious things might need to get approached because of it. It could prevent something terrible for happening. I think there needs to be a another level of research apart of it too. Whats the persons background? Are they a suspicious character? I don't think a family of 4 children should be approached because there youngest son was googling something he shouldn't of been. I did recently read an article about a man who was arrested do to paraphernalia, and what he was searching on the internet. It was some very disturbing searches and he was ultimately arrested for being unstable and a potential threat to children in his neighborhood. This is a case where I strongly agree with checking peoples searches. It all depends on the situation.  

I have mixed feelings about the situation. On the one hand, I'd rather be safe than sorry if someone was actuallly a threat. If they were a threat, the government could actually protect us and save lives. On the other hand, I do not like the government snooping through my business. I am supposed to have freedom and rights to privacy that I do not like them looking through. If they only are looking for suscipicious searches I think it is ok though because they are only trying to protect. I would not like to end up like the guy in the article though, who was merely curious and was then questioned for his simple curiousity. In the end, if you are not making suscipicious threats you should have nothing to worry about. 

I have mixed feelings about the situation. On the one hand, I'd rather be safe than sorry if someone was actuallly a threat. If they were a threat, the government could actually protect us and save lives. On the other hand, I do not like the government snooping through my business. I am supposed to have freedom and rights to privacy that I do not like them looking through. If they only are looking for suscipicious searches I think it is ok though because they are only trying to protect. I would not like to end up like the guy in the article though, who was merely curious and was then questioned for his simple curiousity. In the end, if you are not making suscipicious threats you should have nothing to worry about. 

The government should monitor the employee unless they are doing some violations things toward government or their company. However, employers should not monitor employees’ search activity. There should be a line between employees and employers. It is hard to set up a monitoring limit. There should be a company ethics for employees otherwise there is no limit searching their activities.

I feel that it is a little scary knowing that employers can montitor your search activity.  But, when it comes to people searching things that can be a threat, it's reassuring that employers can do something about it.  I dont feel it is a violation of our privacy, it is only keeping us safer.  If you are searching for threatening things than maybe this will make you think twice.  I would rather be safe and have my privacy taken away than be theatened.  The only people who have something to say about this issue and would be opposed to it would be the ones searching the threatening things.  I have never encountered a situation like this but if I eventually do I will understand that it is just to keep the citizens safe. 

I feel that it is not in violation of our right to privacy to monitor work search actvity.  I agree that if something is illegal or you are ashamed of what you are doing, do not be posting it on the internet where it will stay forever.  Especially searching and posting on work networks, which are heavily monitored to discourage illicit activity.  Contacting the authorities about your suspicious activity seems like it would not happen too often, especially without a substantial amount of evidence pointing to illegal activites or planned activities.  If a company has the money to put these kinds of watch dogs into place, more power to them and to the safety of our country and the work enviornment.  I did not know this kind of thing was happening on a smaller scale, outside of the government search for possible terrorists or suspicious activity.  There also is the point also that now that people know they could be being tapped or watched they will be more careful about how they communicate with collaborators, but it could also discourage the activity completely!

I am not sure to reply this question that monitor the employee what are they doing online. I think company can do this in the company, you can know what they are doing and you can find out who are not working. For employees, they do not want to be monitor when they working. So I cannot make the decision for this topic. You are working in this job, you should be allow the company’s rule, when you are at home, what you do any research or information is free to you. 

Being a political science major and having a great deal of interest in political matters I find it intriguing how our government acts on certain affairs. I am personally a tad bit paranoid of who is watching my interactions with others and what my most recent Google usage.  I also agree with the concept of reasonable monitoring, keyword reasonable.  I believe that employers do have the right to contact authorities if they feel someone is a treat. But I feel as though what an individuals searches online is only part what needs to be analyzed by employers before contacting authorities. One needs to look into behavioral actions and other changes in an individual. If someone believes that they are not being tracked at work while on their employers system then they are truly naive. I think there is a fine line between protecting citizens and violating another citizen’s right. So many laws a vague to where interpretation is left up to government officials and other authority figures.  I personally have never dealt with an issue like this but I have seen others deal with repercussions to what they have done on the Internet. 

I believe that monitoring search activity is definitely a violation of our right to privacy. I think employers would abuse this power. It is one thing to contact the authorities if someone is searching "how to make a bomb". However, innocent searches such a "pressure cookers" and "backpacks" should not warrant a police investigation. I think employers would also use this power to monitoring searches un-related to work. Employees could be repremanded for using the internet for things not related to work. This would be a direct abuse of the government's power. I understand that their is a line of what is appropriate vs inappropriate for work computers. However, giving employers the power to use their own descretion when investigating these searches is unfair. People have a right to privacy. Monitoring search activity is a violation of this right. 

I think that employers should be able to search activity of their employees if they are using a corporate server or computer or something that is actually tied to the company. What an employee does on their own time is their personal business, but while at work, and especially if using work equipment, anything is fair game. It is a violation of privacy, but at the same time the employee is being paid and if they are not doing work, they should have to deal with the repercussions. It also would not be smart to look up certain things while at work because it would be linked to the company's server.

I think that employers monitoring your search activity is totally fine. Work is a professional setting, meaning you are there to work. If you must google weird things, just wait until you get home. It is better than having your employer totally confused and concern about what you might do. Employers have every right to make sure that you are focused on the job they gave you. In certain situations, you do have to google some weird things. At my internship over the summer, they have no restrictions on what you can search because sometimes you have to research weird things for an advertisement or look at some questionable material however, if you are ashamed of what you are googling and feel the need to hide it... you probably shouldn't be searching it at work in the first place. I definitely don't think it is a violation of our right to privacy. 

I think that there is fine line between safety and a violation of our rights to privacy, and showing up to 'suspicious suspect's' doors crosses that very line. However, that being said, you should be entirely wary of what it is you are searching and whether or not that material should be researched, especially in the work place. If you are searching material at work that requires a task force to interrogate you as a result, then you most definitely shouldn't be searching that material at work and should be accountable for your actions since none of it is even work-related.

I was actually talking about this in another class and we were discussing how people that were having authorities sent to thier house after the Boston Marathon because they had Googled a pressure cooker and backpacks. I think that this is definitely a violation of privacy. I mean after the bombings I had no idea what a pressure cooker was and so I was researching it. Or even after watching something on the ID channel and looking it up to better understand what happened. If I had the authorities sent to my house because of something like that I would freak out. I don't think that they should be able to do that. Just because I have looked those things up before does not mean that I will use it or am a danger. I think after you have already been convicted you may use their Google searches like they did in the Casey Anthony trial, but not before. That is going way too far.

I can understand why authorities are concerned with what people are searching over the web, especially after instances such as 9/11 and even the recent NSA ordeal. However, I tend to find myself believing that when people are fully monitoring search activity and personal internet content that it is more so a violation to our right to privacy. Although I have never encountered a similar situation myself, I believe that what people are searching on the web isn't necessarily the business of others and it doesn't directly relate to criminal behavior. Curiosity is one thing, and many people use the Internet to find out information that they are curious about. But for police forces to take action and attempt to arrest citizens for "searching" something on the web is a little excessive in my opinion.

I have always been naturally conscious about what I post online.  I'm not sure if that is just in my personality, or because I was always warned that what you put into cyberspace stays there forever.  I can understand why a special task force would make inquiries like that, considering the way the world is today, but I can also see how it can be an invasion of privacy.  There are more innocent people out there, going about their daily business then there are people looking up "pressure cookers" will ill intent.  Where is that line of being proactive and being over-active? How do we know when we have crossed it, and is it okay to cross it?  Those are all valid questions I, and other people I know, ask.  In regards to it being an employer monitoring that, they should be able to look into what type of worker and person you are within the workplace to know if you really are looking up "backpack" because your kid starts second grade in two weeks, or if you plan on harming a bunch of people.  I think we need to be proactive, but we can't cross that line into over-active.

Ever since dial-up interent, when my parents allowed me to be on the computer, I have always been told to watch what you say or how I portray myself.  I think if you have to question yourself about posting something, maybe it is not the best idea to post it.  Privacy is important, which is why it is nice you are able to control your privacy settings on certain sites.  A lot of people now a days use their personal sites as a blog, such that they post a play by play of their days.  I have always heard about employers monitoring sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, so that is no surprise to me.  I knew a few people back in highschool that have actually got in trouble with the law because of things that they posted.  I do not think that search activity should be monitored though.  That to me is too much invasion of privacy.

The concept that employers can moniter search history is not really shocking to me.  If the company owns the computers, then they should be allowed to see what sites those users use.  Same goes with schools.  The idea that i dont like is they can give this information to special task forces that can come to you and investigate you.  I do not agree with people violating the privacy of people in their own homes, but if they are at a public place they are allowed to have the information/ sites that were searched on that particular computer.  I've never encountered a similar situation personally, and i hope i never do.  No one should have the authorities called on them for searching "backpacks" on google.  It just sounds paranoid and silly.

I always thought that people that were so paranoid about hte internet were crazy, like what are you really doing that you don't want people to see? I even had a professor one time that covered the camera on her computer and Ipad with tape because she thought that people were spying on her, safe to say I thought she was crazy, like who really cares to watch you laying in your bed watching netflix? But recently I have had a lot of ads coming up on my facebook and other websites that are EXACTLY what I searched on google and specific items I viewed on certain websites..and Its not that I mind but its just been getting kind of creepy to be honest. I think that having employers monitor search activity is a complete invasion of privacy, and that there should just be a level of trust between employers and employees. I also think that authorities should need a search warrant to look at those types of things, because I do think they could come in handy at some points. KELLI SMITH A45184822

I have always been told by my parents to be careful about the websites and searches im making at school and at work. We have known people that got fired from their job for making "suspicious searches." I think it's a good thing they investigate these things but on the other hand I think its probably a lot of money and time they waste, like the article said 99 of the 100 are nothing. That also brings up the idea that "you can never be too careful". I think privacy is important, but the internet is not the place to have that privacy. I don't think what you Google should have the police knocking at your door unless they are questioning other things too. Overall I think it keeps us safer but I think the article with the two Google Searches of "pressure cookers" and "backpacks" is too extreme. 

I believe there is a fine line when it comes to personal freedom and what is good for the rest of the population.  In this case in particular, employers tracking employees online searches, the issue is very polarizing.  In my opinion I think employers have the right to monitor employees online activity while at work.  The employers are playing its employees to act in a certain manner at work and they have to right to reprimand employees if they feel that an employee isn’t meeting its standards.  While reprimanding an employee at work for something being done at work is one thing, turning over search activity to government authorities is completely crossing the line.  This country is built on freedom and a line must be drawn to protect individuals from a world that is becoming less private every day.

I really feel strongly about employers not being able to look at search activity of their employees. There should be a level of trust with the employee and that shouldn't be something tht becomes a standard. I believe this is a total violation of our privacy. A good employer should be able to seek out people who may be a threat to a company during the hiring process. The government should be able to look into our search activity, but only on keywords that are potentially threatning. Individual employers shouldn't be looking at employee's though. I've personally never encountered a similar situation but I hope that I don't. I would really feel that my privacy had been violated if it did occur. 

In all honesty, I was simply dumbfounded after reading the linked article and your blog post. I had no idea that employers had this amount of power over their employees’ lives. Taking for example the family researching backpacks and pressure cookers, this seems absolutely absurd to me. I’m one of the few who still believe in innocent until proven guilty, despite our country’s evolving schema toward guilty until proven innocent. I suppose I can understand the value of being able to access an employee’s search history should any suspicious activity arise through other channels, but I firmly do not believe in any employer’s “right” to monitor their employees’ search history without probable cause. It is an invasion of privacy. Should I play devil’s advocate for a moment, I would point out that the employer may feel they DO have the right, as these searches would have been made on company time, therefore, the property of the company. However, seeing as this does not apply to any other aspect of the job, neither should this. Should an employer wish to monitor an employee’s search history, it should be stated up front that they reserve the right to do so, and if the employee has an issue with the rules, they are free to seek employment elsewhere. Should the employee referenced been searching pressure cookers and backpacks at work? Probably not; but this is no excuse to come knocking on their door.

I see most of the classmates think there should be a line that cannot be crossed. I strongly agree with their opinions. I, personally, think the privacy issue should be take care of based on different situation. For example, it is truth that employee shouldn't d whatever they want to when they are at work. So, it is employer's right to monitor his/her employee. However, in some company pays their employee per task not for the time they spend on work, I don't think employer should monitor his/her employees. Because it is employees' right to do whatever they want to after they finished their work. Furthermore, from different situations, I think if the employer is monitoring not watching, it is okay for privacy issue. Monitoring and watching should be different. In my opinion, monitoring might a setting up a computer system that notify employer when employee is watching video, reading novel, or searching for restaurant, etc. Watching, on the other hand, will possible be someone specificially pay attention on every search or action done through a person's computer. So, this issue is hard to say who is right or who is wrong. Many vital but tiny facet should be think of.

I do not think this issue is black and white. If you work for a corporate company, they certainly have the right to monitor your web searches, as that time should be spent being productive, rather than random searches through the Internet. While I do think at home, the search possibilities can be endless. That is part of the fun with the Internet. You can simply have answers to anything just with a few clicks. I do think that if questionable searches are consistently happening, it is okay for authority for step in and make themselves present. I have never dealt with an issue like this, but the closest I’ve gotten was being nervous during LimeWire downloads. Eventually the website shut down, but I can’t lie, I would be nervous while downloading large sums of music at once fairly often, as some people in neighboring states were caught. Overall, searches should be kept within certain diameters because you truly never know who is watching or listening. 

I think this issue needs to be segmented.  Are employers searching your personal or work search history and what is your job?  I believe that employers have every right to search through your browser history at work, but anything you do at home on your own time is personal.  I worked as an intern for 5/3 Bank where we couldn't even go on Facebook.  Even when asked to go on YouTube to do research by my boss, I wasn't able to because of page blockers.  It became a huge hindrance to my work, so much that I was unbelievably happy when my next internship didn't have any page blockers.  Everything was very closely monitored because of the information our computers held.  Accidents can happen to anyone and the last thing they needed was for an employee to accidently post a customer's personal information on the Internet for all to see.  In order to enact this rule, something must have happened in the past.  Some people may believe that this is an invasion of right to privacy, but if the business supplys the computer, it's all safer to have someone monitor it.  On the other hand, the bank has never asked to search my own computer at home.  It has nothing to do with the bank or the business of our customers, and therefore they have no right to search it.  That is an invasion of privacy and personally, I might be seeking other employment if my boss asked to see my personal search history.