iPhone 5 - What Can My Employer See?

EW800 · Oct 19, 2012

Hello!

I am very new to the iPhone world have recently jumping ship from BB over to the iPhone 5. I am wondering if anyone can tell me what my employer can see at their end, if they wanted to? I am on the bring-your-own device plan, whereas I simply put in my e-mail address, password and the server address through Microsoft Exchange. My e-mail, contacts and calendar then imported. Based on what I know and have stated above, can anyone tell me what access my IT Department would then have to my phone, if they so choose? Can they see all webpages viewed? What Apps I use? Where I am at if the GPS is turned on? I don't have anything to hide, however have wondered how much Big Brother could be watching, if he chose to.

Thanks!

ChristianVirtual · Oct 19, 2012

Any additional software installed ? MDM like MobileIron ?

I think it save to assume that your company can remote wipe at least company related data from email account ; can see what SW is installed and more.
I think I would not go with BOYD.
Keep business seperate from private is better ...

i7QuadCoreMania · Oct 19, 2012

Any good IT dept will require you to install something like an Enterprise mobile manager software on the phone which will allow them to locate the device if lost or remotely wipe it as, that's required by most audit regulations for any mobile device that retains information.

I don't think it's spying on their employees is common practice, so I would have to say that it's more just for security and audit requirements.

LoloBond · Oct 19, 2012

Like he said, any good IT can even delete your phone back to default with one click....

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb430761.aspx

EW800 · Oct 19, 2012

Can they pull or view GPS data to see where a fun is or has been?

iphone46 · Oct 19, 2012

EW800 said:
Can they pull or view GPS data to see where a fun is or has been?

If they are just having you log in to your exchange account, they can only remote wipe your device but not get your location. However, if you are super paranoid just turn off locations services.

lelisa13p · Oct 19, 2012

EW800 said:
Can they pull or view GPS data to see where a fun is or has been?

Well, that's Freudian.

jk

Interesting question from OP. I wouldn't use my personal device for business, either, if at all possible.

OCS12 · Oct 19, 2012

The IT department where I work loaded a Lotus Notes security profile on my 5 so I could access my corporate email on my personal phone. Other than requiring that pass code lock be on, it's totally unobtrusive.

I had the same security profile on my 3GS for over a year and have had all kinds of "NSFW" pass through my phone with no repercussions. My department is already heavily monitored by IT because we're the only ones in the company with admin rights to our laptops and the ability to get around one big firewall, so I figure I would have heard by now if my girlfriend's habit of sending "motivational" photos to come straight home ASAP had been noticed.

Shermdo · Oct 19, 2012

iphone46 said:
If they are just having you log in to your exchange account, they can only remote wipe your device but not get your location. However, if you are super paranoid just turn off locations services.

It would depend on how the MDM software is configured but it is safe to assume that your mobile device can be tracked. It also can be wiped, partially or completed, or reset to factory defaults.

wepiii · Oct 19, 2012

OCS12 said:
The IT department where I work loaded a Lotus Notes security profile on my 5 so I could access my corporate email on my personal phone. Other than requiring that pass code lock be on, it's totally unobtrusive.

I had the same security profile on my 3GS for over a year and have had all kinds of "NSFW" pass through my phone with no repercussions. My department is already heavily monitored by IT because we're the only ones in the company with admin rights to our laptops and the ability to get around one big firewall, so I figure I would have heard by now if my girlfriend's habit of sending "motivational" photos to come straight home ASAP had been noticed.

Or they like looking at your gf lol

gldubzakjr · Oct 19, 2012

EW800 said:
Hello!

I am very new to the iPhone world have recently jumping ship from BB over to the iPhone 5. I am wondering if anyone can tell me what my employer can see at their end, if they wanted to? I am on the bring-your-own device plan, whereas I simply put in my e-mail address, password and the server address through Microsoft Exchange. My e-mail, contacts and calendar then imported. Based on what I know and have stated above, can anyone tell me what access my IT Department would then have to my phone, if they so choose? Can they see all webpages viewed? What Apps I use? Where I am at if the GPS is turned on? I don't have anything to hide, however have wondered how much Big Brother could be watching, if he chose to.

Thanks!

If it's a company phone, they have access to everything if they choose... It's best to insure you are where you say you are, when you say you are, and avoid the temptation to download porn on that fast LTE internet connection...

All kidding aside, most IT personnel and companies do not have the resources to constantly monitor activity; however, if given the need, they can track just about everything.

MuGeN PoWeR · Oct 19, 2012

wepiii said:
Or they like looking at your gf lol

jk4lebron23 · Oct 19, 2012

They know when you visit bigjugs.com on your lunch break...

boomhower · Oct 20, 2012

If it's a work phone, use it for work. You have no right to privacy otherwise unless they have given it to you. Assuming they pay for you to use it for work, that's what you use it for. Get your own phone for personal use.

Mercenary · Oct 20, 2012

If its your phone and you just enter exchange details they can see nothing and do nothing. They CANNOT remote wipe your phone, Apple doesnt allow them to. They CANNOT install any apps remotely unless its setup by their IT department using a corporate profile which from what your saying they cant.

By just putting in exchange details its like those of us who use Gmail push, they can read your email no problems, they own that shiz, but as for your lust for porn or trains, they have no idea.

Now, if your using your work WIFI then they probably know everything your visiting. So STOP IT!

Rory Manton · Oct 20, 2012

I use my phone for work too but I have told the IT department that it is MY phone and they can't have access to it at all.

I hasten to add that its just used for contacting me whilst on site and for using the works Evernote account.

alphaod · Oct 20, 2012

Bring you own phone, means don't bring your personal phone; instead bring a phone dedicated to work.

Vizin · Oct 20, 2012

alphaod · Oct 20, 2012

Vizin said:
Depends on the company.

No you can bring your personal phone; what I'm saying is it's not smart to do so.

VTMedicated · May 25, 2013

Mercenary said:
If its your phone and you just enter exchange details they can see nothing and do nothing. They CANNOT remote wipe your phone, Apple doesnt allow them to.

I'm afraid that's not entirely accurate. Active Sync Remote Wipe can perform a factory reset on an iOS device. This is a core "feature" of Exchange, if your company uses it and that's how you connect, then your admin absolutely has this capability. It's egregious... akin to blowing up someones car when they get fired because they might have a company file in the glovebox. I suspect that the vast majority of employees taking advantage of BYOD policies have no idea that they gave permission to an admin to delete their personal photos, contacts, and other information. It's a shame that the law can't keep up with tech because it's going to take a major suit to compel a company to spend the money on alternatives. For now, scorched earth is very much the status quo of bring your own device policies.

KUguardgrl13 · May 25, 2013

VTMedicated said:
I'm afraid that's not entirely accurate. Active Sync Remote Wipe can perform a factory reset on an iOS device. This is a core "feature" of Exchange, if your company uses it and that's how you connect, then your admin absolutely has this capability. It's egregious... akin to blowing up someones car when they get fired because they might have a company file in the glovebox. I suspect that the vast majority of employees taking advantage of BYOD policies have no idea that they gave permission to an admin to delete their personal photos, contacts, and other information. It's a shame that the law can't keep up with tech because it's going to take a major suit to compel a company to spend the money on alternatives. For now, scorched earth is very much the status quo of bring your own device policies.

So I have an exchange account through my college. Do they have similar access?? Not that I have anything embarrassing on my phone, but I don't think they really have any business snooping or wiping data without permission. They do warn us that 180 days after graduation or dropping out we lose access to our email accounts.

BHP41 · May 25, 2013

EW800 said:
Hello!

I am very new to the iPhone world have recently jumping ship from BB over to the iPhone 5. I am wondering if anyone can tell me what my employer can see at their end, if they wanted to? I am on the bring-your-own device plan, whereas I simply put in my e-mail address, password and the server address through Microsoft Exchange. My e-mail, contacts and calendar then imported. Based on what I know and have stated above, can anyone tell me what access my IT Department would then have to my phone, if they so choose? Can they see all webpages viewed? What Apps I use? Where I am at if the GPS is turned on? I don't have anything to hide, however have wondered how much Big Brother could be watching, if he chose to.

Thanks!

No. They can't see anything. They have zero access to your iPhone. Nothing to worry about. It's the same as adding any other email account.

Minarets · May 25, 2013

We have MobileIron software. I am pretty sure IT can look at my phone at anytime and see what they want.
I am not a iphone user yet, but will be going from my BB to iphone soon.

BHP41 · May 25, 2013

KUguardgrl13 said:
So I have an exchange account through my college. Do they have similar access?? Not that I have anything embarrassing on my phone, but I don't think they really have any business snooping or wiping data without permission. They do warn us that 180 days after graduation or dropping out we lose access to our email accounts.

They do not have access to your iPhone. What he's saying is that, they may have the ability to wipe your iPhone. Although I would investigate that a bit to 100% sure. Again, they can't see anything about your iPhone. It's just an email account connecting to a server. Nothing more.

----------

Minarets said:
We have MobileIron software. I am pretty sure IT can look at my phone at anytime and see what they want.
I am not a iphone user yet, but will be going from my BB to iphone soon.

That's bit more than just an email account though. For sure with software like that, along with the app that has to be installed for it to work. IT does have a huge control over your phone. In this case, it's simply best to separate you work from personal devices.

ucfgrad93 · May 25, 2013

boomhower said:
If it's a work phone, use it for work. You have no right to privacy otherwise unless they have given it to you. Assuming they pay for you to use it for work, that's what you use it for. Get your own phone for personal use.

Agreed. If your company is paying the bill they have a right to know what you are doing on it.

iPhone 5 - What Can My Employer See?

macrumors 6502

macrumors 601

macrumors 6502

macrumors 6502

macrumors 6502

macrumors regular

macrumors 68000

macrumors member

macrumors newbie

macrumors 6502a

macrumors member

macrumors 68040

macrumors 65816

macrumors 68000

macrumors 65816

macrumors 6502

macrumors Core

macrumors 6502a

macrumors Core

macrumors newbie

macrumors 68020

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 6502a

macrumors Core

Our Staff