My job has added a new app that we have to download to our computers and to our phones. We have to download the Duo app to our phones to connect to the system, and to have access to our work emails.

From what I see about this app, I fear that it may be giving my job access to more of my personal data then I am willing to share.

Perhaps I am more concerned then I should be. I have not done this yet, and I will admit, not having access to my work emails is a pure pain in the behind, but it I can live with it, if I must.

Quote:What Is Duo?

One of the supposed benefits of the process that I don't feel comfortable about.

Establish device trust. Once access is granted, Duo enables your organization to see every device that is connected to your network and applications and easily monitor device health and compliance.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/s...s-duo.html

It's no more invasive than any other app. I have it on my phone because that was my granddaughter's preferred video chat app before she hit puberty and became too cool to video chat with her granny. I think the Messenger app and Face Time apps are probably more invasive to be honest although Duo doesn't have as many cool doodads on it. Also Duo is a Google app so if you have anything Google on your phone (search engine, maps, Gmail, Youtube, etc.) they wont be accessing anymore than they already are anyway.

If it were me, I would buy a "burner" phone to install the app on, and minimize what personal data I carried on that phone. Name or pseudonym would be about the extent of it. If the burner had "location services", I would disable that, as well as all Google apps and web browsing to thee extent feasible and still maintain connection to work via the app, and then use that phone only for work related things, and nothing else, keeping my real phone for all personal communications.

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(09-15-2022, 11:26 PM)GeauxHomeLittleD Wrote: It's no more invasive than any other app. I have it on my phone because that was my granddaughter's preferred video chat app before she hit puberty and became too cool to video chat with her granny. I think the Messenger app and Face Time apps are probably more invasive to be honest although Duo doesn't have as many cool doodads on it. Also Duo is a Google app so if you have anything Google on your phone (search engine, maps, Gmail, Youtube, etc.) they wont be accessing anymore than they already are anyway.

The Duo app that my job wants us to download is not the same as the video app. It is a security app that allows my job access to my computer devices.

(09-15-2022, 11:28 PM)Ninurta Wrote: If it were me, I would buy a "burner" phone to install the app on, and minimize what personal data I carried on that phone. Name or pseudonym would be about the extent of it. If the burner had "location services", I would disable that, as well as all Google apps and web browsing to thee extent feasible and still maintain connection to work via the app, and then use that phone only for work related things, and nothing else, keeping my real phone for all personal communications.

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I thought about getting a work phone, and I know a couple of co-workers that have done that. But i don't want to spend the money to get a work phone because I can't just get a cheap call and receive phone, because we export and import a lot of important documents, so I need a half way decent phone.

As generous as I am to others, as my mother always says, "You can make a penny holler". When it comes to spending money on me, this is more than true.

On a positive note, Cisco Systems is one the more respected companies when it comes to network security, especially enterprise networks like with hospitals.

(09-16-2022, 03:07 AM)EndtheMadnessNow Wrote: On a positive note, Cisco Systems is one the more respected companies when it comes to network security, especially enterprise networks like with hospitals.

I work for the government. But that does not mean I trust the government.

I know. Shame on me.

(09-15-2022, 11:30 PM)NightskyeB4Dawn Wrote: The Duo app that my job wants us to download is not the same as the video app. It is a security app that allows my job access to my computer devices.

My mistake! I would talk to my boss and ask since they want to dictate what apps are on your phone that you use for work if it wouldn't be more than fair for them to supply you with a company phone.

Definitely ask for a company phone. 

You should not be forced to use your personal for work unless they are willing to pay for it.

(09-16-2022, 05:55 AM)GeauxHomeLittleD Wrote: My mistake! I would talk to my boss and ask since they want to dictate what apps are on your phone that you use for work if it wouldn't be more than fair for them to supply you with a company phone.

They are too clever to make it mandatory.

It is optional. I don't have to download load to my devices. 

I can drive the hour it takes to get to the office, and read my emails off the office computer. Then drive the hour back home.

(09-16-2022, 06:29 AM)kdog Wrote: Definitely ask for a company phone. 

You should not be forced to use your personal for work unless they are willing to pay for it.

The State is far too clever to force you to do anything.

They always give themselves just enough room to be able to slide out of having to take on the expense.

I have to give it to them. They are good at maintaining the illusion of maintaining your freedoms.

And I have to be honest. I have never really received any backlash from my refusing to participate in State options.

I work with a good group of people. We don't always see eye to eye, and there have been moments of discord, but all in all, we get along extremely well for a group as large as ours.

(09-16-2022, 06:29 AM)kdog Wrote: Definitely ask for a company phone. 

You should not be forced to use your personal for work unless they are willing to pay for it.

@"NightskyeB4Dawn" ☝☝☝☝☝

Take the government cell ... and only use it during duty hours.

Remember ... especially in your line of work ... that the implied tasks that come with carrying a phone change your pay status.  You move from 'whatever' to stand-by.  Stand-by status is usually a 10% increase in your base pay (at least it is on the Fed side). If you work for the Fed, take the phone, and then make an appointment at CPAC/CPOC to get your PD updated. When you retire, you can split the difference in your retirement pay with me. 

(09-16-2022, 01:05 PM)Snarl Wrote:

(09-16-2022, 06:29 AM)kdog Wrote: Definitely ask for a company phone. 

You should not be forced to use your personal for work unless they are willing to pay for it.

@"NightskyeB4Dawn" ☝☝☝☝☝

Take the government cell ... and only use it during duty hours.

Remember ... especially in your line of work ... that the implied tasks that come with carrying a phone change your pay status.  You move from 'whatever' to stand-by.  Stand-by status is usually a 10% increase in your base pay (at least it is on the Fed side). If you work for the Fed, take the phone, and then make an appointment at CPAC/CPOC to get your PD updated. When you retire, you can split the difference in your retirement pay with me. 

I would not right now make any noise about a raise in pay. They just raised our pay by a "significant" amount, less than a year ago. Most of what I have ever asked for, they have given me, without much of a fight. In fact, they are always asking me, what I need.

This is not about money. I just don't want any more of my personal information sitting in a government database, than is absolutely necessary. Though even that point is probably mute.

Having started life being raised on military bases, growing up as an Army brat, working for the Navy, after high school, having spent four years in the Air Force, and my father working for the CIA, they probably already have a file on me greater than the encyclopedia Britannica.

At this stage of my life, and working for the State, this file would likely be named, "Epilogue".

(09-16-2022, 02:32 PM)NightskyeB4Dawn Wrote:

(09-16-2022, 01:05 PM)Snarl Wrote:

(09-16-2022, 06:29 AM)kdog Wrote: Definitely ask for a company phone. 

You should not be forced to use your personal for work unless they are willing to pay for it.

@"NightskyeB4Dawn" ☝☝☝☝☝

Take the government cell ... and only use it during duty hours.

Remember ... especially in your line of work ... that the implied tasks that come with carrying a phone change your pay status.  You move from 'whatever' to stand-by.  Stand-by status is usually a 10% increase in your base pay (at least it is on the Fed side). If you work for the Fed, take the phone, and then make an appointment at CPAC/CPOC to get your PD updated. When you retire, you can split the difference in your retirement pay with me. 

I would not right now make any noise about a raise in pay. They just raised our pay by a "significant" amount, less than a year ago. Most of what I have ever asked for, they have given me, without much of a fight. In fact, they are always asking me, what I need.

This is not about money. I just don't want any more of my personal information sitting in a government database, than is absolutely necessary. Though even that point is probably mute.

Having started life being raised on military bases, growing up as an Army brat, working for the Navy, after high school, having spent four years in the Air Force, and my father working for the CIA, they probably already have a file on me greater than the encyclopedia Britannica.

At this stage of my life, and working for the State, this file would likely be named, "Epilogue".

Your only option that I can see is to get a secondary device, whether GI or personally purchased, to use for work only. A cheap Wally World "smart" phone or a cheap tablet ought to do the trick. The only thing that device will know about you is "she's a forensic nurse, and handles grotie shit", and they already have that data on you, so no harm done.

You would be amazed what most folks keep on their electronics. I once hacked my sister's computer from half a world away, and ransacked it to get all sorts of data. Then I messaged her and asked her if she wanted an "internet cup holder", and when she said "sure", I popped out her CD tray from way over there. The I zipped up all her data - banking data, where her kids whet to school, just all kinds of stuff, and e-mailed it to her with a note - "you've got too much personal data on your computer, and that makes you a sitting duck. Fix it."

With a work-only device, and enough self control to keep it work only, then only work related data sits there, and they already have all that info.

.

(09-16-2022, 07:22 PM)Ninurta Wrote:

(09-16-2022, 02:32 PM)NightskyeB4Dawn Wrote:

(09-16-2022, 01:05 PM)Snarl Wrote:

(09-16-2022, 06:29 AM)kdog Wrote: Definitely ask for a company phone. 

You should not be forced to use your personal for work unless they are willing to pay for it.

@"NightskyeB4Dawn" ☝☝☝☝☝

Take the government cell ... and only use it during duty hours.

Remember ... especially in your line of work ... that the implied tasks that come with carrying a phone change your pay status.  You move from 'whatever' to stand-by.  Stand-by status is usually a 10% increase in your base pay (at least it is on the Fed side). If you work for the Fed, take the phone, and then make an appointment at CPAC/CPOC to get your PD updated. When you retire, you can split the difference in your retirement pay with me. 

I would not right now make any noise about a raise in pay. They just raised our pay by a "significant" amount, less than a year ago. Most of what I have ever asked for, they have given me, without much of a fight. In fact, they are always asking me, what I need.

This is not about money. I just don't want any more of my personal information sitting in a government database, than is absolutely necessary. Though even that point is probably mute.

Having started life being raised on military bases, growing up as an Army brat, working for the Navy, after high school, having spent four years in the Air Force, and my father working for the CIA, they probably already have a file on me greater than the encyclopedia Britannica.

At this stage of my life, and working for the State, this file would likely be named, "Epilogue".

Your only option that I can see is to get a secondary device, whether GI or personally purchased, to use for work only. A cheap Wally World "smart" phone or a cheap tablet ought to do the trick. The only thing that device will know about you is "she's a forensic nurse, and handles grotie shit", and they already have that data on you, so no harm done.

You would be amazed what most folks keep on their electronics. I once hacked my sister's computer from half a world away, and ransacked it to get all sorts of data. Then I messaged her and asked her if she wanted an "internet cup holder", and when she said "sure", I popped out her CD tray from way over there. The I zipped up all her data - banking data, where her kids whet to school, just all kinds of stuff, and e-mailed it to her with a note - "you've got too much personal data on your computer, and that makes you a sitting duck. Fix it."

With a work-only device, and enough self control to keep it work only, then only work related data sits there, and they already have all that info.

.

I agree. Planning on tracking one down this weekend. 

Thanks all.

Maybe others have been talking.

Just found out we got another raise. It is only 6% more an hour, so it most be to cover the cost of the new phones.  

I have a zero security level job and have little use for the company portal website other than retrieving my paycheck stubs and using the mandatory new system where you acknowledge the job performance evaluations. They use a QR code to access your specific job performance review, an app I had to install to use. I have been making my own QR codes and find it can be useful.

I think I started something. It won't be the first time.

The staff is trying to arrange a meeting with the higher ups to discuss compensation and reimbursement. I guess I am not the only one that does not want to take on the expense of a second phone.

(09-19-2022, 02:37 AM)NightskyeB4Dawn Wrote: I think I started something. It won't be the first time.

The staff is trying to arrange a meeting with the higher ups to discuss compensation and reimbursement. I guess I am not the only one that does not want to take on the expense of a second phone.

Well lookit you, stirring the pot again!

 

.

(09-19-2022, 02:37 AM)NightskyeB4Dawn Wrote: I think I started something. It won't be the first time.

The staff is trying to arrange a meeting with the higher ups to discuss compensation and reimbursement. I guess I am not the only one that does not want to take on the expense of a second phone.

Am I getting half?