Guest Author - Natalie Greaves

I once had a job where we played pranks on each other whenever someone was away from their desk. My colleagues and I would wait until "the victim" left for a meeting or the restroom, and then one of us would sneak up and download embarrassing pictures as their wallpaper.

While it wasn't very mature, those early unprofessional antics are a great example of what's at stake when you turn your back on your computer.

The recent news regarding the government's monitoring of confidential telephone records raises a very important question for many of us: How much access do the powers that be really have to my computer, my files and anything else in my personal workspace?

First things first: Know the rules.

-- Your email communications are not confidential. Many employers state at the outset of employment that email can be (and many times is) monitored. Be very careful what you say about your colleagues, as well as with whom you share your communications on the company's dime. Also know that even though you may have erased an email, it's most likely been backed up on a server somewhere.

-- Work produced on behalf of your employer belongs to your employer. In the creative industry, it's not uncommon to reproduce copies of your work for your personal portfolio. However, wherever you work, by entering into an employment relationship, you provide a service in exchange for a suitable compensation. Any work that you produce during that relationship is the intellectual property of your employer.

Finally, many employers will ask that you sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to ensure that everything that you've seen and heard stays with the employer. This minimizes the risk of sensitive information being leaked, and thus, your employer's credibility taking a significant hit.

What you should know going forward:
ALWAYS protect your valuables and belongings at work. Especially important is your sensitive information. Be mindful of storing passwords and personal family information on your work computer. Your sensitive information falling into the wrong hands can mean a world of trouble for you down the road.

Take care of your personal business AT HOME. Never send out resumes and correspond with inappropriate contacts from your work e-mail. Remember, it's getting saved somewhere, even if you think it has been deleted.

Double- and triple-check the recipients of your emails to ensure that you¡¦re sending the right message to the right person. Everyone at some point in their life sends an embarrassing email to their boss by accident. You can minimize the damage by watching what you put in every email.