Caught with illegal software on office PC [on hold]
Our Antivirus software caught an illegal .exe file on my office PC.
I was contacted by my security officer that my PC will be contained and it's already enlisted for a clean wipe/reinstall.
As this is the first time this has happened, I have some questions
- Is there a typical way that this problem is dealt with by companies?
- Does it matter if the illegal .exe was installed during non working hours?
- Will I get a note from my employer?
- What are possible consequences?
security software
edited 12 hours ago
Richard U
99.8k73270399
migration rejected from security.stackexchange.com 12 hours ago
This question came from our site for information security professionals. Votes, comments, and answers are locked due to the question being closed here, but it may be eligible for editing and reopening on the site where it originated.
put on hold as off-topic by dbeer, Thomas Owens, gnat, sf02, Philipp 12 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – dbeer, Thomas Owens, gnat, sf02, Philipp
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
comments disabled on deleted / locked posts / reviews |
show 2 more comments
Our Antivirus software caught an illegal .exe file on my office PC.
I was contacted by my security officer that my PC will be contained and it's already enlisted for a clean wipe/reinstall.
As this is the first time this has happened, I have some questions
- Is there a typical way that this problem is dealt with by companies?
- Does it matter if the illegal .exe was installed during non working hours?
- Will I get a note from my employer?
- What are possible consequences?
security software
edited 12 hours ago
Richard U
99.8k73270399
migration rejected from security.stackexchange.com 12 hours ago
This question came from our site for information security professionals. Votes, comments, and answers are locked due to the question being closed here, but it may be eligible for editing and reopening on the site where it originated.
put on hold as off-topic by dbeer, Thomas Owens, gnat, sf02, Philipp 12 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – dbeer, Thomas Owens, gnat, sf02, Philipp
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
Could you add more detail? Country? Role in Company? Computer connected to Domain? Administrator privileges? What kind of executable (Malware, Spyware, Game, ...)?
– bukwyrm
13 hours ago
5
To be clear, did you knowingly install this "illegal exe"?
– Bilkokuya
13 hours ago
3
How could we answer this?
– joeqwerty
13 hours ago
1
There's no way to know how they will respond. If you say though "wait a minute, it was my first offence!!" probably it will not be as good as if you simply accidentally installed malicious software. If you accidentally installed malicious software, and it is in your job duties to install software from the Internet regularly, then the response will probably be more in your favour (an honest mistake, rather than irresponsibility on your part).
– Brandin
13 hours ago
3
Is the exe something you installed, or something that got installed without your knowledge by malware? If you violated your company's policies, then it is entirely up to your company how it will be handled.
– Wesley Long
13 hours ago
comments disabled on deleted / locked posts / reviews |
show 2 more comments
Our Antivirus software caught an illegal .exe file on my office PC.
I was contacted by my security officer that my PC will be contained and it's already enlisted for a clean wipe/reinstall.
As this is the first time this has happened, I have some questions
- Is there a typical way that this problem is dealt with by companies?
- Does it matter if the illegal .exe was installed during non working hours?
- Will I get a note from my employer?
- What are possible consequences?
security software
edited 12 hours ago
Richard U
99.8k73270399
Our Antivirus software caught an illegal .exe file on my office PC.
I was contacted by my security officer that my PC will be contained and it's already enlisted for a clean wipe/reinstall.
As this is the first time this has happened, I have some questions
- Is there a typical way that this problem is dealt with by companies?
- Does it matter if the illegal .exe was installed during non working hours?
- Will I get a note from my employer?
- What are possible consequences?
security software
security software
edited 12 hours ago
Richard U
99.8k73270399
edited 12 hours ago
Richard U
99.8k73270399
edited 12 hours ago
Richard U
99.8k73270399
edited 12 hours ago
Richard U
99.8k73270399
edited 12 hours ago
Richard U
99.8k73270399
99.8k73270399
asked 13 hours ago
JohnTrouble57
migration rejected from security.stackexchange.com 12 hours ago
This question came from our site for information security professionals. Votes, comments, and answers are locked due to the question being closed here, but it may be eligible for editing and reopening on the site where it originated.
put on hold as off-topic by dbeer, Thomas Owens, gnat, sf02, Philipp 12 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – dbeer, Thomas Owens, gnat, sf02, Philipp
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
migration rejected from security.stackexchange.com 12 hours ago
This question came from our site for information security professionals. Votes, comments, and answers are locked due to the question being closed here, but it may be eligible for editing and reopening on the site where it originated.
put on hold as off-topic by dbeer, Thomas Owens, gnat, sf02, Philipp 12 hours ago
This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:
- "Questions seeking advice on company-specific regulations, agreements, or policies should be directed to your manager or HR department. Questions that address only a specific company or position are of limited use to future visitors. Questions seeking legal advice should be directed to legal professionals. For more information, click here." – dbeer, Thomas Owens, gnat, sf02, Philipp
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
Could you add more detail? Country? Role in Company? Computer connected to Domain? Administrator privileges? What kind of executable (Malware, Spyware, Game, ...)?
– bukwyrm
13 hours ago
5
To be clear, did you knowingly install this "illegal exe"?
– Bilkokuya
13 hours ago
3
How could we answer this?
– joeqwerty
13 hours ago
1
There's no way to know how they will respond. If you say though "wait a minute, it was my first offence!!" probably it will not be as good as if you simply accidentally installed malicious software. If you accidentally installed malicious software, and it is in your job duties to install software from the Internet regularly, then the response will probably be more in your favour (an honest mistake, rather than irresponsibility on your part).
– Brandin
13 hours ago
3
Is the exe something you installed, or something that got installed without your knowledge by malware? If you violated your company's policies, then it is entirely up to your company how it will be handled.
– Wesley Long
13 hours ago
comments disabled on deleted / locked posts / reviews |
show 2 more comments
Could you add more detail? Country? Role in Company? Computer connected to Domain? Administrator privileges? What kind of executable (Malware, Spyware, Game, ...)?
– bukwyrm
13 hours ago
5
To be clear, did you knowingly install this "illegal exe"?
– Bilkokuya
13 hours ago
3
How could we answer this?
– joeqwerty
13 hours ago
1
There's no way to know how they will respond. If you say though "wait a minute, it was my first offence!!" probably it will not be as good as if you simply accidentally installed malicious software. If you accidentally installed malicious software, and it is in your job duties to install software from the Internet regularly, then the response will probably be more in your favour (an honest mistake, rather than irresponsibility on your part).
– Brandin
13 hours ago
3
Is the exe something you installed, or something that got installed without your knowledge by malware? If you violated your company's policies, then it is entirely up to your company how it will be handled.
– Wesley Long
13 hours ago
Could you add more detail? Country? Role in Company? Computer connected to Domain? Administrator privileges? What kind of executable (Malware, Spyware, Game, ...)?
– bukwyrm
13 hours ago
Could you add more detail? Country? Role in Company? Computer connected to Domain? Administrator privileges? What kind of executable (Malware, Spyware, Game, ...)?
– bukwyrm
13 hours ago
5
5
To be clear, did you knowingly install this "illegal exe"?
– Bilkokuya
13 hours ago
To be clear, did you knowingly install this "illegal exe"?
– Bilkokuya
13 hours ago
3
3
How could we answer this?
– joeqwerty
13 hours ago
How could we answer this?
– joeqwerty
13 hours ago
1
1
There's no way to know how they will respond. If you say though "wait a minute, it was my first offence!!" probably it will not be as good as if you simply accidentally installed malicious software. If you accidentally installed malicious software, and it is in your job duties to install software from the Internet regularly, then the response will probably be more in your favour (an honest mistake, rather than irresponsibility on your part).
– Brandin
13 hours ago
There's no way to know how they will respond. If you say though "wait a minute, it was my first offence!!" probably it will not be as good as if you simply accidentally installed malicious software. If you accidentally installed malicious software, and it is in your job duties to install software from the Internet regularly, then the response will probably be more in your favour (an honest mistake, rather than irresponsibility on your part).
– Brandin
13 hours ago
3
3
Is the exe something you installed, or something that got installed without your knowledge by malware? If you violated your company's policies, then it is entirely up to your company how it will be handled.
– Wesley Long
13 hours ago
Is the exe something you installed, or something that got installed without your knowledge by malware? If you violated your company's policies, then it is entirely up to your company how it will be handled.
– Wesley Long
13 hours ago
comments disabled on deleted / locked posts / reviews |
show 2 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
Depending on the organization, and the nature of the .exe, resultant action can be anything from removal of the .exe up to and including termination.
You need to speak with security and determine the nature of the violation and assist them in any and all investigation.
This could be as simple as some malware that just snuck in. Sometimes things slip through. It could have been planted in a phishing email, or hidden on a legitimate webpage you went to (even your own company's pages are not immune).
If it's determined that this is malware, and was either a driveby install, or another means where you have no culpability, expect nothing. It's routine.
HOWEVER if you were engaged in any activity you should not have been involved in, or skirted company policy, you can expect a minor reprimand. One company I worked for made you take the IT security course over again if you messed up, and left it at that.
If this was deliberate on your part
I.E. installing a game, or downloading software that wasn't authorized (even to do your job), it could result in disciplinary actions.
This is usually directly proportionate to damage done.
Speak with your manager as well to see if anything is required of you.
From what you describe, it sounds like they caught some malware, and that should be the end of it, but consult with your manager and security to see if you need to take any additional action.
answered 13 hours ago
Richard URichard U
99.8k73270399
add a comment |
You need to speak with your manager about this (because they're going to find out anyway). Be as open and honest as you can be about how that software got onto the machine and why.
What disciplinary action might result from this (above a "don't do this again"), is entirely down to your manager, the IT security rules in place at your workplace, and the severity of the security threat/licensing issue involved.
answered 13 hours ago
Snow♦Snow
63.1k52207252
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Depending on the organization, and the nature of the .exe, resultant action can be anything from removal of the .exe up to and including termination.
You need to speak with security and determine the nature of the violation and assist them in any and all investigation.
This could be as simple as some malware that just snuck in. Sometimes things slip through. It could have been planted in a phishing email, or hidden on a legitimate webpage you went to (even your own company's pages are not immune).
If it's determined that this is malware, and was either a driveby install, or another means where you have no culpability, expect nothing. It's routine.
HOWEVER if you were engaged in any activity you should not have been involved in, or skirted company policy, you can expect a minor reprimand. One company I worked for made you take the IT security course over again if you messed up, and left it at that.
If this was deliberate on your part
I.E. installing a game, or downloading software that wasn't authorized (even to do your job), it could result in disciplinary actions.
This is usually directly proportionate to damage done.
Speak with your manager as well to see if anything is required of you.
From what you describe, it sounds like they caught some malware, and that should be the end of it, but consult with your manager and security to see if you need to take any additional action.
answered 13 hours ago
Richard URichard U
99.8k73270399
add a comment |
Depending on the organization, and the nature of the .exe, resultant action can be anything from removal of the .exe up to and including termination.
You need to speak with security and determine the nature of the violation and assist them in any and all investigation.
This could be as simple as some malware that just snuck in. Sometimes things slip through. It could have been planted in a phishing email, or hidden on a legitimate webpage you went to (even your own company's pages are not immune).
If it's determined that this is malware, and was either a driveby install, or another means where you have no culpability, expect nothing. It's routine.
HOWEVER if you were engaged in any activity you should not have been involved in, or skirted company policy, you can expect a minor reprimand. One company I worked for made you take the IT security course over again if you messed up, and left it at that.
If this was deliberate on your part
I.E. installing a game, or downloading software that wasn't authorized (even to do your job), it could result in disciplinary actions.
This is usually directly proportionate to damage done.
Speak with your manager as well to see if anything is required of you.
From what you describe, it sounds like they caught some malware, and that should be the end of it, but consult with your manager and security to see if you need to take any additional action.
answered 13 hours ago
Richard URichard U
99.8k73270399
add a comment |
Depending on the organization, and the nature of the .exe, resultant action can be anything from removal of the .exe up to and including termination.
You need to speak with security and determine the nature of the violation and assist them in any and all investigation.
This could be as simple as some malware that just snuck in. Sometimes things slip through. It could have been planted in a phishing email, or hidden on a legitimate webpage you went to (even your own company's pages are not immune).
If it's determined that this is malware, and was either a driveby install, or another means where you have no culpability, expect nothing. It's routine.
HOWEVER if you were engaged in any activity you should not have been involved in, or skirted company policy, you can expect a minor reprimand. One company I worked for made you take the IT security course over again if you messed up, and left it at that.
If this was deliberate on your part
I.E. installing a game, or downloading software that wasn't authorized (even to do your job), it could result in disciplinary actions.
This is usually directly proportionate to damage done.
Speak with your manager as well to see if anything is required of you.
From what you describe, it sounds like they caught some malware, and that should be the end of it, but consult with your manager and security to see if you need to take any additional action.
answered 13 hours ago
Richard URichard U
99.8k73270399
Depending on the organization, and the nature of the .exe, resultant action can be anything from removal of the .exe up to and including termination.
You need to speak with security and determine the nature of the violation and assist them in any and all investigation.
This could be as simple as some malware that just snuck in. Sometimes things slip through. It could have been planted in a phishing email, or hidden on a legitimate webpage you went to (even your own company's pages are not immune).
If it's determined that this is malware, and was either a driveby install, or another means where you have no culpability, expect nothing. It's routine.
HOWEVER if you were engaged in any activity you should not have been involved in, or skirted company policy, you can expect a minor reprimand. One company I worked for made you take the IT security course over again if you messed up, and left it at that.
If this was deliberate on your part
I.E. installing a game, or downloading software that wasn't authorized (even to do your job), it could result in disciplinary actions.
This is usually directly proportionate to damage done.
Speak with your manager as well to see if anything is required of you.
From what you describe, it sounds like they caught some malware, and that should be the end of it, but consult with your manager and security to see if you need to take any additional action.
answered 13 hours ago
Richard URichard U
99.8k73270399
answered 13 hours ago
Richard URichard U
99.8k73270399
answered 13 hours ago
Richard URichard U
99.8k73270399
answered 13 hours ago
Richard URichard U
99.8k73270399
99.8k73270399
add a comment |
add a comment |
You need to speak with your manager about this (because they're going to find out anyway). Be as open and honest as you can be about how that software got onto the machine and why.
What disciplinary action might result from this (above a "don't do this again"), is entirely down to your manager, the IT security rules in place at your workplace, and the severity of the security threat/licensing issue involved.
answered 13 hours ago
Snow♦Snow
63.1k52207252
add a comment |
You need to speak with your manager about this (because they're going to find out anyway). Be as open and honest as you can be about how that software got onto the machine and why.
What disciplinary action might result from this (above a "don't do this again"), is entirely down to your manager, the IT security rules in place at your workplace, and the severity of the security threat/licensing issue involved.
answered 13 hours ago
Snow♦Snow
63.1k52207252
add a comment |
You need to speak with your manager about this (because they're going to find out anyway). Be as open and honest as you can be about how that software got onto the machine and why.
What disciplinary action might result from this (above a "don't do this again"), is entirely down to your manager, the IT security rules in place at your workplace, and the severity of the security threat/licensing issue involved.
answered 13 hours ago
Snow♦Snow
63.1k52207252
You need to speak with your manager about this (because they're going to find out anyway). Be as open and honest as you can be about how that software got onto the machine and why.
What disciplinary action might result from this (above a "don't do this again"), is entirely down to your manager, the IT security rules in place at your workplace, and the severity of the security threat/licensing issue involved.
answered 13 hours ago
Snow♦Snow
63.1k52207252
answered 13 hours ago
Snow♦Snow
63.1k52207252
answered 13 hours ago
Snow♦Snow
63.1k52207252
answered 13 hours ago
Snow♦Snow
63.1k52207252
63.1k52207252
add a comment |
add a comment |
Could you add more detail? Country? Role in Company? Computer connected to Domain? Administrator privileges? What kind of executable (Malware, Spyware, Game, ...)?
– bukwyrm
13 hours ago
5
To be clear, did you knowingly install this "illegal exe"?
– Bilkokuya
13 hours ago
3
How could we answer this?
– joeqwerty
13 hours ago
1
There's no way to know how they will respond. If you say though "wait a minute, it was my first offence!!" probably it will not be as good as if you simply accidentally installed malicious software. If you accidentally installed malicious software, and it is in your job duties to install software from the Internet regularly, then the response will probably be more in your favour (an honest mistake, rather than irresponsibility on your part).
– Brandin
13 hours ago
3
Is the exe something you installed, or something that got installed without your knowledge by malware? If you violated your company's policies, then it is entirely up to your company how it will be handled.
– Wesley Long
13 hours ago