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Password security

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by daiquiria

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Is it wrong or unethical for a supervisor to ask a subordinate for his system password to use his computer while the subordinate is out of the office? I was recently asked by my supervisor to give her my userid and password because I will be out for two days and she wants to use a program that is installed on my computer, even though she has the same program on her computer. I don't feel comfortable with this, even though I went ahead and gave it to her and I plan to have it changed. There is no internal policy that covers this issue. Any suggestions?

11 replies

by ann777

It depends on the trust and relationship (or lack thereof) that you have with your supervisor.If he/she has the same program on their machine, I think it'd be okay to point out that fact and ask why she feels a need to use your computer in your place (ie with your login and password they will be emulating you and potentially doing things in your name).

As an administrator, you should never give out the administrator password. As a user on the domain, he/she should be able to log into yourcomputer with their own login and password.

I can see the asking of login/password if there's an embedded device (ie a cdrw drive for instance) that needs to be used to backup something.... but not really otherwise.

If you have already given her your login and password, make note of the fact and maybe e-mail your system administrator as to the fact that you are away for whatever period of time and she has your login and password. Ask him or her (system admin) to change it. Remember, your supervisor can do anything in your name now -- from her machine or from yours.

by daiquiria

There is no trust in this relationship, which explains my reticence at giving her my password. When I pointed out the fact that she has the same program on her computer, she responded, "I would prefer you please just follow instructions." I also suggested that I leave my computer on for her, and she came up with the notion that "we may have a power outage or the network may go down. Would you please just do as I ask?"

by cbutler123

Most offices have a policy stating that the network user (employee) is responsible for keeping their network logon password secure. If your company has an IT department I would let them know your supervisor has your network password and you would like a new one. Depending on the climate for security in your firm will depend on the actions your IT department will take.

by daiquiria

I have already informed my IT department head that I would like to change my password when I return to my office. The policy here is that we are all responsible for our password security. I just wasn't sure if an immediate supervisor could and should ask an employee for theirs. Thanks.

by wim

As long as it's not intended as some form as checking on what you have on your pc/mail I don't think it's a problem, but you should just ask why she needs your pc when she has the same program...
I think that it depend on what you feel as your "privacy" and how far big brother can go...

by daiquiria

There is no trust in this relationship, which explains my reticence at giving her my password. When I pointed out the fact that she has the same program on her computer, she responded, "I would prefer you please just follow instructions." I also suggested that I leave my computer on for her, and she came up with the notion that "we may have a power outage or the network may go down. Would you please just do as I ask?" This is an ongoing, no win situation. Thanks for your suggestions.

by shmaltz

There should be no reason what so ever for you to give the password, there should be no reason what so ever for someone with admin rights on your computer to ask for the password, nothing is protected if s/he has admin rights. There are somtimes when a user asks you to fix somthing that is wrong on his/her computer, and in order to do that you have to logon as the user, then you shouldn't ask the password, nor should the user give it out. Instead you should either have the user log you on all the time or reset the password, and once you fixed the problem give the password to the user (s/he will anyhow call you that s/he can't logon)and set it to User must change password at next logon.

by daiquiria

Thanks for this. I wasn't sure if a supervisor could legally or morally or ethically ask for a password just because she's too lazy to use her own computer. She doesn't have administrative rights because she is not an IT person, otherwise she wouldn't have needed to ask me for it. I am very uncomfortable with this, although I took the time to delete anything that she could possibly open and confront me about.

by greybeard770

It is not ethical for your supervisor to ask for your password. There is really no reason for her to login as you. If they want to audit your e-mail they have the right to since they own it, but they should be up front about it.

It is also not ethical to refuse such an unethical request from your supervisor, even if there is a policy about not sharing passwords.

Watch your back.

by daiquiria

THANKS!!! I am definitely watching my back, for this and other reasons also. I wasn't sure if a supervisor could legally or morally or ethically ask for a password just because she's too lazy to use her own computer. She doesn't have administrative rights because she is not an IT person, otherwise she wouldn't have needed to ask me for it. I am very uncomfortable with this, although I took the time to delete anything that she could possibly open and confront me about.

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