Fight over Secret Messenger Usage

“Which will win- the company’s shield or the employee’s lance?’

As companies limit the use of Internet messengers, the fight between the company and employees over messenger usage has gotten rougher. Companies are trying to reduce the time employees spend on messengers, saying, “Messengers are a hindrance to carrying out their duties,” and employees keep thinking up new ways to use messengers secretly.

Making the messenger program translucent is one of the most frequent and fairly pardonable ways of secretly using it. MSN, nate, paran, and most other messengers provide a “translucent skin” option to meet customer demands. A translucent messenger placed over the word processor of email programs is hard to distinguish.

If the Internet connection of certain programs is limited, lesser known “minor messengers” are used. Since these programs are not on the blacklist of the computational team, there is no obstruction to using it. Mr. Kim, who works at a department store, uses an unknown program called “MissLee Messenger.”

If the computational team’s regulations are very strict, some pay money to use a “proxy sever.” This server provides a roundabout way outside of the company to use messengers. The security systems of companies that block only certain messengers can’t stop these roundabout connections.

Though infrequently used, another option is to change the name of the messenger to avoid being tracked down.

In the meanwhile, young office workers agreeing to the use of messenger emphasize its necessity. Lee Hyun-sook (30, female) who works at a small enterprise, says, “Messenger outperforms the telephone in many aspects, such as cost and time. Especially if there are many external affairs, a messenger is essential.”

In contrast, companies state the use of messengers degrades concentration. A personnel manager at a large firm says, “I see many young workers chat on messengers. For security and discipline, limitations on the use of messengers are essential.”

mikemoon@donga.com