HR and IT managers would like to think roaming workers follow the same rules as their office-based counterparts. But new research shows just how far those rules are bent.

Apparently, a lot of those folks are watching porn and downloading illegal MP3s.

According to data collected by security vendor ScanSafe, compared to in-office workers, employees who take company devices home are:

• 2.5 times more likely to look at pornography
• 8.5 times more likely to use illegal file-sharing services, and
• 3.9 times more likely to do other illegal activity.

(Interestingly, remote workers were 66% less likely to use their devices for online banking — which is a common form of personal use in the office.)

It shouldn’t be a surprise that browsing habits change when someone’s no longer in an office. Also, the report doesn’t say how many employees are using company property for offensive or illegal means.

Still, HR and IT should take note and remind roaming employees that technology use rules apply to devices used at home, too.

Tags: company-owned devices, laptops, mp3, porn