A new poll of 2,000 workers reveals that 70% use their work laptop for personal tasks, including online shopping, booking holidays, and even job hunting. The survey, commissioned by Samsung to mark the launch of the Galaxy Book6 Enterprise Edition, found that 35% engage in non-work activities on their work device at least once a week, while 21% admit to sharing it with household members.
Concerns Over Employer Awareness
While 26% of respondents worry about their boss discovering their personal use, 54% believe their manager has little awareness of how they use the company computer outside working hours. Nearly a third (32%) use their work laptop to access personal emails, with 25% relying on autofill and 26% staying permanently logged into their accounts.
Blurred Boundaries in Hybrid Work
The shift to hybrid working has blurred the lines between professional and personal life, according to the survey. Employees store both confidential company documents (63%) and personal photos (18%) on their work laptops. Annika Bizon, a spokesperson for Samsung, commented: "For many people, a laptop has become the gateway to both their professional and personal lives. It provides access to company systems, sensitive documents, financial information and personal accounts, all through a single device. As laptops continue to play an important role in how we work and live, security has never been more important."
Security Awareness vs. Behavior
Despite 84% claiming awareness of the risks of using an employer-owned device for personal activities, 37% are more concerned about violating company policy than about work (36%) or personal (32%) information being at risk. Two-thirds (66%) use their work laptop to access sensitive client data, and 69% say losing it would cause more disruption than misplacing their work phone. Nearly a fifth (18%) assert they need constant access to both work and personal information in one place.
Risks and Encryption Gaps
Just over one in 10 (11%) argue that their need to use the work laptop for personal activities outweighs security concerns, while 84% say the device contains more work-related information than any other they own. Notably, 14% confess they don't know what personal information is stored on their work laptop, and 71% are unaware whether their device is encrypted. Bizon added: "Our new product brings together our strongest security offering to date, helping businesses better protect sensitive information whilst supporting flexible ways of working."
