I DO NOT use my work computer to look at porn online.  But somehow it appears that my google chrome account transferred my browsing history from my home computer to my work computer.  I noticed this today as I was checking my browsing history at work.  I cleared my browsing history, but the section at the top of the screen, which says "USER-PC", and underneath it a phrase "4 hours ago" still had the name of a clearly NSFW site directly underneath it.  I tried to delete temporary internet files, but it still was on there.  Finally, I hit the little arrow that's next to the "USER PC" sign, and instead of clicking on "expand list", I mistakenly clicked on "Open all".  Of course, the computer tried to open the NSFW site, and was blocked.  I immediately uninstalled Google chrome from my work computer.

Now, I'm terrified that IT will notice that I tried to open this site at work. What should I do?

Should I contact IT tomorrow, and tell them that somehow this thing got on my computer, and I tried to erase it?  Or should I just hope that nothing happens.  I know that if they check my browsing habits at work, it will be clear that I did nothing wrong and have no history of porn browsing at work. But will a single wrong "click" get me in trouble?  Any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

Google Chrome works so that you can carry your bookmarks wherever you go.

1 - You probably logged into Google at the office and brought your home bookmarks over that way.
2 - I assume the bookmarks and history you don't want to see do not appear in Internet Explorer if you open it up at work. This will confirm #1.

Your problem is happening because you have a Google account and it is syncing more than you want to sync between your work and home computers.

If you don't want the work Chrome to sync with your home Chrome, go to the "Customize and control Google Chrome" button (top-right button) and click on "Signed in" option. You can then click on the "Advanced sync settings" if you want to sync only some of the information or none of the info between the two computers.

Take a look at this for detailed help on this:
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1281195?hl=en

Good luck!


-- Modified on 6/11/2014 11:57:24 PM

No, do not contact IT.  In all likelihood, they do not care.  They probably see a lot worse on a weekly basis. And they will just snicker at "it got on there somehow"  Yeah, "somehow" being you spanking your monkey.

Just move on.  And use Incognito mode for chrissakes!

END OF MESSAGE

A good IT guy will know just how it got there, what you did to correct it, and how long you were on that site. He could be your best defense.  Just don't give anyone reason to look into it.

sent from my work computer

Get a job in the Porn industry, problem solved

to your boss, IT and others in authority in your company. Basically, just man up and ask for permission to access TER and escort related sites from your work PC. Skip the subterfuge. Be straight up. Demand your rights.  

BTW, I give shitty advice.

Good advice - IT logs are so large and vast that it's probably buried and will never be noticed.  It it is, one single incident can be blamed on clicking a link by mistake.  

Best is the get the service that makes your cell phone a mobile hot spot and do your   Rated browsing via that - either from your work lap top (if you have one and can sign off the work network for a bit) or just buy a cheap laptop/pad and use it with your hot spot at work.  Unless ah to you do is visible to others that gives you complete privacy from work IT.

Of if you want to be nasty, get the cheap laptop but give it a name like [coworkeryoudislike]lAptop, then browse on the company wifi with it -

I'm one of those IT guys.  At any computer connected to our network, we can tell who is logged in, what sites they've browsed to, how long they were there and how many pages they viewed and can even do a man-in-the-middle play to intercept and see what's going on in an https:// secured session.  At a work computer, there is no expectation of privacy.  At any sizable company, you probably signed an agreement about those terms.  Everything is logged and can be retrieved.

But the reality is there are too many people going everywhere to monitor effectively.  Unless a URL screams out "kiddieporn.net" or "buy_dope_here.com" or something else equally compromising to the institution, you probably will never hear a word about it.  Someone reviewing logs may notice and maybe even make a note of it, but time lost with people posting to FaceBook is a bigger problem from a lost productivity standpoint.

Your theory is correct! Thanks for the instructions to correct the problem.

That's the thing here, you create an account at home and then you log into it at work.... Which is a complete "bomb". Since you didn't know you may get burned anyway using a work computer. Never ever sync anything to a work type environment to any hobby.... I do photography on the side, and some of the shoots I do are non of my companies business but mine and I never use any of their workstations to check on my websites or content I shoot... Mostly my cell and iPad. Also, I have a company cell and personal cell.

Intrusive piece of crap it is