It is a pretty secure computer in a government building. A few people other than me use it but they don't go online very much. I do. I use proxies sometimes to go to Myspace. We use Novell for firewalls and whatever else. I think it is probably more secure than my home pc. But is it totally secure just because it is part of The Department of Justice? If I was using a credit card I would not use a proxy for that.

1. The security on the machine is only effective internally. Once you go online you still need to be cautious about the sites you access before giving any personal information. A bad site can collect this info and save it. Also if you are on an unencrypted site anybody could be reading your communication.
2. A gov't computer that will allow a person to use a proxy to access MySpace is not my idea of a very secure computer.

   Most computers in elementary schools have better security!

3. The computer is not that safe if you can easily side step the firewall by just using a web proxy. Really secure computer employ double firewalls and DNS blockers.

   However, for credit card information your biggest concern is not IP, its the internet history. Most credit card information is pilfered from internet history files deleted or not deleted on your PC hard drive. Hackers gain access to these by entering your PC using modified cookies, java script other tactics.

   Wait to you go home and use your pc for credit card purchases and use a internet privacy software to perform a secure delete.

   here is a link to give you more info.
   http://www.delete-computer-history.com/I…

4. I consider all work computers secure, but they probably keep a copy of all communications.

   I am amazed you are risking your job using a proxy to get around computer usage restrictions.

   I guarantee you they log all internet traffic and keep a copy of all internet communications (emails, etc.) along with the user name, password, computer used, and time.

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