PWNED: The Technology Fails That Make You Wince
Welcome back to PWNED, the weekly feature on GadgetLad where we explore the chaotic realm of tech errors. This time, we’re in for a good chuckle with stories of questionable actions, improper use of company equipment, and a sprinkle of theft – all neatly organized by the IT team. If you have a scandalous tale about someone leaving their digital security ajar, reach out to us at pwned@gadgetlad.co.uk. Confidentiality is provided upon request.
The Grand CEO Blunder
Our series of tech missteps comes from Zach Lewis, the present CIO and CISO at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis. When he served as a sysadmin, Lewis was enlisted to retrieve some deleted images for a CEO. The images, located on a company file share, were accessible to all employees. While sifting through Google Picasa archives to recover them, he stumbled upon some pictures that were, well, not workplace appropriate.
The Embarrassing Discovery
Lewis recounted, “I was right there with him, restoring everything, and up pops some adult content. He just brushes it off, saying, ‘Oh yeah, that’s some of my stuff.’” It was a blend of official photos, family images, and those risqué ones. Aware that this could lead to a lawsuit, Lewis dashed to HR, who instructed him to dispose of the inappropriate content despite it belonging to the big boss. Thankfully, he didn’t face any backlash for deleting the head honcho’s naughty stash.
The Top Hat Conundrum
In another incident, Lewis was asked to inspect a man’s computer for a possible virus. The fellow requested he not dig too deep, which, of course, implied there was something worth seeing. Sure enough, Lewis discovered a folder overflowing with adult images, including ones of the employee in the nude, except for a top hat. “A policy is merely a piece of paper, right?” Lewis joked, underscoring the necessity for common sense and a little guidance.
The Mystery of the Missing iPad
While Lewis was employed at a university, an athletics coach made a swift exit but neglected to return his school-issued iPad. A month later, a video surfaced on the school’s YouTube featuring another coach’s children. It turned out, the sly coach had swiped the iPad for his kids. HR brought him in, and after some denial, a social media photo had him confessing the children were indeed his. The stolen iPad was promptly returned, and the lesson is clear: return your equipment before you dash, mate!
Security Takeaways for Everyone
The iPad episode revealed a significant vulnerability – it wasn’t securely locked and provided access to the school’s YouTube account. Always make sure that former employees hand over their devices straight to IT and secure tablets with biometrics to prevent similar escapades.
Conclusion: When Technology Goes Awry
In a realm where tech blunders are as frequent as dodgy kebabs on a Friday evening, remember to maintain your digital order. Whether it’s an unfortunate file mix-up or a case of lost gadgets, finding humor while learning a lesson is the GadgetLad ethos. Stay cheeky, Newcastle!
