well i really messed up this time

[FireCop86]

so i am a security guard (ya ya save your jokes for yourself) for a laboratory. i work 11pm to 7am. last night i was on the company computer for the guards and was looking for batteries for my flash light when all of a sudden a virus popped up. to make a long story short i was able to get the virus off by downloading a free anti virus software then i uninstalled the software after the virus was gone. some of the programs got messed up from the virus so i called my husband who happens to be a computer tech. he told me he knew a number of things how to fix it but not knowing my company policy he didnt want to tell me how to fix it. that is when it occurred to me i didnt read the policy about the computers. so when i got home i read the policy and it said that no employee may install software, hardware, or try and fix the computer with out express written consent from the IT representative for our facility. result in failure to follow policy may result in disciplinary action up to being terminated. i have been working there for 10 months. i am very reliable, never been in trouble and never call in sick. i am hoping this is to my benefit when i talk to my boss monday morning. i am so stressed and upset right now. i should have never messed with it but i thought i could fix it. i wish this would all just go away. i thought about being vague to my boss and say there was a virus and i got rid of it but now i know i need to tell him every detail of what i did. so hopefully he understands i made a stupid mistake and have learned from it. thanks for "listening" to me vent... i'll let you know what happens

[Chit2001]

Just be upfront and honest with him/her. I think you'll come out alright. I've messed up before and I wasn't even browsing, really.... I think I was going to hotmail or something. Anyhow, I just explained what happened, got the "required" butt-chewing and "don't let it happen again" speech and it was all good. This was on a GOVERNMENT computer, too.... much bigger deal than a company computer!

[FireCop86]

Just be upfront and honest with him/her. I think you'll come out alright. I've messed up before and I wasn't even browsing, really.... I think I was going to hotmail or something. Anyhow, I just explained what happened, got the "required" butt-chewing and "don't let it happen again" speech and it was all good. This was on a GOVERNMENT computer, too.... much bigger deal than a company computer!

thanks chit. i know i am expecting the worse and the worse probably wont happen. one of the things that sucks about me is that i really dewl on my mistakes. i dont know why i cant just move on but thats the way i am i guess. i keep thinking to myself "your such a freaking idiot why did you have to mess with it" i dont know maybe i am too hard on myself but i cant help it

[Smurfette_76]

eh. We're often harder on ourselves. Chin up, t*ts out...admit to it and deal with whatever comes your way...but always be honest about it.

[FireCop86]

eh. We're often harder on ourselves. Chin up, t*ts out...admit to it and deal with whatever comes your way...but always be honest about it.

thanks for the tip and that is exactly what i am going to do. nothing else to really do except lie and i wont do that. i plan on being a cop and i know integrity is everything. hopefully he will respect that i am honest and taking full responsibility for my actions and not trying to lie my way out of trouble like some others do at my work.

[Smurfette_76]

That's the exact frame of mind to have. It is what it is and you can't change it now. Lettme know what happens.

[FireCop86]

That's the exact frame of mind to have. It is what it is and you can't change it now. Lettme know what happens.

i will, my boss comes in at around 0545 but i dont get off work til 0700. thank you for taking out the time and giving me advice. i know my problems are no where near what you and your family are going through and i really appreciate and take what you say to heart. i know i havent been on this forum very long but i have learned who i can trust and who i cant and i know you are definitely one who we can all trust.

[Taylor13]

Well, good luck with whatever hapens!

[Smurfette_76]

i will, my boss comes in at around 0545 but i dont get off work til 0700. thank you for taking out the time and giving me advice. i know my problems are no where near what you and your family are going through and i really appreciate and take what you say to heart. i know i havent been on this forum very long but i have learned who i can trust and who i cant and i know you are definitely one who we can all trust.

Well, woah. What a nice thing to say. I assure you that I screw up like everyone else. I too am very hard on myself. What I would accept from others as mistakes, I would put myself through the ringer for. I do appreciate the compliment, though...it's nice to hear.

[Mrs. Hoppes]

Don't feel bad. I was a security officer too once upon a time. We all make mistakes. The little blue lady is wise. Heed her advice and you'll be fine.

[ComicGuy]

Security guard jobs are a dime a dozen; if you fark up one, go get another one.

[Monty Ealerman]

I suggest you avoid the word "virus". Its a red-flag word. The program that caused something to pop up probably was some other kind of malware, such as adware.

Just tell the boss that there was some malware on the system that was causing popups at you, and that you utilized some standard stuff from the net in a cursory attempt to get rid of the malware, and that you cleaned up the stuff after yourself to be diligent about not leaving a mess, but that it appears that the system needs more janitorial work than you were prepared to do without consulting with IT.

Mention that the system had already been hosed before you got to it, and that you had just been trying to pitch in and help out without introducing any new problems.

Let the boss know that you read the policies afterward to see how much helping out you were allowed to do and what the proper procedures were, and that you to your chagrin recognized that your using tools from the net to help out could be construed as a violation, so you won't do that again without talking to IT and/or your supervisor first.

If it was a violation, it seems to me that it was honestly not known to be one by you at the time of its ocurrence, and to have been a well-intentioned action. It's not as if you downloaded poker or chat or music sharing software. You had a problem on the computer when you were using it for a work related purpose, and you were trying to pitch in and help all its users.

It's almost certain that your looking for batteries for your SureFire or Streamlight was not the primary or proximate cause of any bugs you encountered. There was almost certainly something wrong before you looked for batteries.

If you want to, PM me or post again and I'll tell you how you can prove that.

[NORCOCOP]

Like it has been said your probably fine, policies like that are written to get folks who destroy company property surfing for porn and that kind of non sense, for the most part. I actually have a similiar issue a few years back I came into work and this sight called something like officer.com or some something of a similiar ilk just appeared on my computer, I tried resisting and yet it just would not leave mealone. Finally I caved decided, if I could not beat it to join it, and here I am typing away on a slow sunday night

[PlainSilverTin]

here here...slow monday and low and behold here i am at the o with 45 minutes left on my shift...i mean i am checking my work email account with 45 minutes left on my shift.

be honest. for the most part it was probobly some adware or malware, i doubt it's cause for termination....

[texaschickeee]

you will be fine.
tell the truth, let it go and just stop beating yourself

we all are more hard on ourselves thenw e would ever allow anyone else be.