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Can someone see the contents of what you printed using the printing queue history?

Anonymous
2018-03-20T05:19:04+00:00

Hi, if you print a document on a network printer, it gets added to a queue.  So lets say I have a document called Personal.docx.  I print all 5 pages on a network printer.  So someone can see for example this user printed a 5 page document called Personal.docx and it was a Word document etc.  But can they click on this document/printer history/view printed document etc. to see the actual CONTENTS of what was printed?  I want to know if information is vulnerable this way?  Kindly advise?  Thanks!

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. @CmdrKeene 90,621 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-03-22T05:19:27+00:00

    Yes absolutely. Many corporate printers can do this, or you can with a print server intercepting all the print jobs. 

    Although you don't even have to print it for them to see all the contents of the file, if it exists in their Network than they have total visibility to it.

    In my company they even install root certificates, so even if you're on a so-called secure website, they can decrypt all of the traffic as it comes and goes and read it as they please.  A huge number of companies do this. 

    As our login process states, "there is no right to privacy on this network and you agree to this by continuing to log in. "

    Your company may have different policies, but if they want to they can see it all.

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-03-22T05:28:14+00:00

    Wow, I knew that it can be checked, I just wasn't sure to which extent.  But that is good to know what the worst case scenario is.  So technically IT people can intercept things like payslips or other confidential documents?!  Eeeek!  I guess it is necessary, but must feel quite invasive if you work under such strict conditions.  Thanks for your answer! :)

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  2. @CmdrKeene 90,621 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-03-20T16:30:55+00:00

    It depends who owns the network printer.  In a company network, your administrator can see everything you print.

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-03-22T05:07:37+00:00

    Hi, so not only can they see the file name and number of pages that you printed, but they can also open the document from the history and view the CONTENTS of what you printed?

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