If I connect via VPN on company laptop, can they see what I do on my personal desktop if using same router?

Question

I have always wondered this. If I connect via the Cisco VPN client on my company laptop, can the company see what I am doing on a seperate computer (that does not have the VPN client installed) on the same network? So, I have a Linksys wireless router, I connect the laptop with VPN via wireless connection, but I get up and go to Monster.com on my personal computer CAT5 connected in the other room. Can they see that activity on my personal computer and log it? They monitor all Web activity and I don't always remember to log off VPN before I use the other PC.

I can't find this answer anywhere and it is driving me nuts!

Answer 1

No.  The only way they could have any record of what is done on your desktop is if you were connected to the VPN on the desktop, which you probably couldn't do because the VPN client hasn't been imaged to it. The only way that they can monitor any surfing history is if the computer is connected to their network.

The company laptop is set up so that you have limited access to any critical functions of the PC.  If you disable the proxy settings on your laptop, you can surf the internet normally through your ISP at home without being connected to the VPN, and they will not be able to filter what you see and do on the internet.

There is no way that they can see the sites that you surf on  your personal computer.

Answer 2

As long as the main computer isn't using the client, it is not on the VPN, it gets routed from your home network so NO they can't see it at all. Its not even on the company system.

The main difference is in the "GATEWAY" used to the internet. Check your two machines, one will have an address from your office (the one using the VPN) and the other will have one from your home router.  Now if the router itself is used to make the VPN connection, you have a totally different issue!

Add: You said "Additionally, the IPCONFIG on the laptop when connected shows company network, but IPCONFIG on home computer shows my normal IP. Does this mean I am good?"  

Yes your are good, Your laptop is connected to the VPN your desktop is not. Your desktop is fully isolated from the company system.