The site logs the address and can, if it chooses, notify VA of the address, time, and date of visits. The site would not know exactly who the VA employee was unless VA releases that information. However, just as if you were driving a government-owned car, do not use government computers to visit Internet sites unless you are on official business. As long as VA retains control of the IP address assignments, individual VA employees have some anonymity. Sniffers can be attached anywhere to the Internet to collect IP addresses and other identifying information.
Computer criminals use sniffers to snare a unencrypted password or credit card account.
In theory, a sniffer could track VA visits to a Web site and report the results to the Department or to the press. Don't use a VA Internet connection to go to an Internet site that would embarrass you or the Department. If the provider protects user account profiles, an external site cannot determine which customer was visiting that site. However, if the visitor uses electronic mail, news groups, or otherwise identifies himself while at the site, then the site will be able to collect that identifying information. The Privacy Act prohibits this kind of activity on the part of government agencies.