http://lifehacker.com/#!237227/geek-to-live--encrypt-your-web-browsing-session-with-an-ssh-socks-proxy

http://ca.lifehacker.com/5763170/how-to-secure-and-encrypt-your-web-browsing-on-public-networks-with-hamachi-and-privoxy

If I set up my own VPN or similar server on my always on computer at home, they say I could access gmail from my work computer. My question is, will the IT guys at work be able to notice something strange is going on if I'm on gchat at work through one of these things? (by IT guys I mean the two guys in charge of our network at work - its a small company)