One of the extremely common questions I get is how to hack into someone else's instant messaging history, or how to recover an IM chat that may, or may not, have been archived.
Those answers vary based on the instant messaging client that you are using. But there's something else recently discovered that's much more disturbing.
AOL has the right to read, and even publish publicly, your private IM conversations.
Yikes.
•
As reported recently by Aunty-Spam, the AOL terms of service for AOL Instant Messenger includes this very clear, and very scary phrase: "You waive any right to privacy." It goes on to discuss how AOL may use your instant messages in any way it sees fit, at any time.
Again, I say, Yikes!
Now, I doubt seriously whether AOL is interested in the gushing's of a 13 year old IMing her best friend of the week wondering her boyfriend's really 'all that' or not. But, as I've commented on before, people are using free services for business-critical purposes. Are you using AIM to discuss sensitive, private material? What would happen to you, or your business, if AOL decided that your conversation was a good example to publish on the web for all to see?
All together now: Yikes!
So don't. Personally, I'd run away from AOL Instant Messenger (and ICQ, which is owned by AOL and has the same terms of service) for anything that you wouldn't want the world to see. In a business setting? Using an encrypted, business class IM solution. But run away from the free solutions. As with free email, you're just asking for problems.
Related:
Ask Leo! - Are free email services worth it?
Aunty Spam - All Your AIM Chats are Belong to Us - AOL New AIM Terms of Service Waives All Privacy, AOL Can Publish Your Chats
Article C2305 - March 14, 2005
I have private convos with my friends all the time on AIM. My mom somehow always seems to read them and i don't know how. It is my convo and she has no right to read them. How can i get access to them after i X out of the convo box? How can i read them before she can?
Posted by: Lee<3 at June 3, 2007 7:57 AMhow do I get rid of AIM convos? when I have a boyfriend i had some pretty private convos I dont want my mother to see
Posted by: lex at July 30, 2007 8:02 PMLEO!! my mother is secretly reading my IMs how can i prevent that and make sure they are deleted?? HELP! she needs to trust me and not invade my privacy!
Posted by: Katie at August 15, 2007 3:53 PMthis is not true, and this is the website to prove that it is not true, stating that AIM does not read your private AIM conversations, which they rightfully shouldn't ...
Posted by: mary at October 5, 2007 9:19 PMhttp://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/aim.asp
I am a mom and want to know how to look at my son's (14) IM conversations after he has logged out. Is it possible?
Posted by: Barbara at November 4, 2007 3:30 PMIs there way for me to recover or view old IM conversations with another AOL member. If so, how.
Posted by: Spunky at October 19, 2008 2:30 PMsee when you compromise your sons privacy that he trusts you respect BARBRA you lose your sons trust. I know your a mom but for him to feel safe and able to talk to you you cant dig it invades him makes him feel unsafe and violated if he cant feel safe at home where will he get that security from? Think before you violate your own child's privacy. I'm just recommending this you don't have to but just give a little more trust a relationship with your child works both ways.
Posted by: dakota at February 18, 2009 3:33 AMIf you are worried about anyone reading or creating a log of your instant messaging conversations, you can use a private instant messaging program. I am a blogger for Brosix, and they offer a corporate and a free version of their program, which is on secure servers so no one can hack into and save or read your conversations.
Brosix.com
Posted by: Kelsey at February 18, 2009 8:45 AMBrosix Blog
you go to actions, then clear history so ur mom cant read them
Posted by: tors at May 18, 2009 6:32 PMis there a way that you can make your aim logs private
Posted by: lissann at October 30, 2009 8:47 AM