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Can I retrieve old AOL instant messenger conversations?

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Hi! I'm just curious as to how secure IM through Compuserve is. Is there anyway to go to review, history, or archives and see your old conversations, and can anyone do that? I've been told it's not safe to discuss personal things. True? Thanx

Posted by: Shyan at February 11, 2005 7:46 AM

does aol keep track of im coversations

Posted by: olivia martinez at April 4, 2005 3:35 PM

They now claim not to. This article as more: http://ask-leo.com/are_my_instant_messaging_conversations_private.html

Posted by: Leo at April 4, 2005 7:45 PM

Get Trillian. Trillian logs all your converations in easy-to-access folders.

Posted by: Idiot Savior at July 18, 2005 6:14 AM

AIM's main drawback is that it doesn't do the little things as well as the competition. You can save conversations manually, but you can't archive them automatically. You can send and receive files, but only one at a time. You can't log on as "invisible," hiding your online status from buddies, nor can you send an IM to someone who's off-line.

Posted by: peeksta at August 11, 2005 10:07 AM

isn't it true that most computers save pretty much anything for a certain amount of time in an internet file..so wouldn't old messages be on that for a certain amount of time?

Posted by: heather at August 25, 2005 8:31 AM

Not an "internet" file, no. There are temporary files that programs may, or may not use. (I don't beleive that the IM clients use them.) And once deleted those are often quickly ovwritten by other programs writing to the hard drive.

Posted by: Leo at August 25, 2005 9:48 AM

I know there is no way to retrieve IM conversations when you are using AIM. But what if you are using AIM through AOL? I've heard that there is some way to access emails and IM conversations even if those emails are not AOL 'mails and the person is no longer signed into the email website, or signed into IM. Is this possible, and how would I delete those records? Would clearing my cookies and temp files do the trick?

Posted by: Cassie at September 12, 2005 2:19 PM

Can aol track an instant message I sent to someone? Can they tell if it has been edited as in her acting like me writing things?

Posted by: P at September 15, 2005 2:31 PM

No, not that I'm aware of.

Posted by: Leo at September 15, 2005 4:40 PM
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