Summary: Web services often log activities and usage information. Exactly how much is logged and what it takes to access the logs is typically not known.
Does MSN Hotmail (now Windows Live Hotmail) keep a log of when and from what specific computer I logged into Hotmail? I think someone is accessing my mail as this particular person keeps turning up to things I am at. He is a little strange but I don't want to inform the police until i know if he can be traced.
•
Short answer: we don't know.
The longer answer is that there may well be logs, but whether they contain what you need, how long they'll be kept, and what it takes to even get the answer are huge unknowns.
•
It's pretty easy for any web-based service to keep logs of its activity. As we've discussed before, web servers at a minimum typically log the date, time, and IP address of the requesting computer every time a web page is visited. More complex applications may well log additional information like the account name that logged in or other specific activities that the web service performed.
The problem is that we just don't know what information Windows Live Hotmail keeps in its logs. Microsoft won't tell you.
Another problem is that the information they do log may not be enough for what you need. As we've also discussed repeatedly, an IP address is not enough to identify a specific computer or user. Even if you were able to get the IP address associated with your last login you might get close, but it's also quite possible you won't get nearly close enough for that to be useful.
Yet another problem is the sheer volume of information that those logs might collect. Windows Live Hotmail has millions upon millions of accesses every day. Logs that include any useful amount about those accesses would be huge. Too huge. So as a result it's extremely likely that even if there are logs, they're only kept for so long before they're discarded to make room.
How long are logs kept? Your guess is as good as mine. A day? A week? A month? Longer? There's no way to know. Microsoft's not saying.
Finally, let's say the information you need is being logged, and it's being kept long enough for it to still be available. What then?
Microsoft will most certainly not just give it to you if you ask. Besides being a huge privacy risk, it would require more resources that Microsoft just doesn't have allocated to what is a free service. You get what you pay for and you're paying nothing.
Chances are the police can't just walk in and ask for it either, though I suppose it's possible. More likely is that the police or other law enforcement officials will have to go to court and get a court order forcing Microsoft to release the information they have.
It sounds like it's quite an ordeal to get this information, and it needs to be. You don't want this information to be freely or easily available for privacy reasons. Making it difficult helps protect every Windows Live Hotmail user's privacy.
The bottom line is that only law enforcement can tell you whether or not they can even try to get the information based on just how serious the issue you're facing is.
Related:
-
Ask Leo! - When I visit a web site, can the server identify me?
-
Ask Leo! - What can people tell from my IP address?
-
Ask Leo! - How do I find out who's at a particular IP address?
Article C3209 - November 11, 2007
Change your password to your MSN account. Problem solved if it exists.
Depending on how far you want to take this you could also tell a friend tipped off to meet you at an event that isn't taking place. Wait out of site and see if the fellow turns up. If so, you have an issue.
Posted by: Dan Ullman at November 12, 2007 9:14 AMhow do i contact msn for help,a phone number is needed
Posted by: susan oliver at August 13, 2008 10:12 AMHi leo..
Posted by: Maria at August 29, 2008 1:47 AMIm trying to find the IP address in windos live hotmail,,i cant findthe display settings!
Hey... Gmail has recently incorporated the feature you're asking about. Another reason to choose gmail over Hotmail. It tells you how your account was accessed (browser, pop3, etc), from what IP and when. It keeps a log of the last 5 sessions. Just great for security!
Posted by: Fox at November 12, 2008 2:20 PMi use hotmail to not much info on it i have the same problem i changed my password so maybe it wont happen anymore i hope thanks
Posted by: kimberly summers at March 1, 2009 3:07 AMI think an ex girl friend has logged into my hotmail account. I have changed the passwords etc. But want to know if she has and could find that out if there was an IP log that I could audit as she lives in London does anyone know how I could find out if she (someone) has logged into my account from another city?
Seeing the comment above I don't think you have the answer at this time BUT please post in case someone comes up with the answer in future
Thanks in advance
Posted by: Ken at November 18, 2009 1:31 PM