Is my email account private?

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Summary: If someone else shares or administers your email account, then your privacy could easily be at risk.

I have a pop3 mail address which I use. It belongs to my boyfriend! Is it possible for him (as administrator) to receive all copies of my incoming and outgoing mail and if so - how do I detect whether he is doing so? Incidentally I used another account to ask you this question!!! Just in case!

In short: absolutely. And it's almost impossible for you to tell.

So what can you do? And what can you count on?

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Your case is easy: get another email account that only you have access to.

It's worth noting, though, that the administrators involved in maintaining whatever system you use for email can, if they desire, access your email. For example, your ISP and the administrators on the server of whomever you exchange email with can see the messages you send there.

If that administrator happens to be your boyfriend, and you don't quite trust him ... well, then you should get that second email account somewhere where he is not an administrator.

I won't comment on what to do with a boyfriend you don't trust.

Related:

• Ask Leo! - Are free email services worth it?

• Ask Leo! - Can two Windows XP accounts share a Mail account?

• Ask Leo! - How can I send anonymous email?

• Ask Leo! - How do I know if someone is opening my email before I read it, then marking it as unread?

Article C2275 - February 4, 2005