Ask Leo! by Leo A. Notenboom

Is my email account private?

Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.

Ask Leo! » Email » Email Privacy

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

by , © 2005

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!

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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.

Article C2275 - February 4, 2005

Leo Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed. After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.

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Recent Comments
2 Comments

Have an comcast email address. Getting divorced. Bill in wifes name. She changed my password, broke into my email and read confidential traffic. Isn't this against the law? -

Posted by: Curt at January 26, 2008 3:57 PM

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I don't know. I'm not a lawyer. Sounds like you need to talk
to law enforcement or your divorce attorney.

Leo


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Posted by: Leo A. Notenboom at February 2, 2008 11:24 AM
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