Can someone read IM you have sent to others?

Question

When you send IM does it leave a "path" or stay on your system where others may be able to find and read it?

Answer 1

only if you choose to save your messages in messenger history. For Msn Messenger.. go to
Tools
Options
mesages
Near the bottom uncheck... automatically keep a history of my conversation
For yahoo messenger go to
Messenger tab
Preferences
Archive
Choose ..NO, do not save any of my messages..

Answer 2

All of the above answers are correct, however, also incomplete! Not only is IM's and everything else you do recorded in various locations in your computer, ( I stumbled into some of this recently in my computer, it's FRIGHTENING! Absolute detail! Minute to Minute, complete history!), these are also recorded and saved on other computers outside of yours! ( Real big, "BIG BROTHER" stuff! )
There are groups concerned about privacy rights fighting these intrusions in the courts, (and losing I might add!) Other Tech groups concerned have been developing various techniques to prevent "Big Brother" from tracking everything you say or do on the Internet.
I'm not trying to promote any products or groups here but the best privacy protection I've found so far is an Internet browser that sort of scrambles your IP address while your using the Internet. Makes it unreadable! Everything you do is Anonymous.
The browser is the "Torpark" browser by Firefox! According to
many sources it works exactly as advertised.
Check it out! Good Luck!

Answer 3

There's more than one way for someone to read your messages.

1) Use a key logger or something to record your keys.
This will need someone to have phycial access and permissions to install on the system you are using.
2)Read stored IM messages - archived messages etc which wud be stored on your system using some small decryption softwares etc. or logging in using your own account.
3)Reading your message by taking the packets your system is sending using some packet sniffer software
(* This last one is a bit tough and only knowledgeable people generally go to this extent. The other two can be done by dummies also who can just do it if they have the required software)

Answer 4

If you archive yahoo, all your im's are saved on your computers hard drive only. Anyone using your pc can see them if they know how.

If they are not using your pc or networked to your pc through a router then no one can see your im's.

If you don't need to keep your im's for any good reason then turn that feature off, all it does is waste memory you could be using for better purposes.

However, every keystroke on a computer is saved in your registry for all applications, but not many people know how to access &/or clean that up properly without causing damage.

If you don't know what your doing stay out of the registry it can do alot of damage.

Turn off your archives if you don't need them.

Answer 5

you're able to be able to desire to function them on your messenger checklist and make advantageous they're allowed to come again by way of your messages. you're able to be able to desire to bypass by way of all your ideas and make advantageous each and every thing is desperate appropriate.

Answer 6

Yes, it does. Especially if you use yahoo messenger. If anyone got on your account, all they would have to do is get on your message history and all the IM's you have are posted there.

Answer 7

No, it's a private conversation between you and your contact, unless you've invited someone else into your chat.

Answer 8

nope they cant