topic Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes? in Community Chat

How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

Lindsays Grandma — Mon, 05 May 2014 08:06:58 GMT

A family member said something to me today that rang a bell and I realized it was a comment I made to a friend on my e-mail. I don't know how anyone can get in because I have a password that I use whenever I want to use it. My password is something that no one can guess, it is a very strong.

I need advice on what to do so it won't happen again. I have AOL and I know that anyone can get into it but never in my wildest dreams thought my e-mail could be violated. Your suggestions will be very much appreciated.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

ennui1 — Mon, 05 May 2014 08:13:19 GMT

Once you send something, you have no control over it. Are you certain the recipient didn't share it?

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

biancardi — Mon, 05 May 2014 11:09:34 GMT

ennui1 is correct--once you send off an email, it is fair game.

however, if you want to protect your account from hackers, change your password monthly. Do not allow the browser or application you are using auto-save it (where it fills it in for you or auto-logs you in) - make sure you are forced to type in the password everytime

also, you didn't say, but I would disconnect your email from any mobile devices you have.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

Peaches McPhee — Mon, 05 May 2014 12:53:22 GMT

I think your relative got her info from someplace other than your email . . . from the friend or another source.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

BellaPaprika — Mon, 05 May 2014 12:57:04 GMT

It was either just a coincidence or the person you sent the email to shared it with your family member.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

Luv2Decorate — Mon, 05 May 2014 13:03:11 GMT

I make a habit of not putting anything in writing that I wouldn't say out loud.

Emails can be passed along to others. If you have a personal conversation that needs to be had, pick up the phone. But then again, there is no guarantee that you aren't being listened to either.

Our emails are collected, mail is scanned, phone calls listened to.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

apple1964 — Mon, 05 May 2014 13:07:04 GMT

I had to laugh at this thread ""prying eyes""? are you for real O/P? Nothing is secret anymore!

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

hckynut — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:27:52 GMT

The only way to make 100% sure not a single person learns of your "big secrets" or things you want nobody to know? Keep them 100% to yourself. Talk to someone? You never know! Put it in an old fashioned letter? Up the chances since it is "in writing" and could be left in a conspicuous place for many to see.

Send it into "cyberspace"? It can be available for the "world to see" depending on who it might be that has the technological knowledge and a reason to want to know. Life as I've seen in for decades is becoming less private by the hour and as I said in my first sentence, 100% is only if one 100% keeps things only in their brain, period.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:31:20 GMT

Easy .... Don't put it on the internet .... in ANY form!

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

chickenbutt — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:35:44 GMT

Make sure you don't leave the computer until you LOG OUT of your email/ISP.

How about just going to a freebe like Yahoo or Gmail and create a new email to use for communicating with your friends. Just always log out so people cannot come to your computer and go through your email.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

KathyPet — Mon, 05 May 2014 17:49:15 GMT

The family member would have to know your E. Mail address which they would if you had ever sent them a E mail BUT then they would have to know your password or have the technical knowledge to hack into your E mail which is a very sophisticated capability. Sounds to me like their comment was either random or your friend shared your E mail!with your relative. have you spoken with the person you sent the E mail to about this?

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

ilovedaisies — Mon, 05 May 2014 18:00:43 GMT

Be sure that no one can hit the back button several times ans end up in your inbox.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

Clover29 — Mon, 05 May 2014 19:50:59 GMT

Is this "snooping" family member someone in your household who has access to your computer, or someone who doesn't live at your house at all? It's very unlikely someone managed to read your email if you have it passworded, and even less likely that they hacked it from a distance.

Either the recipient shared details, or it was a coincidence. Coincidences happen to me all the time. I'm always saying, "Funny you should mention that, I was just talking to Betty about the same thing" (when I know Betty doesn't know the other friend at all). Just coincidence. It feels a bit spooky sometimes, but nothing to think too much about.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

Feline Fine — Mon, 05 May 2014 21:35:06 GMT

Phrases unique to you - not just passwords - are more secure, and yes, change it monthly if you can.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

goodstuff — Mon, 05 May 2014 23:50:51 GMT

I think it's more likely that your family member coincidentally said something that reminded you of the email you sent your friend, that your friend shared the content, or that what you said to your friend is something you have mentioned to others yourself and forgotten. Or maybe you accidentally left your computer on and your email open and a family member saw it. I doubt you are the victim of an intentional "family hacking".

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

bikerbabe — Mon, 05 May 2014 23:57:28 GMT

On 5/5/2014 GoodStuff said:
I think it's more likely that your family member coincidentally said something that reminded you of the email you sent your friend, that your friend shared the content, or that what you said to your friend is something you have mentioned to others yourself and forgotten. Or maybe you accidentally left your computer on and your email open and a family member saw it. I doubt you are the victim of an intentional "family hacking".

I agree.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

monalisa1452 — Tue, 06 May 2014 01:12:45 GMT

Yahoo, google, msn, apple - all reserve the right to read your emails in their terms of service.

And of course - there is the NSA.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

Lindsays Grandma — Tue, 06 May 2014 02:52:58 GMT

Thank you all for your response. The recipient and my family member don't know one another, therefore they do not communicate with one another. However, as someone mentioned, there have been e-mails sent to the family member from my e-mail so it is likely that is how they were able to read my mail. I guess the only way I can stop this from happening is to change my address which I have had for over two decades. The other option that was suggested by chickenbutt is to create a g-mail account which I prefer over the other.

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

Emma bunting — Tue, 06 May 2014 14:04:43 GMT

Do you think you could have inadvertently copied your relative in on your email? This happened to me once. A friend had me copied in on an email so I saw the entire thing. Luckily, it wasn't anything about me! I immediately let her know.

Usually, if you just type the first letter of someone's email address your mail program will auto fill the rest for you so I can see how you might not have even known if you copied your relative in.

If all else fails, there is always the direct approach. Why not just ask your relative how he or she knew what was in your private email?

Re: How do I protect my e-mail from prying eyes?

LilacTree — Tue, 06 May 2014 15:30:35 GMT

I have an AOL account that I have used since it started way back in the early nineties. However I use that email only for online purposes and even here at the Q. There is very little personal information within that account (although I do order with that account so my home address and CC number is possibly at risk).

My personal email is set up in Outlook with Comcast. I get very little spam on that, and only use it strictly for very personal purposes. I do not ever use this address online.