can admin see yahoo messenger text/password etc

  • Thread starter Thread starter lucky
  • Start date Start date
L

lucky

When away on business we are permitted to use our laptops in the hotel
for non business use since it's our own time at night. I realize admins
can tell we are on yahoo messenger (or other instant messengers), but I
was wondering can they see my user name, password and what I'm typing?
I'm talking about the stuff they can see on their end, not what they can
find on the laptop itself. I'm aware of those things.

Thank you.
 
Depends on how your connecting with your laptop. If your dialing into work
to get internet access then yes they could possibly see your user names and
passwords. If your dialing into a ISP such as earthlink, AOL etc.. they
probably can't unless they are recording your keystrokes.
 
lucky said:
When away on business we are permitted to use our laptops in the hotel
for non business use since it's our own time at night. I realize
admins can tell we are on yahoo messenger (or other instant
messengers), but I was wondering can they see my user name, password
and what I'm typing? I'm talking about the stuff they can see on
their end, not what they can find on the laptop itself. I'm aware of
those things.
Click to expand...


If dialing in through the businesses servers, then yes.. They technically
could trace every step you make given that they were forced to care. Most
computer admins, in my experience, have no interest in their users private
conversations (unless they have reason to have interest in you, have been
told to have interest in you or are just messed up in the head.)

Technically, anyone with a clue and an inkling could intercept your network
traffic and sort it out and find out all sorts of neat things about you..
Passwords, what you told the "significant other", why you think your boss is
a jerk, etc. Is it happening - likely not - don't give yourself that much
credit for having an over-interesting life. My advice, if you are worried
about it, is to get Trillian installed on both ends of your conversations
and use a messenger service that allows you to encrypt your conversations
(AIM on Trillian I believe does this) as well as perhaps install your own
dial-up account number (like Earthlink) on the laptop - if that is allowed.
Then you aren't using your business servers time/money/connection to connect
to the Internet and you are securing (somewhat) your private conversations
through encryption.
 
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