Is Yahoo! Messenger private?

Yahoo! Messenger is intended to allow users to engage in private conversations. However, this does not guarantee that your conversation will never be available to others. As with any conversation, the person you correspond with may share the content of your conversation with others, or an outside party may intercept the conversation as it crosses the Internet. If your organization uses a firewall, your administrator may have the ability to review any of your network traffic and content, including any instant messages you send. If you are concerned about this, you should discuss this with the organization giving you Internet access.

Yahoo! Messenger allows users to archive, print, and save messages, so that they may retain records of their instant messaging communications. Please be aware that even if you choose not to save your messages, those with whom you have conversations may choose to do so.

If you are using the Windows version of Yahoo! Messenger, you can set Yahoo! Messenger to remember your Yahoo! ID and password when you log in. If you share a computer and don't want anybody else to access or use your account, please make sure you have not checked the box labeled "Remember my ID and password." Otherwise, others may use your account.

In addition, it is possible, although rare, for someone to capture your Messenger login name and password information as it passes through your organization's network or as it crosses the Internet.

Please remember to "Sign Out" at the end of your session. You should also periodically change your Yahoo! password and check your Yahoo! account information, to make sure it is accurate, and that no one has altered your account.

Please read our Privacy Policy to learn more about how Yahoo! treats your personally identifiable information.

To report abuse and/or harassment, please fill out our Yahoo! Messenger Abuse Form.

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