Is Yahoo! Messenger Private? This article explains your privacy options in Yahoo! Messenger.

Yahoo! Messenger is intended to let you to engage in private conversations. However, this does not completely guarantee that your conversation will never be available to others.

As with any conversation, the person you correspond with might share the content of your conversation with others, or an outside party might intercept the conversation as it crosses the Internet. If your organization uses a firewall, your administrator might have the ability to review any of your network traffic and content, including any instant messages you send. If you're concerned about this, you should discuss this with the organization giving you Internet access.

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

Yahoo! Messenger also gives you the option to "Remember my ID and password" so that you don't have to type them every time you sign in on your computer. The check-box for this setting is below the Yahoo! ID and Password boxes on the sign-in page. If someone else uses your computer, our recommendation is to NOT check this box.

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

Always remember to "Sign Out" at the end of your session. You should also periodically change your password and check your 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 we treat your personally identifiable information.