Here is somthing I never even considered - all webmail - including the biggies Hotmail, Yahoo mail, and others - is no longer private thanks to the new Desktop Search services now being offered by Google, Yahoo, and now MSN.

When you view your email online it does not reside on your computer but resides on a server far away. When viewed on a computer that has a Desktop Search installed however, that search service stores a copy of the email you are reading or sending and makes it available to anyone using the search.

So, if you are using a friends computer, a computer at work, or even a public terminal you need to know that your webmail is available for all to read.

One webmail service - OnlyMyEmail.com - has begun using SSL to encrypt email messages. While SSL encryption will enhance security for preventing emails from being intercepted by third parties, in order to fully protect messages from being retrieved by the Google Desktop Search, users will need to disable the indexing of "SSL Web Pages" within Google's Preference settings. The same scenario likely applies to the other desktop search services as well.

If you are using a computer other than your own you may not even know that the desktop search is installed let alone know how to disable the indexing of SSL pages!

I guess we all have to understand that webmail is about as private as a notice on the bulletin board down at the local grocery store and use it accordingly.

It is always possible to view or hack some way so would you recommend dissabling temp files and cookies to be more secure?

Also if someone uses internet explorer are these stored in the temporary internet folder or another location?

I like your analogy! Made me laugh for sure!

Way back before Al Gore invented the internet one of my profs told me "never put anything in writing you wouldn't want to read on the front page of the newspaper"... same applies to email and IM's in any form.

If the content of the email is contractual and/or confidential that could have some consequences to think about.

Gary

I'm not your lawyer, but I am a law-abiding citizen who gets plenty of oxygen to his brain.

Good advice for sure!

Well all you have to do is clear cashe before you go or use Linux

Better look first at add and remove programs if there are Desktop Searches installed. If there is, better try another computer! :p

I have tried to install this on my computer but not succeeded because of my antivirus. I have found out that you can't install this desktop search if you are using some popular antivirus.