[davit]

Using forums, are private messages really private, or can they be read by anyone with administartive access.
I am not a webmaster but i couldnt find anywhere else to ask this here and believe you guys could help. I have wondered about this for a while but am asking it in refernece to a websitetollbox forum. Other places i have communicated via pm are not so much concern as i trust the professionalism taken by the owners.
Thanks for the help.

[Advertisements]

pm's can be read by anyone pretty easily. i just don't know and don't care how or why

[TaNkZ101]

pm's can be read by anyone pretty easily. i just don't know and don't care how or why

[thenotch]

A ethical forum administrator will not read PM's unless there is a concern or valid reason to do so.

Any forum program using a database has the ability to see every single thing that goes on there.

Again, a ethical forum admin won't read them unless there is a very good reason to do so.

[davit]

thanks thenotch, that's kind of how i felt. Reading the pm wouldn't be a problem if there was a reason to do so, aslong as the information was not taken/stolen for their own advantage. I suppose its then just about making a judgement as to whether this could happen. The forum in question has asked me to become a moderator and i am considering this, but dont know the management very well. I do not for one minute believe the admins will trespass delibrately or intentionally, i just wondered about this part of the forum.

Thanks for your help guys

[Mycah]

In normal administrative options, No. All the major forums do not let you do that through a cp. BUT! There ARE mods that let you do that.

[tschrock]

A good rule of thumb is to never say or suggest anything in a PM that you would not post in the open forum.

[TaNkZ101]

that's what aim is for