Can Mods read my private messages?

I thought there was an underground network that kept all the mods up-to-date on everything that happens everywhere? I.e. the Mod forum, and Twinkle-toes' Help Association?

I have heard it said many times that vB's private messages are a misnomer and should be called something like 'personal messages'. Seems it's the word 'private' that makes people think they are somehow 100% private and secure, when they are far from it.

I have heard it said many times that vB's private messages are a misnomer and should be called something like 'personal messages'. Seems it's the word 'private' that makes people think they are somehow 100% private and secure, when they are far from it.

I have more important things to do than to read *everything* posted in the mod forum...

nothings really private on the internet is it?

nothings really private on the internet is it?

No one's broken RSA yet as far as we know...

Are you saying I should fax my credit card details instead of using the website form?

fax them to me. you'll get sent a lovely 19" TFT monitor...honest

This is an interesting topic. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to read PMs unless either the sender or the recipient has given permission, either express or implied - perhaps via something in the T's and C's. I think it comes under the same legal umbrella as a sysadmin reading e-mail between people on his system.

Another question: Can mods or admin read deleted PMs?

Short answer: no
Longer answer: If you delete your pm's but the cron job hasn't run to actually delete them from the database then your pm's could be read. The cron job should run at least once every hour. Additionally, if they really wanted to read your pm's they could pull up a backup copy of the database.