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Hi,
I’m just wondering why when I’m in the ‘appear offline’ mode in Windows live messenger some of my freinds are still able to see that I’m there. The minute I’m in appear offline, they seem to know that I’m there at the terminal. I found this out by accident due to a mistake by one of my freinds whose words slipped by accident. I’m disturbed by this b’cos what is the point in having such an option if your privacy cannot be guranteed.
Guys how is this possible ??……..and any way of overcoming this ?
SA
Hello Don SA and welcome,
Windows Live Messenger gives you the option to ‘appear offline’ to your contacts. However, even though you are appearing offline, you are still given the ability to chat with your contacts. But with that said, Windows Live Messenger also gives your contacts the ability to leave you “offline messages” whether you are signed in and appeared offline or signed out of messenger entirely.
Chances are they are leaving you offline messages or taking a chance at you being online but appeared offline as you said.
Hopefully I’m on the right track here with your question:)
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
My main problem is that certain friends are able to tell that I’m at the terminal and logged on to Windows live messenger even when I’m in the appear offline mode. So if they see me as offline, how are they able to tell if I have windows live messenger opened or not ??
Whats the point in having ‘appear offline’ if you cant get the intended privacy ? I’m kind of disturbed about this !
Just wondering, how can you be so sure they know?
If you’re offline they can leave you an offline message. If you’re appearing offline, their message will get through. Either way, to them it looks no different than sending a normal message. They will be notified that they may be sending an offline message, but that is it.
I don’t know of any way for someone to accurately tell (like you’ve described) if someone is on Windows Live Messenger while appearing offline or if they are only offline).
The minute you log onto Windows Live Messenger is the minute you recieve all those offline messages. It’s kind of a like an answering machine – your friends can leave you messages while you’re offline.
Hope this helps 🙂
Hi,
A tongue slip by someone about when I was logged on but offline…………three times getting two offline messages (say 11.17 PM when I logged on at 11.15 PM etc) and once a call at 10.46 PM when I logged on 10.45 PM etc…….all by the same member, who was the only person online at those times. soon after I have logged on but appearing offline. There are other events too by another freind similar to the above. I also thought I was jumping into conclusions but this is too much of a coincidence.
If this is so, isnt this an invasion of privacy ?
BTW the time the offline messages are sent are indicated so you know when the messages are being sent………
Continueing on……..
Is it possible to intrude (eavesdrop) in instant chatting or on contributions to forums…….. and is it common ??
yes I was offline the whole time……….and the sad part is that I didnt believe it for a while, even in the face of many indications…………..and now when I look back selective freinds knew when I was logged on inspite of being offline !!
Its a terrible breach of privacy since the basis for ‘offline’ is for safeguarding privacy !!………I dont trust anything about instant messaging anymore !! This sort of thing makes you that way !!
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