technical question: where do they get these instant messages from?

[thereismore]

Did the teens keep them on their phones, or is there a database of all messages ever sent, or what?

[wakeme2008]

1. normally they are AOL AIM

:)

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

2. IM programs usually log them. I don't know whether it's default for AIM.

But you can surely enable and disable it at your computer.

[Options Remain]

3. nothing you say on im is private.

instant messages are saved as a text file on the program or phone as a log and the servers also keep a log.

[Spazito]

4. You can save your IMs, log them, both those received and sent...

Obviously some of the victims of foley did exactly that and gave them to ABC.

[TahitiNut]

5. Instant Messenger software allows the session to be preserved.

The most probable answer is that the teen-ager saved the IM session as a text file. AIM and Y!IM both allow this.

The less probable answer is that this session was intercepted within the domain in which the computer resided. It would take very little to monitor such traffic in, let's say, the "house.gov" domain. All such traffic uses very specific protocols in the Internet world. Indeed, it would take very little to "sniff" and intercept such traffic using available software and a ethernet interface set to the 'proper' mode (called "promiscuous mode"). I could do it on my subnet of 512 subscribers' computers in my cable broadband connection. This kind of traffic isn't encrypted.

[DURHAM D]

8. So, could that also mean that a congressional staffer could

have retrieved these IMs? Or, would it have to come from the former page.

[TahitiNut]

10. If Foley was using his House computer,

... it's possible (not knowing what safeguards they have to prevent it) that someone in another office would be able to 'sniff' his ethernet traffic. I'd have to have more specific knowledge of the way their network is configured to be sure.

It'd be FAR EASIER (assuming lesser safeguards) to 'sniff' his traffic if he were using a home computer or a computer in another location on a 'normal' public Internet location. Strangely enough, he would be far more secure from this kind of 'sniffing' if he used a dial-up connection.

It's ALSO just as feasible that a former page's connection was being 'sniffed' since his school or home connection wouldn't have whatever safeguards might be in place in the House.


I emphasize, however, that I think it's most likely that the former page saved the session ... either because he was creating a CYA file or because he was collecting evidence or because he was 'turned on' by the exchange and saved it for future "re-living". It's not at all unusual, imho, for people who're into "cyber" to save such things for (cough) stimulation. (It's been a long, long time - years and years - since my curiosity impelled me to do just a little exploration in these areas. It's just not my cup of tea.)

Let's also not ignore the possibility that Foley saved the ('logged') session on his own computer ... and someone who had access to that computer retrieved it and sent it in. It's possible.

[blogslut]

6. History logs, baby

Maybe a screen capture here and there. But yeah, most IM software offers the user the ability to save a history of convos into a time-stamped text file.

[wicket]

7. IMs can be saved

n/t

[beyurslf]

9. You can create a log to save all your messages

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

11. I have my IM conversations automatically saved in a log.

I don't do it because of any sort of legal reason, but rather sometimes I have some really funny IM conversations and I like to be able to go back to those.

[lies and propaganda]

12. screencapture i presume.

or copy and pasting the text into a real email.

[never cry wolf]

13. AOL AIM does not automatically log or save conversations

Unlike MSM or Yahoo or ICQ there is no history or off line messages. You can, however, in the dialog box pull down the file tab and save once you name it and give it a location.