logging aim conversations (not mine)

[fowler.]

I know Windows has a few programs that can log aim conversations that are taking place on a network.

Is there anything like that for OSX?

 

[yippy]

There are, they are very hard to use, and I can think of about zero legitimate reasons to do this. Depending what network you are on, this could be illegal as it is an invasion of privacy.

 

[fowler.]

and I can think of about zero illegitimate reasons to do this

well i'm glad you can find no fault with the idea 😛

do you have any references to said apps?

 

[rogersmj]

and I can think of about zero illegitimate reasons to do this.

I'm pretty sure you meant "zero legitimate".

I didn't even know this was possible. Although I suppose it could be useful if you're concerned about something your kids are doing.

 

[iSaint]

I read my daughter's IM transcripts quite often. iChat saves them for me, and she knows better than to try to mess with the Preferences.

 

[epochblue]

For reading IMs over a network with a Mac, I'd think you might need a packet sniffer of some kind. That is to say I don't know of a program that'll do this specifically, and unless these are your kids, I feel like this a questionably legal area.

 

[RMD68]

Adium logs all the chats that any users on one computer. This won't however log people on other computers. Like other posters said…unless you are logging your kids on the family computer receiving logs of private conversations would most likely be a illegal as an invasion of privacy.

 

[Mechcozmo]

For reading IMs over a network with a Mac, I'd think you might need a packet sniffer of some kind. That is to say I don't know of a program that'll do this specifically, and unless these are your kids, I feel like this a questionably legal area.

Ethereal.

You need fink, though. And you need to set up various capture filters. And you gotta be lucky with your network setup.

That's all the help you're going to get out of me on it, aside from this: I've done it. And it isn't worth the effort.

 

[lancestraz]

Doesn't iChat encrypt its conversations?
Or am I way off.

 

[Mechcozmo]

Doesn't iChat encrypt its conversations?
Or am I way off.

iChat CAN encrypt them. Your choice. Default is to not. You need a security certificate on both people's computers, and as most people are not technical enough to make and install one... you get the idea.