If your WS is using the Internet to have communication, here are some of the things that worked for me. Thought I would share some of what I became an expert at - even though it created it's own pain. But it's good for those who need it.
Computer files: You can find the history from the Internet main menu bar. You can also find temporary internet files in My Computer on your hard drive. I would also look at the temp file and the cookies. This is a good way to trace where someone has been or if they have been online. If your computer saves input in fields, you can use the down arrow key in any blank field and see what was typed in (i.e. in a search engine).
Singles - websites:You can find out if your WS has a personals ad sometimes by clicking on "forgot password" and keying in the e-mail address. Sometimes it will tell you if there is a match and if the new password has been sent to the e-mail address. If you have the password to the e-mail address, you can then obtain the personal ad password. Otherwise, your WS will just see that the site sent the requested new password and wonder what is going on.
MSN - Hotmail/Messenger: If you know the password, obviously you can log in and see mail from hotmail. There is a place under options where you can block e-mail addresses. In addition, MSN has a messenger service that you can download and see who is on the buddy list. From the buddy list, you can view the profiles of the listed persons. From their profiles, you can sometimes e-mail them. You can also block them from the buddy list as well. Of course, your WS can unblock at any time. You can also enter your WS profile and make changes to their information (i.e. Married - in love with my spouse, leave me alone! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" /> )
If you don't know the password, you can answer all the questions right in the password help screen and obtain it at a different e-mail address. (i.e. zip code, state and answer to secret question) If your computer saves the input for fields, you can go to the Compose tab from your own hotmail account and use the drop down arrow to see who an e-mail was sent to. In addition, once you know, you can delete from the field by using the delete key and then you will know if it is repeated after that day. You can also use the down arrow in the subject line to see if there was a subject and repeat the same process.
Yahoo - E-mail/Messenger: If you know the password, you can enter the e-mail. You can also see if there is a personal ad for your WS. You will need to download the messenger and sign on to see the buddy list. You have the same options as MSN to view the profile. However, Yahoo has a few more unique functions. You can set it to Archive Messages if it isn't already set. That is from the menu bar. Also, you can IM someone who isn't logged on and they will get an offline message when they log on. There are the same block features in Yahoo. You have to open a window as if IM'ing them, then click the Ignore/Block icon. Then delete them from the list.
If you don't know the password, you can search for profiles or view profiles from the yahoo main screen - click on Members at the very bottom left. I haven't tried the compose e-mail check from Yahoo because I don't have a Yahoo e-mail account. You can also answer all the questions right from the password help screen like MSN and obtain a new password.
Cell phones: You can sign up to view the cell phone bill on-line. The two companies that we have used allowed you to see unbilled information so I could see daily what numbers were called. If you have a phone number, the phone company will tell you who it belongs to if it's not unlisted. Some cell phone companies will also list who text messages are sent to and from on the printed bill. Also, the phone will store sent items if your WS has not deleted them. And of course, incoming items are in the inbox. Some cell phones allow you to text to an e-mail address. If you have an online account, you can block the to and from e-mail from any e-mail address and even divert it to your own e-mail address.
Good luck and hope this serves in some way.
<small>[ December 18, 2002, 02:16 PM: Message edited by: onlyUcan ]</small>
