Should You Check Out Your Spouse’s Email Account?

This is a big question for many and not a question for some. You either know if you trust your spouse/partner or you know you don’t.

According to Personal Security and Identity Theft Expert Robert Siciliano, about a third of couples, no matter if they are married or not, look at their spouse’s emails, if given the chance.  

According to his information, 33% of women and 30% of men fess up to checking things out.  Those are the ones who admit to it…

For unmarried couples, about 10% of the time, the snooping uncovers cheating. For married couples, 3% of the time, cheating is discovered.

Another big question is – is it legal? Besides the biggest question of how much you trust your spouse, another conundrum being played out in our legal system is how this falls in the realm of privacy.

According to Siciliano, a Michigan man was charged with a felony after he logged onto his (now ex-) wife’s Gmail account to discover she was having an affair.  The charge is felony computer misuse and he could be ordered to serve up to 5 years in prison. He used her password and their shared laptop to gain access to her account. Apparently, marriage does not mean you give up your privacy electronically.

How about a simple “Are you having an affair?” to your spouse instead? Your curiosity and distrust could land you in the slammer.  

What do you think? Is it ok to look? How would you advise your friend if he or she suspected their spouse was being unfaithful and wanted to check their email? Please comment.

To learn more about Siciliano, please visit his website at http://robertsiciliano.com.