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Article 3687 of pgh.general:
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From: pjvst+@pitt.edu (Parick J Volk)
>Newsgroups: pgh.general
Subject: Re: How many root operators handle our secret e-mail?
Date: 2 Apr 1995 06:29:47 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh
Lines: 36
Message-ID: <3llg8r$ima@usenet.srv.cis.pitt.edu>
References: <3lk7dn$7r5@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: unixs3.cis.pitt.edu

In article <3lk7dn$7r5@usenet.INS.CWRU.Edu>,
Don Reynolds <fn979@cleveland.Freenet.Edu> wrote:
>
>I have heard from other users that there are many root
>operators that handle our e-mail before it gets to the recipient.
>One user said that it passed through 4 computers before it even
>left his college.
>I wonder! How many root operators have the opportunity to view
>our e-mail along the e-mail route?
>Not that I think that there is anyone nosey enough to view
>secret e-mail!
>I think there are only a few weirdos who have purchased telephone
>scanners! I am not a weirdo but I have a scanner.
>
>D.Esq (The Jackal)

  Well, in a distrubuted system, there generally only one machine with an 
outside line. The fact that it passes through four machines before 
leaving the domain isn't really a suprise.
  As for e-mail being secure, well it isn't. Root can read any file, as 
can anyone with a packet sniffer who isn't root. Some sites spool mail, 
so they'll linger there. You should not send any secret information via 
e-mail (credit card numbers in particular).
  Root reading you mail isn't really a problem, mainly because admins are 
an ethical lot (and have better things to do with their time). Here at 
Pitt, I know read mail is world-readable (at least the old sendmail was, 
I haven't bothered with trying it for pine), which means anyone on the 
system can read your read mail.
  Just remember, the internet is not a place to take security for 
granted, even if you don't run a site. The internet works because 
machines will pass on information. Information sent on the net is much 
like a radio transmission in terms of security.

pj volk