Can anyone explain what I'm looking at?

[HeadLikeSpaghetti]

Hi all. I'm new to mumsnet and was pointed here by a friend.
This could really be something or nothing and I'm so confused. I've been married for years. Really happily, I've never had one issue with him in all the time we've been together. But... on Sunday I was walking past the spare room where his laptop is when I saw him quickly click out of an email account that didn't look like his. When I asked he got all flustered and said of course it was but Ive got a terrible feeling about his reaction.
This morning I still hadn't shaken it so started digging. I put his phone no in various providers and it was linked to gmail. (His isn't gmail). Now this is where it could be nothing. I can also get into this gmail with his other (usual) email. It then gives the option to convert his usual account to gmail. So I'm guessing it may be innocent but could anyone explain the following please

1. He has a few passwords he uses. The one to get into this gmail is different from his email one
2. There is a username that is not mentioned anywhere on his usual account
3. This username with gmail.com on the end is a recognised email address but the same password doesn't work with it
4. There are options to look at internet history and location history (this one says paused) but I can't seem to look at anything.

I'm just so confused with what I'm looking at. I've always trusted him and feel bad for even writing this but then keep thinking what if?
I know not all perfect husbands are what they seem!

I once had to set up a gmail account for something. It was google or YouTube or something similar. I don’t use it at all. I don’t even know what the address is. I don’t think it’s anything sinister

Why don't you just ask him, instead of amateur hacking? Seems ludicrous, dishonest, rude and paranoid.
I hope you are not one of them there stalky types.

You do realise there’s a high chances he’s receiving notifications on everything you’re doing?

99% of the time I use hotmail

If on the odd occasion I use my gmail or google account I receive notifications to my hotmail that I’ve logged in. In the past when I’ve forgotten the password it’s also alerted my hotmail account too that someone (me) is trying to access that other account..

I don’t blame you for being suspicious. But I think you might’ve blown every chance of finding something because he’ll now know to be extra careful

I think it's only visable when something is open
Nope - it's only visible if he doesn't delete his internet search history.
That's a big red flag all on it's own.
He is deleting his search history - WHY!??????

When he DOES delete his search history - DOH!!!!

Gmail is for Google type stuff. It's there own provider so its normally suggested to set up for YouTube etc.

I dont log in via phone number. I would just go each separate web address. So for me it's two totally separate accounts, just that if I forget my gmail then I can have password resets sent to Yahoo.

Also Google pay. That's defaulted to gmail. I think you dont have to set up YouTube or Google pay with gmail. It's just the default

IF he's hiding something, why does it necessarily mean it's something negative? Couldn't he be planning a nice surprise?

If there's no search history when he closes the browser window he might be using incognito mode (leaves no trail).

If he didn't have anything to hide then he would not have acted the way he did. If you are hopeless with tech then there is absolutely no use trying to find out until you know how to look or what you are even looking for, you will just be alerting him that you're onto him, whatever he is up to. I'd say he is using the email address he closed the page of to talk to someone, and he isn't talking via text/calls/whatsapp because it's too easy to get caught. Most suspicious partners will check their partners phone for messages/call log, but won't think to look for a secret email address or google voice number (another popular choice for nefarious activities)

I'd guess you already don't trust him if your going to this much effort to try & catch him out.

Stop trying to hack his email. Its not only illegal, he will get an alert every time your fail to log in.

Lots of people have several email accounts, or clear their search history. It doesn't mean they are up to no good. You are focusing on the wrong things.

If you have good reason not to trust him, then install a cheap Keylogger on the PC. Then it will email you everything that is being done, passwords, which websites have been visited.

I have never done this.... I would only advise it if I was 99% convinced I was being lied to and I needed confirmation.

Your posts are very garbled. But I think you are saying that you have used his phone number, and then guessed his password, which was accepted. The next screen asks if you want to upgrade to gmail.

When you log into gmail, it takes you to your inbox. The fact that you are being given a chance to upgrade to gmail suggests there is no gmail actively in use - otherwise you would have seen the inbox when you illegally hacked into his account. He probably has a google account, linked to his phone number, without using gmail. That is perfectly normal.

Be under no ilusions - what you are doing is a criminal offence. It is also totally unacceptable to try and intercept a partner's communications like this. From what you've said, I don't think he is even using gmail for emails.

As for the PP who suggested a keylogger - also totally illegal and highly abusive to monitor a partner like this.

I cannot believe how irresponsible some of the advice is on here.

Be under no ilusions - what you are doing is a criminal offence. It is also totally unacceptable to try and intercept a partner's communications like this.

This

I can't believe how many people are encouraging the OP to continue this behaviour!

I find the idea that you have access to any of his emails or passwords to be creepy and controlling.

I am not surprised that you are exhausted with all this. I cant get my head round, why so many people go snooping around on their partners stuff, getting all stressed and anxious about things. It seems to be the norm these days,and people getting paranoid about their partners.

I suggested the keylogger - but only if it is installed on a computer that belongs to the OP. Then it isn't illegal. It would be if it were on HIS computer or his phone, however.

Only speaking from experience, my ex had several hidden Gmail accounts for his fake FB profiles. I also came across these quite by chance. He also deleted his browsing history because he was hiding a fair bit, some of it was criminal stuff.

It is possible that the OP caught a glimpse of the new Yahoo layout, it has changed a couple of times recently I believe?

I wouldn't go snooping unless I had suspicions. If someone did not give me reason to suspect something odd, I would not be looking at all. In my case, I had good reason. My ex lied to me about something serious, acted very suspiciously and I found out he was lying by "snooping". He even continued to lie when presented with evidence. And he had deleted history showing his searches showing cheating as well as criminal activity - but had no idea I could still see those searches. Continued to deny it.

Again, I would not have looked unless there had been good reason. And it helped me make my final decision to ditch a cheater and a liar.

In OP's case, she seems certain she saw something and is being lied to. Most liars, if you ask them, are hardly going to just suddenly decide to be honest, right? They have too much to lose.

If you feel the need to invest that much (criminal) energy in snooping on your husband's / partner's private communications, I suggest getting a divorce.

Are you talking about a screen like this?

Has he got another phone hidden away somewhere in his gym bag or under the seat of his car

I'm going to throw this out there as I can't see anyone else that has said it.

Maybe he's trying to do something nice for you? Do you have a birthday coming up? Does he try surprise you a lot with gifts?

I'm a little surprise at the automatic assumption he's doing something horrifically bad when you've not had any problems in your marriage. Hacking into his email is a terrible idea and as others have said, illegal.

Have you considered being honest with him and telling him you're a little surprised he reacted like that and you're now concerned at what he's hiding?

Does the laptop stay at home?

If anyone else has ever used it to check their own email, it comes up as a suggestion. This happened to me at work a lot.😡

If it was someone else's account and they didn't sign out, it would open automatically if he switched accounts. If he was just being nosy, it would explain the fluster.

Of course, that's a zebra explanation. What actually happened may be what you fear or it may be absolutely nothing.

For those who go on about the snooping, maybe it would happen less if people's suspicions weren't so often right.
💐

Just wanted to add.

I have 7 email addresses across multiple providers for multiple reasons and my previous partner probably knew 1 of them. I have different passwords for every single account because that's exactly what you're supposed to do. My partner (of 8 years) knew none of my passwords, I knew none of his.

I wasn't drug dealing or on dating sites or cheating.

Please talk to your partner about your concerns. There may be a reasonable explaination for a sudden close of a laptop (or there may be not, at which point you take this further). I understand how it comes across as suspect but try not to stress out until you know more

For those thinking it’s suspicious that someone would clear their browsing history, delete their emails and texts etc, I can tell you that my DH has always done this. The reason is because he’s practically illiterate digitally as he doesn’t and hasn’t ever worked in a job that requires him to use a computer or other device and he thinks you have to delete otherwise the boxes fill up and stop working . This is someone who would get a couple of emails a week, a couple of texts a day. It’s a habit now even though he knows it’s not necessary.

Thanks for all of the replies. That screen shot isn’t the one I’m looking at, but I don’t want to log in again in case it alerts him. I think from the explanations I have been given that I must be looking at a google account. I take it you don’t need a gmail address to have a google account?
I’m not sure why he would need a google account but that wouldn’t bother me.
What has bothered me (and i know I’m bang out of order but I’m past caring now) is his phone. I couldn’t sleep last night so went down for a drink and his phone was charging in the hall as usual. I stared at it for ages then thought sod it I’ll put my mind at rest. I went on the internet icon and into history and he has left in on the history list page. Whenever I’ve used it before It just goes to the search page. So he’s either looking at his own history (??) or he’s deleting stuff.
I really want to just ask him but if he is up to something he’s not going to tell me is he.
I have another question please - if he has a google account does this mean I can access the feature that lets me look at his history? And if so how do I do it, can I do it from my phone or does it need to be his phone or laptop.
If this turns out to be nothing then I will own up and apologise to him. But I need to make sure as I can’t shake the horrible feeling from what happened the other day. Thank you.

You can go to myactivity.google.com and it will show you what has been searched for with a loggednont Google account. You probably won't be able to access his deleted history in any way you'd be comfortable to do.

I do hope you're committed to telling him what you've been doing when you (most likely) find nothing. I also hope he responds to your behaviour accordingly. This is a pretty depressing thread.