Question

How can I get access to someone else's email, NetID password and/or account data?

Answer

Access to information stored in an IT service assigned to an individual person (commonly by NetID) is not permitted without permission from the individual. This includes University-owned computer systems, IT services hosted on campus (e.g. NetFile, CorpFS), and cloud-based services (e.g. Google Apps, Box.nd.edu). To protect the security and privacy of individuals to whom the NetID is assigned, the Service Desk will not knowingly support or enable others to access accounts not assigned to them.

Note: There may be circumstances (e.g., the individual has left the University, or is deceased) where the individual is not available to grant permission. In those cases, staff must obtain permission through the below exception process. To request access, please fill out the form, Request Access to Another Account. (If the request is from someone that does not have access to the form, any staff or faculty can submit it on their behalf.) 

When completing the request form the NetID of the individual is required.  If that account has transitioned to an inactive state, the search feature will not work.  Selecting the checkbox beneath that field will allow you to type the NetID for processing.

Information Security staff will review the business need for access, facilitate review of the request by appropriate university leaders, and arrange access if approved. This review and approval process may take several days.

Due to the account life cycle changes implemented in 2024, when a NetID transitions to an inactive state (deactivated), all Google content is no longer associated with that owner's NetID, so none of the Google data will be accessible to the person who has access to that NetID.  However, the content is still available to all collaborators it has been shared with until the account is deleted in a year, for business continuity.  Data in Shared Drives is not affected by this timeframe.

Once a NetID has transitioned to deactivated, Google Drive and Gmail data can no longer be restored or transferred.  Other data MAY still be accessible.