Presumably, you followed the instructions for making the list archives
accessible via the web, i.e., you created a 'listname' directory (where
'listname' is the name of the list) in the web archives root directory.
If you did not do that, then the list archives cannot be accessed via
the web by anyone under any circumstances.

If the list is configured with "Confidential= Yes", the list name will not
appear on the archives index web page that is generated by LISTSERV.
Consequently, you need to provide the subscribers with instructions for
finding the list archives web page. You can either provide the subscribers
with the direct URL to the list archives web page, or instruct them to use
the "unlisted archive form" link at the bottom of the archives index web
page.

If the list is configured with "Notebook= ...,Private", the list archives
can be accessed only by the list subscribers, list owners, and site
administrators, however, no one can access the archives via the web without
a personal LISTSERV password. The LISTSERV password is used as an
authentication mechanism by the LISTSERV process; it does not provide the
user with the ability to login to the server itself.

If a user attempts to access a page which requires authentication, LISTSERV
will prompt the user to login. The default login page includes a link to set
a LISTSERV password, however, you may want to provide your subscribers with
instructions for setting a personal LISTSERV password, including the direct
URL to the appropriate page.

When you login to the LISTSERV web interface, you are offered the option to
save your password as a browser cookie. If you are using a computer which
you share with other users, this is A Bad Idea. If you are using a computer
which you do not share with other users, this may be a good idea. I save
LISTSERV passwords as cookies on my office computer, because I am the only
user of that computer. I do not save LISTSERV passwords as cookies on my
home computer, because I am not the only user of that computer.

--
Paul Russell
Senior System Administrator
O&E Messaging Services Team
University of Notre Dame