What is the best method(s) to use when securing an email account?

[films&games]

Hi,

I know that there are different ways to secure an email account. For example: a recovery email, a telephone number to get a text message, either of these seem to be common. Or even 2FA to get a code is sent to your phone when you go to login to an account.

But which method is better? I thinking more in relation to if/when getting locked out of an email account.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[ubuysa]

For first line security use a long password consisting of random letters, number and characters - do NOT use that password anywhere else. If your email provider supports 2FA using your phone then set that up too and use it.

Always have at least two email accounts (they can be with the same provider, eg. Gmail). Use one for signing up for things on the Internet, buying stuff on the Internet, etc. but not for anything personal. Use the other account for your personal emails to friends, family, etc. but never use that email address anywhere else on the Internet (so never use it to sign up for stuff or buy stuff).

Set up each account with different (long) passwords and with 2FA and use each account as the recovery account for the other.

 

[SpyderTracks]

I personally use the Microsoft Authenticator app and assign all my 2fa keys on that, that way you’re not transmitting codes that can be caught in the middle. It’s very robust, never had a problem with it. You can tie google codes to it, pretty much any account you want.

 

[films&games]

For first line security use a long password consisting of random letters, number and characters - do NOT use that password anywhere else. If your email provider supports 2FA using your phone then set that up too and use it.

Always have at least two email accounts (they can be with the same provider, eg. Gmail). Use one for signing up for things on the Internet, buying stuff on the Internet, etc. but not for anything personal. Use the other account for your personal emails to friends, family, etc. but never use that email address anywhere else on the Internet (so never use it to sign up for stuff or buy stuff).

Set up each account with different (long) passwords and with 2FA and use each account as the recovery account for the other.

Hi,

Would it be a better idea to setup and use another mobile number when using 2FA. For example, get a paygo sim card where the the credit doesn't expire and then assign that number to the email address(es) for 2FA for login and recovery purposes if locked out of the account(s) e.g. Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[films&games]

I personally use the Microsoft Authenticator app and assign all my 2fa keys on that, that way you’re not transmitting codes that can be caught in the middle. It’s very robust, never had a problem with it. You can tie google codes to it, pretty much any account you want.

Hi,

How well does the Microsoft Authenticator app work with non-Microsoft accounts e.g. Gmail and Yahoo?


Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hi,

Would it be a better idea to setup and use another mobile number when using 2FA. For example, get a paygo sim card where the the credit doesn't expire and then assign that number to the email address(es) for 2FA and recovery purposes e.g. Yahoo, Gmail and Hotmail?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

That's going unecessarily far. There's no requirement to do that unless you're protecting government secrets in which case you wouldn't be using any of those accounts

The safest way is to use a 2FA manager app like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator. Then it's not broadcasting the codes over the internet or text lines, it's purely on your device.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hi,

How well does the Microsoft Authenticator app work with non-Microsoft accounts e.g. Gmail and Yahoo?


Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

Works fine with any accounts.

BTW, if you're using a Yahoo account still, migrate it and delete it immediately, they're inherently insecure.

 

[films&games]

Works fine with any accounts.

BTW, if you're using a Yahoo account still, migrate it and delete it immediately, they're inherently insecure.

Hi,

Are Microsoft and Gmail good as each other or is one better than the other?

Thank you.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hi,

Are Microsoft and Gmail good as each other or is one better than the other?

Thank you.

They're about as secure as each other. Services wise, it totally depends how it fits with what you use.

 

[films&games]

BTW, if you're using a Yahoo account still, migrate it and delete it immediately, they're inherently insecure.

Hi,

What is the best method to use to migrate my Yahoo account to either Microsoft or Gmail?

Then just delete the account after day or two because I think it takes up to 30 days before an account is actually deleted without logging back into it.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[SpyderTracks]

Hi,

What is the best method to use to migrate my Yahoo account to either Microsoft or Gmail?

Then just delete the account after day or two because I think it takes up to 30 days before an account is actually deleted without logging back into it.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

How to delete your Yahoo account

Ready to move on? Here's how to shut down your Yahoo account and move to Gmail.

www.cnet.com

This will work for migrating to Microsoft also, same principal.

 

[films&games]

How to delete your Yahoo account

Ready to move on? Here's how to shut down your Yahoo account and move to Gmail.

www.cnet.com

This will work for migrating to Microsoft also, same principal.

Hi,

I have looked the link that you have kindly provided.

The article says that is better to not delete the Yahoo account(s) but instead just, migrate the data, change the password and turn on 2FA.

In relate to this, would I be able to download all the emails in my Yahoo account and store them on my computer, e.g. a local archive. Then just use a new Gmail or Microsoft account?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[ubuysa]

Hi,

I have looked the link that you have kindly provided.

The article says that is better to not delete the Yahoo account(s) but instead just, migrate the data, change the password and turn on 2FA.

In relate to this, would I be able to download all the emails in my Yahoo account and store them on my computer, e.g. a local archive. Then just use a new Gmail or Microsoft account?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

Get Thunderbird and stop using webmail. Thunderbird can store all your emails locally (on your PC) and yes, you can tell Thunderbird to download all your existing Yahoo emails and store them locally. Thunderbird can also handle multiple email accounts (I'm using four with it) and keep each account's emails separate.

I migrated from Yahoo some years ago. Initially I set up Yahoo to forward all mail to my Gmail accounts (accessed via Thunderbird) and I left it that way for about 18 months to be sure all important contacts had updated my email address and about a year ago I deleted all my Yahoo accounts.

 

[Oussebon]

+1 for thunderbird

If keeping email stored only on your PC though (in local folders) make sure to take backups of your locally stored emails. Thunderbird profiles can get broken and make it hard to access your stuff, or mess up the content altogether. Though Thunderbird isn't alone in that and local email saves...

 

[films&games]

Hi,

When I have previously tried to setup Mozilla Thunderbird to work with my Yahoo account(s), I have been prevented by using Thunderbird and cannot connect to Yahoo.

This is because Yahoo seem to not support Mozilla Thunderbird or at least this was the case at the time for me.

What is the best way for me to connect to my Yahoo account(s) using Thunderbird? I would prefer IMAP to POP, so that I can download all folders, e.g. Inbox, Sent, Trash etc.

I have read the Yahoo help page abou this and I have either the following two options: Allow apps that use less secure sign-in or Generate app password.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

 

[ubuysa]

Hi,

When I have previously tried to setup Mozilla Thunderbird to work with my Yahoo account(s), I have been prevented by using Thunderbird and cannot connect to Yahoo.

This is because Yahoo seem to not support Mozilla Thunderbird or at least this was the case at the time for me.

What is the best way for me to connect to my Yahoo account(s) using Thunderbird? I would prefer IMAP to POP, so that I can download all folders, e.g. Inbox, Sent, Trash etc.

I have read the Yahoo help page abou this and I have either the following two options: Allow apps that use less secure sign-in or Generate app password.

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated, please.

Thank you.

You need to login to your Yahoo account and enable either POP or IMAP use. I used a Yahoo account about 4 years ago and had no problems using Thunderbird via POP3 with it.

You do need to allow less secure sign in with it.

 

[films&games]

Does POP3 just download the incoming email, i.e. Inbox folder contents? If so, it will have to be IMAP.

 

[ubuysa]

Does POP3 just download the incoming email, i.e. Inbox folder contents? If so, it will have to be IMAP.

Yes. POP3 just gets email (and optionally leaves it in the server) to just that device. IMAP gives you more control so that email is synced across multiple devices.

 

[films&games]

Yes. POP3 just gets email (and optionally leaves it in the server) to just that device. IMAP gives you more control so that email is synced across multiple devices.

So to download the contents of more than just the Inbox (all folders) would need to use IMAP or can I use POP3?

 

[ubuysa]

So to download the contents of more than just the Inbox (all folders) would need to use IMAP or can I use POP3?

POP3 will get all new mail, it doesn't care about any folders you may have set up in Yahoo.

The thing with POP3 is that every device using that email account is separate, with IMAP all devices share the same email account - so you could delete an email on one device and it's deleted on all devices.