Can't have a Hotmail account without a second email account?

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

For security reasons Microsoft locked people out of their Hotmail accounts recently unless you provide and verify an alternate email address. Without a validation "code" there is apparently no way to view your emails without contacting Microsoft or providing a cell phone number. The end result is that you need multiple email addresses to secure a Hotmail or Yahoo email address?

I realize it's their service and I'm free not to use it but I have some reservations about these requests since I already manage security on my own in other ways. Suggestions?

- Also... not using their service means deleting my account which releases the email address into the public pool, correct? I'm not sure I want someone else getting it either. Decisions decisions.

[edited by: Sgt_Kickaxe at 6:57 am (utc) on Aug 14, 2014]

[incrediBILL]

They're cutting out the abuse by the spammers.

Give them what they wan, which isn't a big deal unless you're gaming the system, or find another solution.

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

They state its for my security, not their spam rate, but I don't agree with the method is all. If my "other" email account is the one that gets compromised the Hotmail account becomes instantly vulnerable. Deleting the service brings new security concerns if, 4 months later, someone else takes the address and starts receiving emails meant for the original user. There doesn't seem to be an ideal security solution here.

[creeking]

can the other account be a hotmail account?