Email Security

[mike2010]

If this is in the wrong section, feel free to move.

I just been wondering what is the best type of email account to use for important things. For instance for online banking , domain registration , and other important things.

Would using a ISP company based account be the best route. (aol, msn , etc)

Or using domain specific email accounts that we host ourselves on our own servers ?

I would think the security, reliance, and spam protection would be better with aol, msn... but then again we have more control over our OWN accounts if its hosted on our servers.

thoughts ?

[Quadrille]

I don't think there's a lot in it.

I use a specific gmail account *just* for such things; so i can change it quickly and easily without confusing regular contacts.

Never had a problem. And phishing mails stand out as cr*p instantly!

[mike2010]

yeah but what if you have all your domain registrations under your Gmail account and it gets hacked ? or your bank account info.

Im not sure Gmail would even give a crap...ya know ? Like if you tell them your account was hacked. They probably have no phone support, so you'll have to email them...and wait days for them to contact you back..and by then your Domains could be transferred out.

Over the years, I think we've all become more dependant on email as a lot more major companies are using them as primary contact.

Maybe there needs to be a more secure Email company established out there that guarantees your identity and account. Like if you get hacked, your guaranteed to get your account back after they investigate. Im not sure any company does that these days...

[Quadrille]

I use a specific gmail account

No account is totally safe from hacking; I'm not sure what your point is? The chances of any company 'guaranteeing' to get your account back is actually asking a lot.

If you opened a random gmail account eg [e-mail], why would it be hacked?

Whereas if you have a site called example.com and an email [e-mail], then hackers would probably learn to associate the two.

The more random your choices - and the less predictable - the safer you'll be.

Having a number of accounts for different purposes is almost certainly safer than one account for all. Make them hack every account, not just one!

[mike2010]

My point is that there should be email companies out there that offer a higher level of support and security...considering the increasing amount of reliance we have on Emails these days.

[piatkow]

I have three personal email accounts:
1. With my ISP which the spammers have found and I never use
2. A personal domain name mailbox, hosted by the company that manages the domain and accessible by POP3 or webmail. I use that for personal business emails and if I need to give my address to a stranger. If the spammers find it I can either step up the filtering level or abandon it and move to a new mailbox under the same account. (no catch-all address)
3. A separate webmail account just for close friends and family.

The problem is balancing security, effective spam filtering and the risk of false positives.

[mike2010]

2. A personal domain name mailbox, hosted by the company that manages the domain and accessible by POP3 or webmail. I use that for personal business emails and if I need to give my address to a stranger. If the spammers find it I can either step up the filtering level or abandon it and move to a new mailbox under the same account. (no catch-all address)

Could you give me an example of a company like that? Not sure I understand. You mean something like GoDaddy ?

first time i've heard of "personal domain name mailbox"

[phranque]

a personal domain is usually like a vanity domain.
an example of a personal domain mailbox is [e-mail]