email security

[Charles]

I have a couple of email accounts with yahoo,gmail. My ISP is AT&T. I have been thinking about the security issues with how much easier it is to break into yahoo, gmail than my ISP and therefore thinking about reestablishing my at&t account and retrieve mail from gmail and yahoo via at&t mail. Is this a better option like i'm thinking from the security stand point? If so is it better to download at&t software into pc and use it instead of logging thru at&t website to sign on?

Any other options, ideas to still get my gmail, yahoo mail without someone resetting my password and accessing my email so easily?

Thanks.

[Lespaul20]

I really wouldn't worry too much about security of the providers. Without any expert knowledge I would say the major web mail providers are secure enough to not worry. However, I would guess that accounts that have been compromised had weak passwords or did take personal security seriously. I've had a yahoo account for 10 years with the same password and I have never had any issues.

[Charles]

I don't think this has much to do with strong passwords but with password reset policies. Please read below.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/18/palin-email-hacker-impers_n_127538.html

Does anyone knows if AT&T password reset policy is similar to yahoo, gmail. Does installing AT&T software adds yet another set of filters that makes it harder to break? Or does signing in thru AT&T account via web browser is strong enough?

Thanks.

[glc]

All installing AT&T sofware will do is result in it taking over your computer, just like what happens when you install AOL software.

[Charles]

Thanks for clarification glc. Can you recommend possible options?

[giorgos]

Yes, use strong passwords (>8 characters both capital and not capital letters,symbol,numbers,not known words), don't use the same passwords in all e-mail accounts,forum accounts,e.t.c.,use strong security questions if you use security questions, always use https when you access webmail especially for gmail increased security go to settings->browser connection->always use https, don't distribute your personal data in social networking sites, don't use the data you distribute as password or secret questions, try not to visit questionable websites (good idea to use a different browser for risky surfing), don't use remember me on this computer for web mails, have a fully patched system (update operating systems and aplications constantly), use antivirus, firewall (and not windows firewall), good idea is to use a router with NAT enabled, don't install questionable software,use anti-malware anti-spyware software regularly, maybe disable services and applications you don't really need and generally use your head and don't go the fast and easy way. If you keep your car's door open you may get in more quickly, but so can everybody else.

p.s. Another good idea is not to open every crap they send you and say it is a joke, Even a power point presentation can be a zero day threat and a funny web site can be used, if accessed with your web mail account logged on, to compromise your e-mail account security.