👍 #822 - Is There an Email Service that Doesn't Require a Phone Number? My Recommended Approach, and Alternatives - Confident Computing

This week's articles & videos

Many free email services now require that you provide a phone number when setting up an account. There are various, and valid reasons for this. The most common objection is, of course, privacy and (unfounded) conspiracy concerns.

Nonetheless there are most definitely some very valid reasons you might not want to provide a phone number, or any personal information when setting up an email account.

This week's featured article Is There an Email Service that Doesn't Require a Phone Number? discusses my recommended alternative, and points to additional options as well.

Also this week: What your IP address says about you (less than you think, unless the police get involved), why the password you know is right doesn't work (hint: it's not right), and how to run a full scan in Windows Defender when people like me suggest you do so.

In addition to videos accompanying the articles above, this week on YouTube it's the age old "Outlook versus Outlook(.com)" confusion, bypassing Keyloggers, and how to know whether or not your computer's been hacked!

Disappearing Books!

A reminder that as I mentioned last week I'll be removing several books from The Ask Leo! Store at the end of the month.

I mention it here in case you want to grab a copy before they disappear. Don't forget to use your discount code included near the bottom of every emailed newsletter.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Wear a mask. Be kind.

Featured

Is There an Email Service that Doesn't Require a Phone Number? My Recommended Approach, and Alternatives

There are legitimate reasons for not wanting to give your phone number to an email service. Let's look at alternatives.

https://askleo.com/124832

Affiliate Disclosure

This Week on Ask Leo!

What Can People Tell from My IP Address?

People can tell very little from your IP address. For example, they cannot tell who or where you are. How much they can tell varies a great deal.
https://askleo.com/2293

•

I Know My Password is Right, But I Can't Sign In. What Do I Do?

If your password won't work and your secret questions are all different, it's pretty clear what's happened and what you need to do.
https://askleo.com/15079

•

How Do I Run a Full Scan Using Windows Defender (aka Windows Security)? Five Clicks, and When to Do It

Here's a step-by-step guide on running Windows Security to scan for malware.
https://askleo.com/124848

This Week on YouTube

Subscribe to Ask Leo! on YouTube to get the latest on YouTube.com. Your subscription (and "Likes") help others find Ask Leo!, and the the answers they're looking for.

How Do I Run a Full Scan Using Windows Defender (aka Windows Security)?

Here's a step-by-step guide on running Windows Security to scan for malware.
https://youtu.be/SnMxK2Ajm48

•

How Do Outlook and Outlook.com Relate?

Microsoft continues to confuse us with product names. I'll clarify the difference between Outlook and Outlook.com, and help you understand which you want.
https://youtu.be/Wjyf7Oc1Q_0

•

How Do I Bypass Keyloggers? The Guaranteed Way to Avoid Having Your Keystrokes Maliciously Recorded

I hear about techniques to bypass keyloggers often. The problem is, keyloggers can log much more than keystrokes. There's really only one solution: avoid them in the first place.
https://youtu.be/8zVNMB2VTy4

•

Has My Computer Been Hacked? A List of Clues and Steps to Take

When you see the list of possible hacking signs, it's easy to jump to the conclusion your computer has been hacked. It's usually not the case. Regardless, prevention is always easier than recovery from an actual hack.
https://youtu.be/GdyYFrIX6_k

•

Is There an Email Service that Doesn't Require a Phone Number?

There are legitimate reasons for not wanting to give your phone number to an email service. Let's look at alternatives.
https://youtu.be/Ty9kziYkCKY

Share Confident Computing!

Share the confidence: forward this (without your unsubscribe link at the bottom) to your friends! They'll thank you! (And so will I!)

Did someone forward this to you?

to get your own copy each week. It's FREE!

For Ask Leo! Patrons

The Ask Leo! Tip of the Day

A feature exclusively available to Ask Leo! Patrons Bronze level & above.

More Ask Leo!

Become a Patron
Ask Leo! Books
Facebook - Twitter - YouTube - More..

Leo's Other Projects....

HeroicStories Since 1999, HeroicStories brings diverse, international voices to the world ' reminding us that people are good, that individuals and individual action matter. Stories - new and old - are published twice a week.

Not All News Is Bad - Each day I look for one story in the current news of the day with a positive bent. Just one. And I share it.

leo.notenboom.org - My personal blog. Part writing exercise, part ranting platform, it's where I write about anything and everything and nothing at all.