Lack of SSL support a major oversight
GaisericVandal
Enthusiast - Level 1

Verizon does not provide SSL encryption for either webmail or for POP/STMP clients (e.g. Oulook.)   Apparently they don't feel that there is a valid need for residential users.  Or more realistically they figure that it the complexities of supporting residentials users is greater that the "mimimal" risk of users passwords or personal information being hacked.

It seems off since gmail and  most corporate e-mail systems support this, and even the average linux geek living in his parent's basement can set this up.    Verizon, which for everything else (FIOS, wireless, 3G gadgets etc) has been doing a great job, can't?

Or am I being unreasonable?

Re: Lack of SSL support a major oversight
dslr595148
Community Leader
Community Leader

@GaisericVandal wrote:

Verizon does not provide SSL encryption for webmail.


Correction: Yes, they do.

https://www.verizon.net/ssowebapp/VOLPortalLogin?TARGET=https://www.verizon.net/ssowebapp/protected/EmailLoginHelper

However, once logged in it does not stay SSL.

Be advised, when you are trying to log-in: if you are using the addon SSL Password Warning with Firefox you will get this warning message as shown in the screen shot

http://i45.tinypic.com/2yya33m.jpg

^^

0 Likes
Re: Lack of SSL support a major oversight
lasagna
Community Leader
Community Leader

Actually .. I thnk the OP was talking about SSL/TLS for the POP/IMAP interface, not the web interface.  More and more providers are supporting this method of connecting so that your login credentials to the POP/IMAP server don't have to travel across the Internet in the clear (as it is now, someone sitting in a S*bucks or other open wi-fi connection with a sniffer could easily capture a person's email ID and password in a matter of seconds.  The benefit of doing this if you also do it for outbound mail is that the default port for that service is not port 25 , it's something like 465.

An SSL interface for Webmail would be nice as well ... so others wouldn't necessarily be able to see what your reading across the internet.  Right now, all Verizon does is do the authentication for the webmail interface over SSL (at least protecting your login credentials).