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Tell HN: Yahoo Mail deletes all emails due to inactivity

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Re: Tell HN: Yahoo Mail deletes all emails due to inactivity

#31

I'd argue that this is a good policy, if you forget about it and there are sensitive documents etc contained within the mailbox then it's probably a good idea to erase it after a period of inactivity...

I'd also argue that if there are emails on that account that are important.... And it's a temp email address for a specific event... Forward the important stuff to a more frequently used email account? Maybe?

Well obviously, but most users wouldn't do that, they don't understand security etc...

Re: Tell HN: Yahoo Mail deletes all emails due to inactivity

#32
post #19

I'd argue that this is a good policy, if you forget about it and there are sensitive documents etc contained within the mailbox then it's probably a good idea to erase it after a period of inactivity...

True, especially considering that a lot of accounts on Yahoo and AOL (basically part of Yahoo and does this same policy) are likely a decade or two old, so they may have passwords of like 6 characters and no 2FA, because that was super common back then.

Yup

Re: Tell HN: Yahoo Mail deletes all emails due to inactivity

#33
post #27
post #15

The warning really should be to avoid using service providers for long-term storage of anything. You should have your own copies of any important emails/documents/etc.

Or at least check on your stuff once a year, or pay for service (money or log in and look at an ad). You also shouldn't put a box in a corner of someone's house or office and ignore it for over a year.

Even then, keep your own copies of important stuff. Never rely solely on other people's computers to keep your stuff safe.

Re: Tell HN: Yahoo Mail deletes all emails due to inactivity

#34
post #26

> A word of caution to all, set up a reminder to logon to your dormant email addresses every few weeks I think it's a chore that most of us would not do. How about writing a script instead to login every x weeks and send you an alert email/text for that along with emails count?

How about adding the account to your regular mail client?

Great idea! If it's important you'd do it, but then it'd be inactive in the first place :-)
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