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Post by Chesapeake on Aug 28, 2020 15:08:21 GMT -5
Does anyone here use Compuserve (now owned by AOL) for their email? I recently received the following email from AOL:
Hey donaldsmith1,
We love that you love using AOL email. And we want to make sure you always have the best experience. That’s why we’re reaching out today.
We’ve noticed that you’re using non-AOL applications (such as third-party email, calendar, or contact applications) that may use a less secure sign-in method. To protect you and your data, AOL will no longer support the current sign-in functionality in your application starting on October 20, 2020. This means that you will need to take one of the steps below to continue using your AOL Mail without interruption.
But don’t worry, you have options:
Option 1: We recommend that you access your mail using our free AOL app for iOS and Android or simply go to mail.aol.com to access AOL Mail on the web.
Option 2: Keep your current, non-AOL app, BUT follow a few steps to get it to sync with our secure sign-in method. The steps vary across different email applications, but in most cases, you will have to remove your AOL account from the app and then add it back again to update sign-in security. Use the links below to follow the specific steps for your current application:
iOS Mail
Gmail
Samsung Mail
Others
Option 3: You can generate a one-time, unique password that will allow you to sign in to your account using your non-AOL email application. Once created, this password will continue to allow your app to securely sync your AOL email unless you sign out (or are signed out) from your app. You can find instructions on how to do this here.
If you want more details on these changes, please visit our help page. If you’ve already taken action, we’d like to think you haven’t read this far, but if you have... we appreciate the diligence!
Thanks for rocking that AOL email address!
The AOL Team
Assuming this is on the level (despite the fact that my Norton antivirus software says the links are "suspicious), this sounds like a huge PITA for somebody who just wants an email provider. Any thoughts on this?
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Dub
Administrator
I'm gettin' so the past is the only thing I can remember.
Posts: 19,870 
Member is Online
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Post by Dub on Aug 28, 2020 15:26:42 GMT -5
I was a CompuServe user. It was 1982. I was never an AOL user nor did I wish to be.
Wasn’t AOL acquired by Yahoo!?
I can’t imagine why anyone would use AOL 30 years past it’s use-by date, but that’s just me. I also can’t imagine why anyone today would use Norton Anti-Virus, or Norton anything for that matter. I’m surprised they are still selling software.
Still, I agree with Norton that these seem suspicious.
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Post by epaul on Aug 28, 2020 15:32:05 GMT -5
I wouldn't trust anyone who writes like that.
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Post by james on Aug 28, 2020 15:37:13 GMT -5
Phishing?
"Hey donaldsmith1" suggests a scam or ruse of some kind to me. "Hey" is too informal and bona fide communications use your actual name and not a part of your email address. I would instantly delete.
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Post by Cosmic Wonder on Aug 28, 2020 15:40:37 GMT -5
Use gmail.
Mike
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Post by epaul on Aug 28, 2020 15:57:05 GMT -5
and drop that "DonaldSmith" thing as your signin. Too pedestrian and dorky. Go with something cool that has a snappy hook to it, like StarKing1 or LizardLord. Or SoyRocket.
Hmm, actually, I might grab SoyRocket for myself. BeanFreak1 would be a good one.
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Post by sidheguitarmichael on Aug 28, 2020 16:26:37 GMT -5
Don, I am absolutely no cybertech expert. Hell, I don’t even have pickups in my guitars anymore. I’m only chiming in to say that, 1) due to being on faculty at multiple universities, I’ve had to take multiple “computer security trainings,” each of which had little quizzes in them. That email looks just like the “bad” examples from quizzes in all three trainings.  And 2) I haven’t heard the name compuserve in, well, let’s just say it’s been a while. Next up: a thread on integrating your flint knapping skills into the workplace...  (I kid, I kid...) |
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Post by gbacklin on Aug 28, 2020 17:02:31 GMT -5
What they are saying is that in fact you are still using that mail account, as of Oct 20, that way will no longer work.
If you do use that email and want to keep it, the safest option is then to get their app (if iOS for example, Apple’s App Store is wheee you would get it).
The other options are a bunch of configurations that you would have to set up. I had a CompuServe account in the early days of 300 baud modems and it was that or configure uucp mail through the old Network Solutions.
So if indeed you still use that email, truthfully as was suggested it would probably be easier to create a new gmail account, but if you want to keep it, I would get the mobile app as indicated in Option 1.
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Post by jdd2 on Aug 28, 2020 18:21:22 GMT -5
... Use the links below ... No no no no no no .... edit: maybe the russians think you work for the biden campaign? |
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Post by Marty on Aug 28, 2020 18:25:58 GMT -5
... Use the links below ... No no no no no no .... edit: maybe the russians think you work for the biden campaign? Ditto, ditto,ditto. Check the internet for a AOL email scam. |
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Post by Rob Hanesworth on Aug 28, 2020 18:29:17 GMT -5
I have a friend who still uses Juno.com mail.
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Post by coachdoc on Aug 28, 2020 19:38:10 GMT -5
And set up your current account to forward any mail to your new account.
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Post by John B on Aug 28, 2020 21:37:32 GMT -5
I think it's real. If you like aol, download the app from the app store (Apple or Google, depending on your phone type) and use the app.
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Post by james on Aug 28, 2020 21:51:06 GMT -5
Yeah an app from the app store or the Verizon/AOL webmail should be fine. After some Googling, I expect the email is above board too. I often get a bit suspicious with emails. It's generally a reasonable default reaction.
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Post by robjh22 on Aug 28, 2020 23:21:08 GMT -5
I think it's legit. Had a similar message from Verizon when AOL acquired its email service. Works fine.
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Post by Chesapeake on Aug 29, 2020 9:16:21 GMT -5
What they are saying is that in fact you are still using that mail account, as of Oct 20, that way will no longer work. If you do use that email and want to keep it, the safest option is then to get their app (if iOS for example, Apple’s App Store is wheee you would get it). The other options are a bunch of configurations that you would have to set up. I had a CompuServe account in the early days of 300 baud modems and it was that or configure uucp mail through the old Network Solutions. So if indeed you still use that email, truthfully as was suggested it would probably be easier to create a new gmail account, but if you want to keep it, I would get the mobile app as indicated in Option 1. Thanks all for your thoughts. I guess I'll assume it's legit since I haven't seen anything on the Internet about an AOL email scam, though I'm still reluctant to click on any of the links. I guess the simplest and safest route would be to set up a gmail account, though I'm not sure how to make sure my compuserve traffic gets forwarded. This is kind of terrifying. |
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Post by gbacklin on Aug 29, 2020 16:42:46 GMT -5
What they are saying is that in fact you are still using that mail account, as of Oct 20, that way will no longer work. If you do use that email and want to keep it, the safest option is then to get their app (if iOS for example, Apple’s App Store is wheee you would get it). The other options are a bunch of configurations that you would have to set up. I had a CompuServe account in the early days of 300 baud modems and it was that or configure uucp mail through the old Network Solutions. So if indeed you still use that email, truthfully as was suggested it would probably be easier to create a new gmail account, but if you want to keep it, I would get the mobile app as indicated in Option 1. Thanks all for your thoughts. I guess I'll assume it's legit since I haven't seen anything on the Internet about an AOL email scam, though I'm still reluctant to click on any of the links. I guess the simplest and safest route would be to set up a gmail account, though I'm not sure how to make sure my compuserve traffic gets forwarded. This is kind of terrifying. I agree never click on any links ! The main statement here : Tells me that the application that you are using to access your email currently is access outdated api’s that were used by CompuServe previously. There is a good chance that they may be using obsolete encryption algorithms. As of October 20, these api’s sitting on their server will be removed thus when your current application tries to access them, it will fail. Similar to if you tried to access a website that no longer exists. If you still want to keep CompuServe, the safest way is to get their mobile app from either the Apple’s AppStore or Google’s App Store. If you want to forward your email to a new gmail account. Create the new account and then in CompuServe’s email settings, turn on mail forwarding and enter your new gmail address. CompuServe is not going away, just the application you are currently using will just fail because the old functionality for access has been removed from their servers. |
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Post by Chesapeake on Aug 29, 2020 18:33:27 GMT -5
I've created a gmail account. Now all that remains is forwarding from compuserve, as you suggest, gbacklin. Terror abated.
Dub, the reason I stuck with compuserve in the first place is because I was under the impression that it was more oriented toward business/professional users and had less adds. AI was willing to cough up $10/month for that, but I'm sure it is no longer true.
Thanks again for all the ideas and insights
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Post by epaul on Aug 29, 2020 19:06:42 GMT -5
So, what's the new handle? Was Lizardlord still available?
(You better not have gone Soyrocket as I called dibs)
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Post by Village Idiot on Aug 29, 2020 20:03:59 GMT -5
I wouldn't trust anyone who writes like that. Tamarack wrote that. How about a little more allegiance to your bandmates, eh? |
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