Replacing microsoft as my email provider

[wood1e2]

Hi

I have had my MS account hacked, and someone has tried to buy domains and 25 365 busines packages, after nearly two months of backand forth MS have confirmed they cannot issue credit notes... and whilst I think they will never try to take money I am not sure I can trust them.

I ask them how I can cancel my account they came back with confirmation of cancellation!! So I have issued another support request hopefully someone who can understand what is happening will answer


Annoyingly if the account is in the process of being cancelled I loose 6 months of my years subscription... But hey ho! NEver mind.

What I could use as replacement?

Whilst I probably don't need thier software, and I know I can set up WebMail quickly, I would like to keep my emails being syncronised across multiple devices!

Any recommendations?

 

[fisicx]

If you have a domain email address you just need to set up imap. All your emails will sync on all your devices.

Or gmail will do the same.

 

[ukwebhosting]

Hi

You could go with a provider that offers IMAP email as that stays syncronised across devices.

However if you need any email that already exists it is not as simple as it was to get that email since 365 closed off IMAP and POP and use OAuth now so it becomes a big task to get your email via exporting/importing in something like Outlook etc.

If you don't need any existing email then yep just purchase a hosting package that includes IMAP email and then ask for the settings to use in your domains DNS etc and go from there.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Zoho offer a free account with a Google/O365 style service. For up to 5 people, I believe!

Otherwise, your host might offer something.

 

[ThatDevAaron]

LOL

Pro tip: don't use microsoft.

due to their sheer size and in-depth knowledge on how their systems work by attackers, it makes it significantly easier for attackers to find ways to breach your account(s).

Do you know how this occurred? Clearly your email was/is breached that is connected to your microsoft account.

you are likely the victim of the classic and not at all scary credential brute forcing attack.

If you don't already know how this happened, I'd love to go through it with you. (I'm 99% certain someone breached your email, which allowed them to access your account (im assuming email access gives them/introduces a workaround to 2fa))

 

[wood1e2]

Many thanks for the repsonses.

I am a bit confused by IMAP as I thought that didn't sync emails? For example if I conenct via IMAP to Outlook on Desktop and then via Outlook via Laptop.

And then then sent a separate email via both in the sent folder in both Outlooks would not contain the the two emails, but the one that was sent that specific device?

Whatever the asnwer I am thinking of just using WebMail, which is/had IMAP... and do I really need emails pinging away on my phone?!?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Unless things have changed:

POP3 is where emails are sucked from your mail server and is a one way thing

IMAP is when emails on your server and client are run in parallel/shared.

In both cases, the client connects to the server on a set timed basis e.g. every 10 minutes

Things like Gmail, O365, Zoho etc use push email which syncs things live(ish), if using their app. Otherwise, you connect a client via POP3 or IMAP.

 

[wood1e2]

Many thanks again to everyone, I just got this from Microsoft

"As our Technology Lead has already informed you on call, Invoices cannot be reversed once they have been issued.

This request was related to the increase in Business Standard seat count. While we are unable to cancel the invoice for 25 seats, we have taken the following steps:

• The Business Standard subscription has been canceled.
• Since you had already paid for one Business Standard seat for a year, we have processed a prorated refund for that amount.
• A credit note has been generated for your review.

Thank you for choosing Microsoft. Please let us know if you have any additional questions or need further assistance."

Amazing a company the size of Microsoft can't issue credit notes, and inact cancellation when it was never asked.

Still I'll get back £60 eventually . Just repointing domain to IMAP!

Once again many thanks