[CW] OFF TOPIC - Gmail WARNING - Verified

[D.J.J. Ring, Jr.]

I don't like to send out big mailings with "WARNING" in the title, but
I have some friends who know I am talented at computers and
networking.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM:

Google now wants verification of logins.  So if you have a gmail
account, log in and make sure you have recovery information - another
live email account, a live cellphone.

Before you read the rest of this email, all of you log in with a
graphical web browser - the browser you use has to use javascript,
like Firefox, Google Chrome and the rest of the graphical browsers,
none of the text browsers (lynx, links, elinks) will work.

Some of my friends use email clients and now cannot log in,
specifically they are using text based email programs like Alpine
(pine), mutt and such on Unix/Linux.

Here's what you need to do for this - you need application specific passwords.
https://www.lifewire.com/get-a-password-to-access-gmail-by-pop-imap-2-1171882
Also an article by google:
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/185833?hl=en

I made an app specific password for mutt and alpine, they both work, I
just removed my "normal" password for gmail and put this special "app
specific password" in my configuration files (.pinerc and .muttrc) and
I'm into my email.

I have three friends who have lost access to their gmail accounts because they:

1) Didn't update their backup email account.
2) Didn't provide a cellphone (Google Voice will NOT work because you
can't log in to it if you're locked out of google.

Before anyone replies: "But years ago, Google just asked me for a
phone number, so I gave them the only phone I had, my landline, I
don't have a cell phone.

That's unfortunately true.

So as soon as you can - that means NOW - log in with a graphical
browser (that is not a text browser) and update your security contact
information.

If you've already been locked out, I contacted a friend who works for
google and he told me this:  Every time you attempt to log in to gmail
with a correct username and password, you get "credit" and after an
unspecified number of tried, you will (or might) get in.  It might
take 90 tries over 90 days, he didn't say, but he did say: "Keep
Trying."

You can get large email accounts without a fee from gmx.com, they
don't use two factor authorization or lock text applications or email
programs out.

gmx.com smtp and imap server settings are here:
https://clean.email/blog/email-settings/gmx-email-settings

NOTE, you must go into gmx.com in a graphical browser first and change
the settings to ALLOW smtp / pop and imap access.  If you do NOT do
this you will be blocked and gmx will send you an email to your
account with the reason and the fix for it.

Note: If you do not utilize POP3/IMAP for an extended time, this
setting will be switched off automatically again for security reasons.

Best wishes,
David N1EA