Best webmail?

[bernie51]

This question is not directly related to Ubuntu but I hope ubuntu users might have some insight.

I am using gmail now and it works great but I'm really concerned that google is storing all my private information. Does anyone know of a webmail service with a reputation for privacy? From my experience, yahoo and hotmail fill up with spam so I wouldn't be interested in either of those. Of course I would need something compatible with firefox and ideally thunderbird or evolution also. Thanks!

[mb_webguy]

I don't have any experience with Hotmail, but I use Yahoo, and am actually rather impressed with its spam filters. I hardly get any spam except through other accounts that I have forwarded to my Yahoo account (which is, of course, the fault of the spam filters on those other accounts).

[Simian Man]

Any webmail system has to store your private information. How do you expect them to deliver you emails if they aren't stored any where? What are you actually worried about?

I would be much more worried about what Yahoo does with its info.

[orc_dragoon]

Go hotmail(Microsoft) probably the safest route.

[bernie51]

I was hoping for one that's not one of the "Big Three"--Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail. And how can you not be worried about some huge corporation storing your personal information forever (even after you've "deleted it")?

[mb_webguy]

It's a trade-off. Big email providers are more likely to have better features (such as spam filters) because of better funding, more active development, and a larger user base. Smaller email providers may be more conscientious about how they use your personal information. On the other hand, they may be more likely to sell that information as an easy revenue source.

If you're really that concerned about privacy, set up your own email server. Numerous free mail server programs are available, several of which have web interfaces. They may not have all of the features you're used to in the larger email providers, but you'd be in control of your own information.

[konqueror7]

and all those big email provider just will reason out that they need your information to provide better service and blah blah blah...

[bernie51]

If you're really that concerned about privacy, set up your own email server. Numerous free mail server programs are available, several of which have web interfaces. They may not have all of the features you're used to in the larger email providers, but you'd be in control of your own information.

Sounds good! Where can I learn more about some of these programs? Thanks!

[makisupa123]

If your setting up your own webmail I'm particularly partial to 'roundcube'. Slick ajax interface, simple to setup and maintain, mysql DB backend support, can be hosted separately from your mail server -- there is a lot to like.

http://roundcube.net/

--Mak

[sports fan Matt]

Honestly Ive used Yahoo (and now AT&T Yahoo) so long, it does just fine for me.