Email or Username

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Email or Username

Steve Jones - SSC Editor

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June 28, 2016 at 8:42 pm

#308743

Comments posted to this topic are about the item Email or Username

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Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004329 More actions · Answer 1

Meh... just have them use their SSN. :-):-D:-P;-):hehe::sick:

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Gary Varga SSC Guru Points: 82166 More actions · Answer 2

Funnily enough, I had the same issue here at SSC. I had to create a second account to access SSC with a new email address. I asked Steve to resolve some issues (which he did - Thanks Steve!!!).

The reason I lost my email address was that I had used a provider that was free and got its money via dial up. The email facilities remained free even after people started using broadband. It got bought out by a large mobile company and after months of being able/forced to go to a page after sign on requesting free access to the account, access was no longer available and all emails (as we as the email address) was lost.

In hindsight it was obvious that I was going to lose access and it might have even said it in the small print but it wasn't made clear I have never used that company since.

Gaz

-- Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen...they're everywhere!!!

colin.frame Default port Points: 1483 More actions · Answer 3

Unlucky. At the moment I’ve little problem with the use of email addresses for authentication despite the issues with that, though I'm aware there may be some ancient bulletin board somewhere that still has an account associated with an equally ancient email address of mine that's not been used for a decade. Or two.

Most folk have email addresses that are assigned to just them, be they work or home. That said, when someone leaves an organisation or stops using an email system (such as Hotmail or Yahoo) an email address can be re-assigned – you could find your membership of some long forgotten technical site is taken on by some other individual, who now has access to whatever personal details you gave that site.

Another aspect is work/life balance. If you’re successful at keeping work and home well separated, then for technical entities such as SSC it’s advantageous to be able to review technical topics whilst at work, when you likely have access to technical tools to try things and learn, or help others; when asking for help, you get a more immediate view of email alerts. You also avoid getting distracted with work-related stuff at home if you are able to avoid having your work phone with you all the time. Authentication by email address can make some sense here.

Also, why have multiple identifiers when one will do, and when one of these can also double up as a communication vehicle? I make the distinction here between an authentication identifier and a moniker – I’m happy for folk to know me as whatever name I call myself on whatever systems. Is it more secure if that name is not used for authentication? That said, you do not always know what’s round the corner. Should your employer let you go unexpectedly, you risk losing several technical identities. Some sites help overcome that issue by allowing you to have a designated backup email address for recovery purposes.

For home or leisure stuff, it’s usually a bit simpler (excepting the previous poster's scenario). If you are changing personal email address, you normally have more control over when and how that happens, so allowing for a controlled transition.

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shoestringdba SSCertifiable Points: 6226 More actions · Answer 4

I've set up multiple gmail accounts, one for my personal stuff and others for websites and techinical sites. Works out pretty well.

One of the other issues involved using emails for authentication is often times the automated password reset sends an email to the original address. So you either have no way of getting the reset email or should someone manage to crack the email account (assuming it is still active), they can gain access to whatever you used it for. I imagine two-factor authentication would mitigate this, but it's not often used.

____________
Just my $0.02 from over here in the cheap seats of the peanut gallery - please adjust for inflation and/or your local currency.

Stefan LG SSCommitted Points: 1936 More actions · Answer 5

Back in the days Gmail accounts where only attainable by invite and you had to get a new cell phone number if you switched to another service provider (at least in my country).

These days you just apply for a personal Gmail account and your cell number is yours for life.

So a username, cell phone number (plus international dialing code), or email address are all viable alternatives, although I prefer the email option.

I also agree that you must manage on which sites you use your personal or work email accounts.

In the early days of the Internet, a lot of people (including myself) made the mistake of using work email addresses for non work-related sites (internet banking for example), but these days it should not be the norm anymore.

Mark Dalley SSCrazy Points: 2981 More actions · Answer 6

Jeff Moden (6/28/2016)
Meh... just have them use their SSN. :-):-D:-P;-):hehe::sick:

Hmm... as a non-American without an SSN, it would appear that I don't exist.

You don't say. Must admit, I never realized.

MarkD

Pablo Echeverria Right there with Babe Points: 729 More actions · Answer 7

The problem we've faced with emails is that when a woman gets married, we need to change her email due to her last name changed... And then we have log files with her old email and new records with her new email... not to mention she doesn't have access to old records she modified, and all of that because her user name changed.

Beatrix Kiddo SSC-Dedicated Points: 32407 More actions · Answer 8

pabechevb (6/29/2016)
The problem we've faced with emails is that when a woman gets married, we need to change her email due to her last name changed... And then we have log files with her old email and new records with her new email... not to mention she doesn't have access to old records she modified, and all of that because her user name changed.

I wouldn't change a username on that basis. Add another email alias if necessary, but there's no need to change a username. Changing a surname on marriage is a lifestyle choice in the West, not a legal requirement.

Pablo Echeverria Right there with Babe Points: 729 More actions · Answer 9

Yeah, that would have been better if we created the authentication system, but it was already created and used in a lot of places so we were not able to modify it. So for newer systems, that's going to be the base.

below86 SSChampion Points: 11532 More actions · Answer 10

I had my SSC account tied to my work email, and the password was saved by IE. So when I lost my job and couldn't remember the password but I did have my user name I thought I was going to have to start over here with a new account. I was able to get the kind people here to switch my account to be tied to my home email address, after giving them some info.

I like having an email address and user name together, with a couple key questions that only you would know the answer to. This would have made my scenario easier to resolve on my own. Or have the option to tie your account to more than one email address, I think LinkedIn does have this option.

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we travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us
Don't fear failure, fear regret.

akljfhnlaflkj SSC Guru Points: 76202 More actions · Answer 11

Jeff Moden (6/28/2016)
Meh... just have them use their SSN. :-):-D:-P;-):hehe::sick:

I'm assuming you're joking. Though they are supposed to be unique, working in the health industry we find duplicates all the time. It's more than just family members sharing the same SSN. We'll have unrelated people sharing the same SSN and have to vet out who is correct. It's a mess. That being said, how many people use the same email address? In medical offices quite a few. The providers like to share it. For our subscribers, family members share the same email address surprisingly more often that you would expect. There really is no single good answer that fits everyone. Just do what works best for you, first come first served.

below86 SSChampion Points: 11532 More actions · Answer 12

Iwas Bornready (6/29/2016)
Jeff Moden (6/28/2016)
Meh... just have them use their SSN. :-):-D:-P;-):hehe::sick:
I'm assuming you're joking. Though they are supposed to be unique, working in the health industry we find duplicates all the time. It's more than just family members sharing the same SSN. We'll have unrelated people sharing the same SSN and have to vet out who is correct. It's a mess. That being said, how many people use the same email address? In medical offices quite a few. The providers like to share it. For our subscribers, family members share the same email address surprisingly more often that you would expect. There really is no single good answer that fits everyone. Just do what works best for you, first come first served.

My wife and I share the same email address. We also have a gmail account we share because of our phone. The only separate accounts are our work email addresses, and we wouldn't want to use them.

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we travel not to escape life but for life not to escape us
Don't fear failure, fear regret.

Pablo Echeverria Right there with Babe Points: 729 More actions · Answer 13

Iwas Bornready (6/29/2016)
Jeff Moden (6/28/2016)
Meh... just have them use their SSN. :-):-D:-P;-):hehe::sick:
I'm assuming you're joking. Though they are supposed to be unique, working in the health industry we find duplicates all the time. It's more than just family members sharing the same SSN. We'll have unrelated people sharing the same SSN and have to vet out who is correct. It's a mess. That being said, how many people use the same email address? In medical offices quite a few. The providers like to share it. For our subscribers, family members share the same email address surprisingly more often that you would expect. There really is no single good answer that fits everyone. Just do what works best for you, first come first served.

In my case, our customer has told us that the SSN is a private information no one should see, as they're a medical provider. But we need people managing other users accounts, so we can't use it.

TMiller 21949 SSC Veteran Points: 220 More actions · Answer 14

"Perhaps I shouldn't be using this email...". No, absolutely not... not if there is the possibility that you may be using that site after you leave your current employer. After all, that email address belongs to your employer.

As another person who commented noted - set up multiple email accounts. Set up one for personal items, and one for personal/technical items. Never use your employer's email for something not directly related to the job. Sure, you may work for a decent set of human beings now (I'm very fortunate in that I do), but what if there is a hostile takeover, or the very good person in charge dies suddenly, and the next person in line is a rat bastard.