First-time access to Email services upon crossing a border using a Global LTE/5G Phone Plan

TESTING ENVIRONMENT

  • Testing Site: U.S.
  • Tested Web-Sites:
    • Yahoo.com
    • Outlook.Live.com
    • Gmail.com
    • Mail.Yandex.com
    • Proton.me (ProtonMail.com)
  • Access Method: via web-browser (Firefox)
  • Previously accessed method: via email clients on Android, Linux, and Windows
  • Connection Method: via WiFi Tethering of GSM data network without VPN
  • Previously used connection: WiFi from an office router for a cable modem
  • GSM data provider: Global SIM from Spark in Warsaw, Poland via T-Mobile
  • Operating System: Linux Ubuntu
  • User location: recognized as Warsaw, Poland
  • Test action: enter the correct username and the correct password

TEST RESULT

  • Yahoo.com: failed to access
    • Resulting screen:
       
    • Yahoo.com failed to grant access to the owner with a correct ID and a correct password.
  • Outlook.com: failed to access due to Yahoo.com
    • Resulting screen:

    • In order to use Microsoft Email service, a person must already have an Email address.  Because a Yahoo Email address was provided during the process of creating a MS account, Outlook.com failed to grant access to the owner with a correct ID and a correct password.
  • Gmail.com
    • Resulting screen:
       
    • NOTE: Google may have noticed the Android device, with the Google account that is same as the account being accessed, from which the WiFi was being tethered.
  • Yandex.com
    • Resulting screen:
      (2FA: secret question)

      (3FA: Captcha Puzzle)
       
    • For an account without a phone number registered, a user could use fully independent authentication method to access the account as long as the person possess knowledge of the secret answer and possess intelligence to execute the prompted task.
    • NOTE: Starting 2024, Yandex requires a phone number to create an Email address.  When tested for global phone number acceptance, Yandex.com did not reject a foreign phone number, did not reject a VoIP number, and did not reject a non-mobile number; and a SMS could be received as long as a phone service provider accepted a SMS from a shortcode sender.  It has not been tested to verify whether Yandex will require reliance to a phone service provider to access the account.
  • Proton.me (ProtonMail.com):
    • Resulting screen:
       
    • Proton has a SMS verification feature that can be turned on.
    • Proton has an authenticator app verification feature that can be turned on.
    • Proton has an email verification feature that can be turned on.
    • Proton has a security key verification feature that can be turned on.
    • Proton has a two-password mode feature that can be turned on.

STATEMENT OF OPINION

Proton mail provides the most independent access to one's own Emails, the most flexible combination of identity verification methods for multi-factor authentication, the most practical thus the safest method of multi-factor authentication for each user, and the most accessible storage of Emails for account owners regardless of one's location, settings, and availability of devices/vendors in one's location especially in case of an emergency when a person may not be able to rely on objects/devices or persons/entities other than oneself.