For the past few days, users of the Laposte.net email service have no longer been able to access their emails via a third-party application. La Poste confirms and mentions “security reasons”, but it is still possible to use the service.
Updated May 4 at 12:35 p.m. – Contacted by us, the La Poste group reacted via a press release:
“The security of user data is the priority for the teams at la poste.net. This is why the deactivation since April 27 of the consultation of laposte.net email accounts through any other platform is maintained. This concerns, for example, the consultation of e-mails via messaging access software, mobile applications or other web messaging services.
This deactivation of the consultation of laposte.net e-mail accounts through any other platform follows the detection of abnormal behavior in attempts to access e-mail accounts thanks to the constant and proactive monitoring of laposte.net teams. . These access attempts use a list of passwords and associated emails via a data set found on the internet.
The laposte.net teams are mobilized to restore the proper functioning of the service as quickly as possible. However, this preventive measure will remain in place until access is restored via the secure POP/IMAP protocol for users.
Users can still check their e-mails and manage their account directly from laposte.net or through the dedicated mobile application.
As a precaution, laposte.net recommends that its users have a strong password that is changed regularly and that they have up-to-date anti-virus software on each of their devices. It is also working on adding additional measures to further strengthen the security of connections to laposte.net messaging.
The laposte.net teams are aware of the inconvenience and apologize for the inconvenience caused. »
If you have a address @laposte.netyou certainly meet some difficulties. For the past few days, it has no longer been possible to access your email from email software or third-party applications. Do not attempt to change your settings or change tools, the problem comes from the courier service of the La Poste group. You have to go to the website to find an information message; explaining that the POP and IMAP protocols “temporarily closed”. The email service evokes « a security measure » and specifies that messaging remains accessible from the official website or mobile application.
The problem surfaced last week and affects tens of thousands of users. For the time being, it is therefore impossible to go through the Windows Mail application, Apple Mail or even Thunderbird. On Twitter, the La Poste account confirmed that « This measure was taken for security reasons and for an indefinite period ». You have to be patient with your illness; and use the Laposte.net website or application to access their emails.
La Poste invites its users to wait
Remember that in case of hacking, the service has a period of 72 hours to notify the CNIL. However, there is no indication that this is a breach and that personal data is compromised. We will have to wait for clearer communication from La Poste which “please wait a little longer”.
Faced with the American behemoths of Google (Gmail) or Microsoft (Outlook), LaPoste.net relies on simplicity and claims an interface « intuitive ». Pioneer of messaging in France, the service offers basic functions such as the possibility of creating up to 6 aliases. It also offers 5 GB of storage space. Finally, @laposte.net addresses can send up to 20 MB of attachments and benefit from integrated anti-spam.