sanscript: However, local server security (like encryption) and spamfilter isn't the same. It doesn't matter what you use or where if you just punch in your email address everywhere, sometimes the filter just doesn't pick it up (even if the security is generally good). Also, there are many ways a scammer/spam mailer can get your email address.

How about setting up an official only account you can use for only bank and such; set up a whitelisting only, that way you will only receive the emails you allow, the rest is thrown into the bin.

https://mailcon.com/top-rated-esps-in-2022/
https://protonmail.com/support/knowledge-base/filters/

Using aliases is also a good tip to minimize the damage if you have one or several domain names (or several free email accounts). If you start getting unwanted spam/scam mails through there then you know where the "leak" is, as in approximately. In this case you can either close it / delete it or set up a filter, without touching the others which still receive mails from those you want.

bler144: Hi all -

So, for many years I've had GOG and a number of other "medium security" accounts, as well as some throwaway accounts, tied to an old and...ummm...embarrassing email account.

Without naming names, this email provider has never been known for their good security practices, but as I didn't have a bank account or anything life-ruining tied to it, I just kinda kept rolling. But after a number of annoyances over the years in the past few weeks I got that $2,000 Bitcoin scam email that's been going around that this provider failed to filter, and it was a prompt to finally deal with the fact they just are not reliable.

Most of the old accounts tied to this email I haven't used in years, so it will be easier to move or recreate the few accounts I would actually need now than it would have been 8-10 years ago. I do already have my higher security accounts tied to several emails through another provider, but I'd like some ideas on a 2nd provider I could use.

I'm looking for maybe 2-3 ideas on email service providers that folks consider reliable/reputable/secure these days for things like GoG that aren't life critical, but that it would still be nice to keep secure?

thanks!