web-based mail: attached docs show text

i noticed readable text from attached doc in proxomitron log window. i had attached
via the method in web-based email. this service can https between me and their
servers, but I wasn't using the https option.

even if i send to them via https, they then send the mail via regular smtp to the
recipients mail server. and then I assume usually the mail goes to the recipients
computer by regular smtp. so there are two sends that are likely easily readable.

I hadn't realized text in a word processor doc 'attached via webmail' could be read.

here's the potential problem (I think):
if i were to email docs to insurance, or credit businesses, I'd be sending sensitive
info. If they have a https page setup, then hopefully the "attachment" method
(scripts, and??) are also secure. but if customer phones company's representative
for special reasons, they may end up doing "custom interactions" via email.



AFAIK (perhaps more due to luck of convenience?) I haven't exposed myself to ID
theft.

the "worst" privacy risk of attachments I've mailed has been resumes. they contain
my name, address, phone number. also some work history info, of course.

i've sent more sensitive documents during "custom interactions" to insurance
companies and similar. But, I've sent to these recipients rather rarely, and via *fax*.

only once did I email an attachment compressed with password. (because
computer's fax wasn't working). I phoned immediately afterwards. the rep
responses suggested that they normally didn't need a password to open
customers' email attachments. (I didn't think to ask about this. i just wanted to give
the rep the password by voice.)


So... I think the resume problem is a sticky problem because it suffers from social
convention: job seekers usually play a "beggars" role, while employers have little
interest in protecting applicants' privacy.

_________

If sending anything sensitive to relatives, i always compress with password. (most
of these are image scans, so aren't easily readable as text anyway)

12345@invalid.nomail wrote:


> AFAIK (perhaps more due to luck of convenience?) I haven't exposed myself to ID
> theft.


What the? You're using web-mail.
Beside that, you're a dirty address faker.

01 Sep 2007,"Sebastian G." <seppi@seppig.de> in news:5jtbdkF166tpU1
@mid.dfncis.de:

>
> What the? You're using web-mail.
> Beside that, you're a dirty address faker.

esl, but thanks