You can encrypt the messages themselves, or have the entire connection to Windows Live Hotmail secured by accessing the site using HTTPS. This makes sure nothing is picked up between your browser and Windows Live Hotmail — by a snooping program on your computer, for example, a shared connection or a hacked network device.
Encrypting the messages themselves secures them even outside Windows Live Hotmail and your computer.
Access Windows Live Hotmail More Securely via HTTPS
To make your Windows Live Hotmail sessions more secure by having all traffic encrypted between your browser and Windows Live Hotmail:
- Launch Windows Live Hotmail using https://hotmail.com/default.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0.
Force Windows Live Hotmail to Always Use a Secure HTTPS Connection
To make Windows Live Hotmail use a secure SSL connection automatically:
- Open https://account.live.com/managessl.
- If you are prompted for your password:
- Type your Windows Live Hotmail password.
- Click Sign in.
- Make sure Use HTTPS automatically is checked under Connect with HTTPS.
- Click Save.
Note that having Windows Live Hotmail enforce HTTPS may prevent Outlook Express from accessing your Windows Live Hotmail account. The latest versions of Windows Live Mail and Outlook will work all right.
(Updated September 2011)
