MyBell and Bell Email MFA/2FA access

[StevieB]

 I understand the need to implement login verification on the web.  All good.  However it completely baffles me that your system requires a successful text-based authentication to my Bell mobile phone, and then immediately requires an additional e-mail based verification.  This is ridiculous, useless, and a waste a time.  Not even my bank makes me jump through that many hoops for a simple login.   Once again Bell you are demonstrating you are more interested in showing off and spinning your wheels just for the sake of it, rather than focusing on the actual customer experience.  I login to my Bell account often, and this has become such a source of irritation that I'm considering switching to Rogers.  So, my question is, can you setup my account so that I'm not forced to double verify myself when I log in!!??

[Unhappy User 9000]

I could not get any Windows 11 apps to connect to the Bell email. One might have been able to via the old POP protocol, but that's unencrypted. Why make a vague suggestion when testing seems to show it's not a workable solution?

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome to the Bell Community Forum.

Thank you for reaching out to the community and raising your concern.

I cannot speak for the apps that you are using and the reasoning why you are unable to set up your father's Bell email on an email client.

If you setup his email account on an email client, you will bypass MFA authentication for email access only. You do not need to specifically use your Sympatico email address. You can choose any email service provider.

You are not limited to exclusively using POP protocol. It is simpler and easier to use. You can also use IMAP protocol. It is more flexible, easier to set up and is best used across multiple devices.

If you wish to continue to use your Bell email address on an email client, I have included the instruction below:

 Using Bell email : Bell email features

Here is a partial list of email clients that do work can be set up on a Windows 11 computer: Outlook, GMail, Thunderbird, eM Client, Mailspring, etc.

There is no work around for the MFA email authentication. All Bell customers are required to use multi-factor authentication (MFA). You cannot opt out.

Let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Take care.

[dks]

I am curious. Can you say more? Chrome, Edge and Brave browsers work for web mail access. Outlook in its various iterations also works with Bell email using POP and IMAP. The apps will not work if you are running a VPN however. Bell security will not let you in if your VPN is not within Canada. 

[JH1]

Over the last few months Bell was doing a 2 step verification via my email when I logged into my account. Then they also added a text message with an authorization code, but today when I logged in, all I did was put in my password no 2 step verification at all. Has Bell decided not to do 2 step verification anymore? It seems odd because most websites are adopting this method for security.

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

MFA/2FA email authentication is still required. All Bell customers are required to use multi-factor authentication (MFA). You cannot opt out.

Bell has not shared any plans to stop MFA/2FA authentication on MyBell.

As is the case with any security measurement that is introduced, there will be continual future enhancements, tweaks and changes.

Take care.

[Taavi1]

This MFA is security overkill. I am not divulging state secrets or personal details like the length of body organs in a Bell email. In order to access an email I would have to open another window to get a 6 numbers so that I can discover how much I am being charged for changing a a tap to a quarter turn ball .. I would hazard a guess that no one on this planet would try to pretend it is me asking about a $5 dollar repair. Perhaps I should kiss off this bell.net email and try another email. I tend to use Duck Duck Go as a search engine which limits the amount of tracking so why do I need three layers of security. Whoever the Bell security techie is who came up with this nonsense should be demoted or fired. I am almost 80 years old and do not want the inconvenience or the need or the hassle of the MFA. How do I get out of this nonsense.

[Aptic]

Has Bell stopped using MFA to login into your account?  I no longer get asked.

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day.

MFA/2FA email authentication is still required. All Bell customers are required to use multi-factor authentication (MFA). You cannot opt out.

Bell has not shared any plans to stop MFA/2FA authentication on MyBell.

As is the case with any security measurement that is introduced, there will be continual future enhancements, tweaks and changes.

Take care.

[dks]

Thanks for your comments. Historically, Bell has had serious issues with spammers hijacking Bell email accounts and then using bots to do their work. Bell no longer allows creation of new email accounts. The use of 2FA is the latest security response. Many organizations and companies use 2FA to secure their accounts. Banks, financial institutions, Loblaw, the Canada Revenue Agency, Google, Microsoft, all use 2FA. The list goes on and on. 

One solution I have found is to use a password vault program. It can create random passwords for accounts or store your own created passwords for your use. A paid service is better than a free program. It is integrated with your web browser and pops up when needed. I can log in to the Bell web site in seconds, with a couple of clicks. I occasionally see a Recaptcha test. 

Bell has a choice. Give us higher level account security or receive criticism for not giving us enough security. What they have done is try to find a happy medium. 

[Aptic]

I never asked to opt out.  My question was why am I no longer being asked for it when I log in?  On my desktop, I enter my username and password and I gain access.  They used to send a code to my phone, but no longer.

[dks]

Bell may be making changes. Sometimes I am asked and sometimes I am not. ReCAPTCHA appears to be more common right now.

[Loosie-Goosie]

So I set up MFA (cell phone), and wish I hadn't, because now, EVERY TIME I login to check my email, I am always prompted for a verification code; every...single...time 😠 Do I have to enter a verification code EVERY TIME I log in to Bell webmail?  

This is annoying to say the least.  I thought it would be a one time thing.. but no..

Is there anyway I can reverse/remove this process?

TIA

[WelshTerrier]

Good Day & Welcome.

There is no work around for the MFA email authentication. All Bell customers will be required to use MFA. You cannot opt out.

You can choose to select: "Keep me logged in" on the opening Bell webmail login page. This will eliminate your requirement to login each and every time you access your webmail using the same browser. This will only work if your browser privacy settings are not set to clear your, cache, cookies & passwords when your browser is closed.

If you setup your email account on an email client, you will bypass MFA authentication for email access only.

Depending on the device you are using, (computer, tablet, etc.) a quick fix that may solve your problem would be to use an email client such as Microsoft Mail, Outlook, Gmail, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Safari Mail, Samsung Mail, etc.

You can configure Bell email to work with email software using either POP or IMAP settings. I recommend using IMAP because it provides useful functions, such as syncing your folders and messages across multiple devices.

Add your Bell email account to any one of these free email clients and you will no longer need to enter the MFA security code when using the email client. (MFA security code entry will continue to be a requirement if you choose to access your email account with a web browser.)

Using Bell email : Bell email features

Setting up Bell email : Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Take care

[Taavi1]

Whoever suggested this nonsense should be forced to explain why this total aggravation is in any useful or helpful to customers. With 7 layers of security before I even open my bell.net account why do I need two more steps. On three other devices I[ads and tablets I can access my bell.net account without being coerced into MFA. I have a sympatico.ca email account and did not blunder into using the MFA. I am thinking of cancelling my major email account, waiting for a day or two and then subscribing once again using the same address but NEVER, EVER using MFA. My current bell.net has been shared with ten  organizations and the Canadian Revenue agency plus other on-line groups and friends. 

[dks]

While I appreciate your frustration, 2FA security is becoming the minimum standard for computer access to accounts in today's world. Bell is no different. If you choose to cancel your Bell e-mail account, you will be unable to reactivate it. Bell has stopped providing any email service to new accounts. You email address will be gone forever.

If you wish to avoid 2FA for your email, the easiest way of doing that is to use an offline mail client such as Microsoft Outlook. You will never use 2FA at all.