> Do you use a POP3 or IMAP e-mail client? If they check automatically, that traffic is out in the clear for all to see, including potentially the login credent

> Do you use a POP3 or IMAP e-mail client? If they check automatically, that traffic is out in the clear for all to see, including potentially the login credentials. Other programs, like instant messaging client, may try to log on. That sounds overly pessimistic. Most POP3/IMAP email services nowadays support TLS, and some don't even work unless you use TLS. Most email clients, likewise, are designed to use TLS by default when you first set up an account. If yours isn't, complain to the developer(s). Likewise, I'm not aware of any popular instant messaging client that sends login credentials in the clear in this day and age. At least none of the programs I've set up to log in automatically (Dropbox, Skype, etc.) seem to be guilty of that crime. The part about the operating system automatically connecting to various servers in the clear is a bit worrying. But for the time being, I'm pretty sure none of that traffic carries any login credentials of mine.