is it possible to get into peoples email account just by knowing the email adress?

Answer 1

Their are several paths one could take to retrieve a password. I'll name off a few.

1) You happen to know a little about them... see if you can guess their secret question and get in!

2) You know them a little better or have access to their computer. If you only know them better then guess their password, if you have access to their computer then drop in a keylogger that logs the title window text with the keystrokes. You will definitely get the pw that way.

3) You dont have access to their computer but know where they live? Try going through their trash. Sounds nasty but its the easiest and most educating to know your target. You get a hold of a bill.. you get a motherload. Banking statement... another. :D

Just a few tips from the Mac. :D

Answer 2

Don't forget as well that the vast majority of email is sent "in the clear." That means it can picked up over the network or from any of the servers it passes through on its way without the need to unencrypt it if you know how... Also, this is the internet, the path an email takes does not necessarily follow a straight A to B.

Never send sensitive information through email.

Answer 3

Yes. If they haven't set up a secure password, you can use a dictionary attack, or any of several "hacking" methods to get the password. With that, you have access to their account.
If they're sending over a wireless signal, hacking wireless encryption takes about 30 seconds. With a packet sniffer you can take the password when they enter it.
Truth is, there are a dozen ways to get someone's e-mail account. None of them legal.

Answer 4

Only if you go to the login page for their email provider (Yahoo/Hotmail/etc) and can then guess their password, otherwise there's no way in just by knowing the publically available email address.

Answer 5

nope. will always need a password at the least