I changed my settings within 24 hours after the new security settings were announced (most changes on the Advanced tab in Outlook Express), probably two years ago, yet regularly, like clockwork, I get an email message from Yahoo Mail that is pasted below.

I rechecked my settings with the instructions and there is nothing else I can update – it is all correct. The messages keep on coming.

I contacted customer service several times, probably 4-5 times or more, and they rechecked my settings for me. There was nothing else I could change – it was all correct. Yet the messages keep on coming.

I filed the “abuse email” form, and finally one customer service rep told me to just ignore the messages because clearly there is nothing else to update and she had no idea why I would receive them. And they still keep on coming, every few weeks.

I wonder if this is a message that Yahoo sends out to everyone, like a broadcast message, because my settings were updated even before I started getting these messages. Is there anyone else annoyed like me by these pesky repetitive messages? Please let me know.

“Dear AT&T Yahoo! Customer:

We noticed that you are accessing email using non-secure settings in your email software.

We would like to ensure that your AT&T Yahoo! Member ID, password, and email messages are transmitted securely between your mail software (such as Outlook or Outlook Express) and the AT&T Yahoo! Mail servers. In order to meet this need, please enable SSL via the instructions that are available on the Help site.

Since multiple email notifications have already been sent out about this, we request that you please make the necessary changes immediately. Remember, you need to make these changes if you want to continue to send/receive email using a mail client.

Thank you for your cooperation,

AT&T Yahoo! Customer Support”