Configuring OSX Mail for secure connections
Beginning January, 2007, only email clients configured to use secure settings will be able to connect to the UMD email servers to send and receive mail.
Unless configured to use secure (encrypted) protocols, email programs send your username, password, and email content as clear text that can possibly be intercepted by others - particularly on a wireless network. You should check your email program's settings to make sure your incoming (IMAP or POP) and outgoing (SMTP) servers are configured to use secure settings.
OSX Mail secure settings
Are you already using POP?
For new users of OSX Mail we recommend using IMAP instead of POP. However,
if you are already using POP with OSX Mail to avoid confusion you may want
to continue using POP. The secure settings will be similar to the IMAP
instructions below but you won't see some setting that are mentioned such
as the "IMAP path prefix".
- If you are configuring your OSX Mail account for the first time, follow
the instructions below. If you already have set up an account, skip to
Step 2 to configure secure email settings for OSX Mail.
- Choose Preferences from the Mail menu and
click on the Accounts tab.
NOTE: If you have already been using OSX Mail without the "~/Mail/" for the IMAP Path Prefix setting below, you may have created mailboxes that you won't be able to see if you use this settings. Just leave this setting blank to continue to see all of your saved mailboxes.
- Close the Preferences window and save your changes.
If you use OSX Mail off-campus using a different ISP
If you use OSX Mail at home and have a different Internet Service Provider such as cable modem or DSL you may have configured a different SMTP server setting so that you can use your ISP's outgoing SMTP server. Your ISP's SMTP server may also support secure protocols (SSL). If it does not we recommend you use UMD's server (smtp.d.umn.edu) with SSL enabled. You can send outgoing email through UMD's smtp.d.umn.edu server anywhere you're connected to the Internet if you enable the secure settings.
You also do not need to use Virtual Private Network (VPN) software in order to send email with secure settings. However, for other security reasons we do recommend running VPN unless your computer is connected to an on-campus ethernet connection.
Rev 02.07 jrn/sb