Configuring OSX Thunderbird 1.5 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.
Are you already using POP?
For new users of Thunderbird we recommend using IMAP instead of POP. However,
if you are already using POP with Thunderbird, 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
Server Direcory".
Thunderbird secure settings
You can download Thunderbird for Windows and OSX at http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/
- Choose Account Settings from the Tool menu
and click on "Server Settings" in the column
on the left. If you haven't set up an account, enter the settings as highlighted
below.
If you already have an IMAP account, skip to Step 2 to configure the secure settings required for email programs at UMD.
- Select "Account Settings" from the Tools menu and
configure the settings indicated below.
- NOTE: If you have already been using Thunderbird without "~/Mail/" for
the IMAP Server Directory 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.
- Configure the outgoing SMTP settings as shown.
If you use Thunderbird off-campus using a different ISP
If you use Thunderbird 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 secure settings. 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