Securing your e-mail

ITS will be making a change in e-mail service on September 15, 2006 to improve security by encrypting login IDs and passwords.  All NDSU e-mail accounts are required to set up a secure connection for incoming and outgoing mail in their client software (Thunderbird, Outlook, Eudora, etc.).  This modification is a one time only procedure.

Those who do not set up secure e-mail connections by September 15 will find they are unable to read or send mail with their preferred e-mail client. The Webmail service is available and is always an option to send and receive e-mail.

Home Users Note: Because some ISPs require certain settings, be sure to document your current settings before you make changes in case you have to revert back. If you have problems with sending or receiving e-mail from home, please use Webmail.

Definitions

CLIENT SOFTWARE refers to the program you use to access your email.

SSL (Secure Socket Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) [techie terms] are used to create secure connections. SSL affects incoming mail, and TLS affects outgoing mail.

IMAP refers to incoming mail, and SMTP refers to outgoing mail.

In most e-mail clients, select Help->About to find out what version you are using. ITS recommends you upgrade to the most current version (emphasis added).

Securing Outlook 2003 SP2

1. From the Tools menu, select E-mail Accounts....

2. Select View or change existing e-mail accounts and click Next.

3. Select your e-mail account and click Change.

4. In the lower right corner, click the More Settings... button.

5. Click the Outgoing Server tab.

6. Check the box My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication.

7. Select Use same settings as my incoming mail server.



8. Click the Advanced tab.

9. In the Incoming server (IMAP) area, check the box This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL). If the server port number is not 993, insert 993

10. In the Outgoing server area, check the box This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL). If the server port number is not 587, insert 587



11. Click OK.

12. Click Next.

13. Click Finish.

14. Restart Outlook for these changes to take effect.

Securing Eudora v 7.0.1

1. From the Tools menu, select Personalities.

2. In the Personalities box (left pane), right-click Dominant, and select Properties.

3. Select the Generic Properties tab.

4. Change SMTP server to smtp.ndsu.nodak.edu
5. Check the box Authentication allowed.

6. Check the box for Use submission port (587).

7. In the Secure Sockets when Sending drop-down menu, select Required, STARTTLS.

8. Click the Incoming Mail tab.

9. Change Server to imap.ndsu.nodak.edu

10. In the Secure Sockets when Receiving drop-down menu, select Required, Alternate Port.


11. Click OK.

12. Restart Eudora for these settings to take effect.

Securing Netscape v 7.2

1. From the Edit menu, select Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings.

2. In the left pane, click Server Settings.

3. For the Server Name, enter imap.ndsu.nodak.edu

4. In the Port field, insert 993

5. Check the box Use secure connection (SSL).

6. In the left pane, click Outgoing Server (SMTP).

7. In the Server Name field, enter smtp.ndsu.nodak.edu

8. In the Port field, insert 587

9. Under Use secure connection, choose TLS.

10. Click OK.

11. Restart Netscape for these changes to take effect.

Securing Thunderbird v 1.5

1. From the Tools menu, select Account Settings.

2. In the left pane, click Server Settings.

3. For the Server Name, enter imap.ndsu.nodak.edu

4. In the Security Settings, select the SSL button.


5. In the left pane, click Outgoing Server (SMTP).

6. Select the server from the list, and select Edit. [It should be the first one and say (Default)]. **If there are no servers or yours is not listed, click the Add button.

7. Change Server Name to smtp.ndsu.nodak.edu

8. Change the Port to 587

8. Check the Use name and password box.

9. Enter your electronic ID (Firstname.Lastname) in the User Name field.

10. Click the TLS button.


11. Click OK to close the SMTP Server window.

12. Click OK to close the Account Settings window.

13. Restart Thunderbird for these changes to take effect.

NOTE: This document is a modification of an ITS web page.  If you wish to review the original, it can be viewed at: http://www.its.ndsu.edu/help/index/e_mail/secure_e_mail/#c1622