From the KnowledgeBase

Title:
E-mail: SSL setting required for all IMAP and POP e-mail users

Synopsis:
The Princeton IMAP e-mail server requires that your computer use a secure connection in order to read your incoming e-mail.

A Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connection means that your password and all subsequent communications from your computer to the mail server are sent in encrypted form, so that they cannot be intercepted for malicious purposes. Regardless of whether you are using IMAP or POP, you need to check one box in your e-mail application to turn on SSL security.

Exchange users are not affected. Also, if you use WebMail or Exchange OWA, you do not need to make any changes.

Solution:
Use the instructions below to enable SSL in your e-mail program; efforts have been made to include most known e-mail programs in use at Princeton. Depending on the version of software you are using, settings may vary.

Mac OS X Mail

  • Open your e-mail program
  • From the Mail pull-down menu, select Preferences
  • Click on the Accounts blue icon
  • Click on the Advanced tab
  • Check the Use SSL box
  • Make sure the authentication pull-down menu is set to Password
  • Close the Accounts window and confirm that you do wish to save the new setting

Thunderbird / SeaMonkey

  • Open your e-mail program
  • From the Tools pull-down menu, select Account Settings...
  • From the category window on the left, select Server Settings
  • Check the box titled Use secure connection (SSL). Version 1.5 users, select the radio button next to SSL
  • Make sure the option titled "Use Secure Authentication" is not checked.
  • Click OK

Mozilla Suite

  • Open your e-mail program. (You must be in the e-mail component of the program, not the web browser component.)
  • From the Edit pull-down menu, select Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings...
  • From the category window on the left, select Server Settings
  • Check the box titled Use secure connection (SSL)
  • Click OK

Outlook 2007 / 2003/ Outlook 2002(XP)

  • Open your e-mail program
  • From the Tools pull-down menu, select E-mail Accounts
  • Within the e-mail section select View or change existing e-mail accounts
  • Click Next
  • Select Princeton Account (your account may be titled something different, yet similar)
  • Click Change...
  • Click the More Settings... button (if the button is dimmed, make sure you have typed your name in the Name Field)
  • Click on the Advanced tab
  • Check the box titled This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL) under the Incoming server (IMAP) or (POP) option
  • Click OK
  • Click Next
  • Click Finish

Outlook 2000 / Outlook 98

  • Open your e-mail program
  • From the Tools pull-down menu, select Accounts
  • Select Princeton Account (your account may be titled something different, yet similar)
  • Click Properties....
  • Click on the Advanced tab
  • Check the box titled This server requires an encrypted connection (SSL) under the Incoming server (IMAP) or (POP) option
  • Click OK
  • Click Close to finish

Outlook Express

  • Open your e-mail program
  • From the Tools pull-down menu, select Accounts
  • Click on the Mail tab
  • Select Princeton Account (your account may be titled something different, yet similar)
  • Click Properties
  • Click Advanced
  • Under IMAP or POP, check the box titled This server requires a secure connection
  • Click Close to finish

Netscape Communicator v6 and v7

  • Open your e-mail program. (You must be in the e-mail component of the program, not the web browser component.)
  • From the Edit pull-down menu select Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings
  • In the menu window on the left side select Server Settings
  • Enable Use secure connection (SSL) box
  • Click OK

Netscape Messenger v4

  • Open your e-mail program
  • From the Edit pull-down menu select Preferences.
  • Click on the Plus sign next to Mail & Newsgroups to show the sub-items
  • Select Mail Servers
  • Select your imap.princeton.edu (default) account
  • Click the Edit... button
  • Select the IMAP tab
  • Check the box titled Use secure connection (SSL)
  • Click OK twice to save the setting

Note: Netscape Messenger version 4 does not support SSL for POP connections. If you use this e-mail program in POP mode, you will need to switch to a modern e-mail program. See Solution 5088 for options.

Eudora for Windows

  • Open your e-mail program
  • From the Tools pull-down menu, select Options
  • From the left-hand categories menu, select Checking Mail
  • Set Secure Sockets when Receiving: to Required, Alternate Port (Port 993 for IMAP or Port 995 for Secure POP)

Eudora for Macintosh

  • Open your e-mail program
  • From the Eudora menu, select Preferences
  • Within the category menu on the left, scroll down to SSL
  • Under SSL for POP, choose Required (Alternate Port) (Port 995)
  • Under SSL for SMTP, choose Optional (TLS)
  • Under SSL for IMAP, choose Required (Alternate Port) (Port 993)
  • Under Standard Port SSL Negotiation and under Alternate Port SSL Negotiation, choose Maximum Compatibility

Entourage for Macintosh

  • Open your e-mail program
  • From the Entourage pull-down menu, select Account Settings. In Entourage version X, from the Tools pull-down menu, select Accounts.
  • Double-click on the account name Princeton Account (your account may be titled something different, yet similar)
  • Under Receiving mail select Click here for advanced receiving options
  • Check the box titled This IMAP (or POP) service requires a secure connection (SSL)
  • Click OK
  • Close the window to save the setting

Related Links:

Last Updated:
May 24, 2007

Solution ID:
9804