TB SMTP Settings -- From Idiotic to Insane -- Plus Security Concern
Using the latest TB on win10 64bit. I thought this was very strange / idiotic years ago, w' the SMTP settings in a separate place; but idiotic just got insane. I click an account in left column, then click ‘Account Settings’ in upper right corner, then click ‘Server Settings’ in left column. Then I see pop settings at top; but no SMTP next to POP -- where ANYone would expect to see them. So then I scroll through all server settings, and still no SMTP options. Then I go to very bottom of left column where I knew the Outgoing Server (SMTP) settings have always been. There I see only one server that is apparently used by ALL my email accounts -- no matter if outlook or gmail or whatever. Then I add a second server in Outgoing Server (SMTP) settings. Then I go back to ‘Account Settings’ in upper right corner, then click ‘Server Settings’ in left column, and guess what is now at the bottom of this same ‘Server Settings’ section (w’ pop at the top)? Yes, SMTP settings!!! And also, NOW for Outgoing Server (SMTP) settings, there are several servers listed for my different email accounts. Then, I go back again to the ‘Server Settings’ and again only POP settings -- no SMTP settings?? WT..?
You know that one definition of insanity where you do the same thing and expect a different result? WELL,,, fine… Insanity both verified and encouraged. -- Suggestion -- The SMTP settings need to be next to the POP settings where ANY reasonable person would expect them to be. -- Concern -- ANY reasonable person would have the obvious concern of sending one corporation’s usernames and passwords through another corporation’s SMTP server… Yes, that would be…???
On this page ‘https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/manual-account-configuration ‘ it says: “Configure the outgoing server Multiple email accounts can use the same outgoing SMTP server. Therefore, SMTP servers are created separately from email accounts.” Oh, OK.
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ggg3 said
Using the latest TB on win10 64bit. I thought this was very strange / idiotic years ago, w' the SMTP settings in a separate place;
Not so strange if you use the same SMTP settings for more than one identity or account. Or even multiple SMTP servers for a single account.
I click an account in left column, then click ‘Account Settings’ in upper right corner, then click ‘Server Settings’ in left column. Then I see pop settings at top; but no SMTP next to POP -- where ANYone would expect to see them. So then I scroll through all server settings, and still no SMTP options. Then I go to very bottom of left column where I knew the Outgoing Server (SMTP) settings have always been. There I see only one server that is apparently used by ALL my email accounts -- no matter if outlook or gmail or whatever. Then I add a second server in Outgoing Server (SMTP) settings. Then I go back to ‘Account Settings’ in upper right corner, then click ‘Server Settings’ in left column, and guess what is now at the bottom of this same ‘Server Settings’ section (w’ pop at the top)? Yes, SMTP settings!!! And also, NOW for Outgoing Server (SMTP) settings, there are several servers listed for my different email accounts. Then, I go back again to the ‘Server Settings’ and again only POP settings -- no SMTP settings?? WT..?
I filed a bug for that months ago. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1731518
You know that one definition of insanity where you do the same thing and expect a different result? WELL,,, fine… Insanity both verified and encouraged. -- Suggestion -- The SMTP settings need to be next to the POP settings where ANY reasonable person would expect them to be.
When you get into the account setting, click on the Name of the account in the list above the server settings. There is the SMTP in use and a handy edit button. Been there for years.
-- Concern -- ANY reasonable person would have the obvious concern of sending one corporation’s usernames and passwords through another corporation’s SMTP server… Yes, that would be…???
No idea! Why would that happen? The user name and password for the chosen SMTP server will be sent to that server.
On this page ‘https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/manual-account-configuration ‘ it says: “Configure the outgoing server Multiple email accounts can use the same outgoing SMTP server. Therefore, SMTP servers are created separately from email accounts.” Oh, OK.
Well I do think it is OK! Other than you do not knowing how it works so expecting it to work based on your assumptions, I really see nothing wrong with the idea.
If you have your own domain, and many do, a single SMTP server is all that is needed. For webmaster@ Spam@ Manager@ Sales@ and any of a myriad of other email addresses that micro businesses generally have and manage as a single mailbox in Thunderbird, because they only have one employee and really don't want to look to the world like they are that small.
Then if you manage a domain from someone like twocows that encourages the use of a generic server name for sending mail, or google which will allow the sending of mail from multiple domains (as long as those are registered in your account) you only need a single server for many accounts.