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What's the use of having a password if an unauthorized user can cancel it's requirement?

  • 4 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 14 views
  • Last reply by Woodchopper

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I don't understand why there is a cancel button for the password requirement. If an unauthorized user wants to access my acct by the internet or this pc, all he has to do is click the "cancel" button on the Password pop-up (a password is required to access my email) and he has complete access to it.

It's the same with the master password. The field will even allow one to enter a new one, which doesn't make any sense.

I don't understand why there is a cancel button for the password requirement. If an unauthorized user wants to access my acct by the internet or this pc, all he has to do is click the "cancel" button on the Password pop-up (a password is required to access my email) and he has complete access to it. It's the same with the master password. The field will even allow one to enter a new one, which doesn't make any sense.

Chosen solution

Email passwords and their actions are administered by email providers. Thunderbirds only involvement is to store the password, if you selected that option, and to provide it to the server when asked.

The master password is to protect access to your saved passwords and not to your mail. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Master_password

If someone is accessing your account through the Internet web mail interface, Thunderbird has nothing to do with that.

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All Replies (4)

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Chosen Solution

Email passwords and their actions are administered by email providers. Thunderbirds only involvement is to store the password, if you selected that option, and to provide it to the server when asked.

The master password is to protect access to your saved passwords and not to your mail. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Master_password

If someone is accessing your account through the Internet web mail interface, Thunderbird has nothing to do with that.

Modified by user01229325

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I understand my email provider admins passwords, but they do not control the functions on the Thunderbird email program. When I access TB, a pop-up asks for a password (the one when I setup my TB email acct) but there is also a cancel button in that same pop-up. All one has to do is hit cancel and they have access to my email.

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I guess it helps if you understand how email works. The password request that you see is the email server asking for a password to connect to the server and download new messages. Thunderbird is just relaying that request to you. It has nothing to do with protecting the email already downloaded to you computer. If you are concerned about unauthorized usage use the security built into your operating system to control access to your computer.

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Ok Thanks....that is helpful....Couldn't TB add such protection and security?