Authenticated SMTP
Why are we moving to Authenticated SMTP?
Email type viruses use a standard method to spread which has proven to be very effective. They send copies of themselves from an infected computer to addresses found in an address book.
The volume of this malicious email is staggering and can impact our services dramatically. One infected computer can slow our mail server down to the point where legitimate messages can no longer be delivered. ISPs like AOL will stop allowing mail from williams.edu accounts to be delivered because of the volume hitting their servers. And, since the viruses are able to "spoof" email addresses, many messages are sent which appear to be from people you know and trust but are in fact from other infected computers which happen to have those names in an address book.
By requiring an account and password on our mail server to send email this traffic will be stopped. Fortunately most email clients have a simple setting for Authenticated SMTP so that once it is set you will not have to think about it.
Please follow the instructions for your email client to enable the setting. Note that Pine and IMP / Webmail require no change. If you do not make this switch you will not be able to send email from on campus. You will still be able to receive email which is a different process.
Outlook Express
PC
Open up Outlook Express. Tools menu: Accounts: Mail tab:
Select your mail account (probably mail.williams.edu). Click the Properties button.
Servers tab: at the bottom check "My server requires authentication", then click the Settings button.
Verify that "Use same settings as my incoming server" is selected.
Click Ok, Ok, then Close. That should do it.
Outlook
Outlook 2002 (XP) or 2003
Open up Outlook. Tools menu: Email Accounts: View or change existing email accounts, Next:
Select your mail account (probably mail.williams.edu). Click the Change button.
Click More Settings: Outgoing Server tab: check "My outgoing server requires authentication". Verify that "Use same settings as my incoming server" is selected.
Click Ok, Next, then Finish. That should do it.
Outlook 2000
Open up Outlook. Tools menu: Accounts: Mail tab:
Select your mail account (probably mail.williams.edu). Click the Properties button.
Servers tab: at the bottom check "My server requires authentication", then click the Settings button.
Verify that "Use same settings as my incoming server" is selected.
Click Ok, Ok, then Close. That should do it.
OSX Mail
10.3 (Panther)
Open up Mail. Go to the Mail menu: Preferences:
At the new window that opens, click the Accounts button (the blue @ symbol):
Click the Account Information button. Click the Server Settings button at the bottom.
For Authentication, choose Password then enter your standard username and password.
Click OK and close out of Mail. That should do it.
10.2 (Jaguar) or less
Open up Mail. Go to the Mail menu: Preferences:
Edit the account that is listed. Select the Account Information tab.
Click the Options button at the bottom. For Authentication, choose Password, then enter your standard user name and password.
Click OK then OK again and then close the Accounts window. That should do it.
Eudora
Old versions of Eudora (specifically Eudora Light 3) do not have an option for Authenticated SMTP. You will need to be running version 5 or newer. Please contact the Faculty/Staff HelpDesk at x4090 or by email to desktop@williams.edu to receive assistance in upgrading. Eudora 5 and 6 have Authenticated SMTP on by default but you should verify the setting:
PC
Open up Eudora. Tools menu: Options: Getting Started Category:
At the bottom check "Allow authentication", then click OK. That should do it.
Mac
Open up Eudora. Special menu: Settings: Sending Mail Category:
Check the "Allow authorization" box, then click OK. That should do it.
Netscape Mail
PC
- Open Netscape Mail. From the Edit menu choose Mail & Newsgroups Account Settings.
- For Outgoing Server (SMTP) check the Use name and password and enter your username.
- Click OK and close out of Netscape.
If you still have questions after following the instructions please call the Student Support Desk at x3088 or via email ( stchelp@williams.edu ). Williams faculty and staff should contact the Faculty/Staff Helpdesk at x4090 or desktop@williams.edu .
