Setting up Secure Services for the Mail Application

Version 1.2.3 on Mac OS X 10.2

In order to read and send Mail from RUCS systems, you must use a secure connection method. This is done so that passwords are encrypted before being transmitted, thus preventing theft by network "eavesdroppers". For mail, the secure protocol used is "SSL". This can be turned on by just checking or selecting the "Use SSL" setting.
NOTE: These instructions will guide you through converting an e-mail program to secure communications with SSL. This document assumes you are using the IMAP protocol to get mail messages from the Rutgers server. However, these instructions will also work for accounts configured with the POP protocol.
Though POP is supported by RUCS, if you have previously used it, we strongly recommend you switch to the IMAP protocol. Under IMAP, you can create folders on your account and leave messages in them, to be read from any location with an IMAP-using mail program, including those found through webmail.rutgers.edu.

1. Start the Mail program, located in the Applications folder. There is a shortcut in the dock like this:
   
   
   
2. Pull down the "Mail" menu to "Preferences..."
   
   
   
3. This will open the Preferences window in the Accounts category.
   
   
   
4. Select the account name listed under "Description" and click on "Edit".
   This will open the Add/Edit account window.
   
   For RCI users the "Incoming Mail Server" should now be rci.rutgers.edu.
   For Eden users the "Incoming Mail Server" should be eden.rutgers.edu.
   
   If the "Account Type:" pulldown menu is not set to "IMAP", we strongly suggest you switch it to IMAP, for better service.
   
5. You should activate secure outgoing mail authorization by clicking on the "Options..." button under "Outgoing Mail Server:" and making the following settings (with your own Username and Password).
   
   For both Eden and RCI users, the "Outgoing Mail Server" should be smtp.rutgers.edu. The "Server port" number will be filled in automatically.
   
   The "Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)" box should be checked.
   
   If you are connecting to the Internet from an outside Internet Service Provider, using such services as Cable Modem, DSL, or fiber optic lines, try the above settings.  If the settings match the above and you cannot send mail using them, but you can receive mail successfully, your ISP may be blocking SMTP traffic to all servers other than their own.  In that case, you would need to replace all the settings here with whatever your ISP requires for outgoing mail, including your ISP username and password.
   
   Then click on "OK".
   
   
6. In the Edit (or Add) Accounts window, click on the "Advanced" tab. This will look like:
   

   

   Check the box marked "Use SSL". This is the key setting for secure communication.
   Click on "OK".
   

7. Close the Mail Preferences window (Accounts).

You are now properly setup to read your mail with secure encryption.