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Restrict Thunderbird access

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nicolleen
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Joined: 2007-03-22 20:09
Restrict Thunderbird access

Hi,

the usual question, how to password protect certain files, folders or programmes.

There is a possibility to password protect the message pane with IMAP accounts in Thunderbird, but anybody, who finds my USB stick will nevertheless be able to see all server settings (except for the passwords) and all pop3 account stored emails.

Is there a possibility or some idea how to restrict the whole access to thunderbird? I also tried to encrypt the .exe file itself, but it didn't work when I wanted to use it and decrypted it, it was probably another location it got decrypted to.

any ideas?

ottosykora
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Last seen: 14 hours 49 min ago
Joined: 2007-10-11 17:48
what is password protection

would be the first question one has to ask.
If it should go the way one has to enter pw just when calling up the apps, well this might not be a protection, the file is still there and can be read with other application.
But access to IMAP folders on the server, you have to enter the password for that anyway. So you can either never save passwords (tools, options , privacy) or use the master password to encrypt passwords stored.

To prevent someone to actualy hack himself through your mail files, well you could use mail encryption (enigma/gpg addon) or x509 certificate system, both are supported by TB.
You could also encrypt the whole space where the TB is stored, for example with Truecrypt. This however needs admin reghts on the host machine to be used properly, unless someone did install the drived for it before.

You could ofcourse use hardware encrypted stick , something like 'Ironkey' (google for it) if budget allowes it.

Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland

nicolleen
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Joined: 2007-03-22 20:09
thanks for your comment, but

thanks for your comment, but maybe I didn't make myself clear enough.

I know I can restrict the access to my mails, I know some of this only works for IMAP, and I know I can encrypt the whole folder, with the known drawbacks.

I was wondering if there is an idea for another way or an add-on or something to make it not immediately possible to see all my accounts, settings, pop-mails and folders, etc.

lg
niki

ottosykora
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Last seen: 14 hours 49 min ago
Joined: 2007-10-11 17:48
still not sure what you want achieve

since:
\PortableApps\ThunderbirdPortable\Data\profile\Mail\Local Folders\Inbox
you can read all in plain text,(open it with notepad or similar) so if you do not encrypt this, what do you want protect?
No need for TB running to read it all.

Your passwords could be protected by setting the master password additionally.

Protect the settings? Of what? Hide that you use html mail as opposite to txt mail? or your own mail address?

But those are stored in the profile too.

Addressbook?
you can read it with Notepad too. You dont need the TB for that at all.
so unless you protect the folder somehow, the rest is just zero protection.

Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland

Aciago
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Last seen: 12 months 3 days ago
Joined: 2007-01-24 14:23
What I use

Is this... yes, it works with the latest Thunderbird Portable

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port,
and the bus is interrupted as a very last resort,
and the address of the memory makes your floppy disk abort,
then the socket packet pocket has an error to report Biggrin

ottosykora
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Last seen: 14 hours 49 min ago
Joined: 2007-10-11 17:48
ok true

this seems to do exactly the job.
All the things as settings and mails can be read in plain text from the stick at any time in the profile folder, but the loading of the profile by TB is done only when PW is entered.

Ok I admit it works as advertised, but if this is any kind of protection ????

Probably setting the master password for the stored passwords would be much more efficient, the rest of the settings is avaiable any time anyway.

Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland

nicolleen
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Last seen: 2 months 1 week ago
Joined: 2007-03-22 20:09
Thanks Aciago, this is

Thanks Aciago, this is exactly what I was looking for!!

It's just to shield off nosy people, for everything important I've got other protection.

best regards,
niki

ottosykora
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Last seen: 14 hours 49 min ago
Joined: 2007-10-11 17:48
as long as you know

that even before someone opens the TB or even with TB removed or encrypted or what ever, all the information you wanted hide are free available to anyone in plain text even before he just comes to click onto the TB icon, then this is what you were looking for.
So the nosy people are not shielded in any way at all, they can read, modify, print all the things you want protect exactly the same way as they could without this.

Otto Sykora
Basel, Switzerland

nicolleen
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Last seen: 2 months 1 week ago
Joined: 2007-03-22 20:09
yes I'm aware of this. Thanks

yes I'm aware of this. Thanks for your help and concern!

lg
niki

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