How do you check whether you have “less secure apps” in operation?

----- Original Message -----

From: aaron lane

To: main@jfw.groups.io

Sent: Friday, June 10, 2022 9:08 AM

Subject: Re: Gmail and Outlook: Recent Security Conundrums

 

I've not had any issues yet with Thunderbird or my IPhone. I am following this thread, so I know what to do, just in case.

 

Thanks.

On 6/10/2022 10:50 AM, Brian Vogel wrote:

I have heard that it is not necessary to remove and re-create the Gmail account in all cases.  If you have previously been using the "less secure apps" method of accessing the account with email address and actual password, you can go in to your Google Account and generate an app specific password for Outlook and that email account.  Afterwards you update the account in outlook substituting the app specific password for your old text password.  As previously noted, you have to turn on two-factor authentication for the account.

Personally, I prefer to nuke the account and set it up again if IMAP access has been the access method being used.  Outlook 2016 and later walk you through doing the Gmail OAUTH steps and then everything is up to completely modern security protocols.

Outlook 2013 can be set up to use modern security protocols, too, but it requires the additon of 3 registry keys.  Why they never turned this feature on in an Outlook 2013 update I'll never know.  I have a REG script that sets these keys: Outlook2013ModernAuth.REG
Should you elect to download this, you will get a warning from Google that it cannot be virus scanned and is an executable that could harm your computer.  It's a text file containing registry edit commands to set those three keys, and after you download it, should you wish to examine it before running, select the file, bring up the context menu, and choose Edit.  Otherwise, if you select the file and activate it then this will fire up the regedit utility which will use the commands in this file to set the three keys.  When regedit fires up you will get a UAC dialog (if you have UAC on, and most do) asking if you want to allow changes to be made to your system, to which you must answer, Yes, if you want the registry keys to be added.
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Brian - Windows 10, 64-Bit, Version 21H2, Build 19044  

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