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This chapter is from the book

This chapter is from the book

Passwords

The Password Management section of Thunderbird can be accessed by going to Tools | Options | Advanced. Under the Saved Passwords section, you can manage your Stored Mail password settings as well as set a Master Password for your account. Note that the Password Manager functionality in Thunderbird is based on the same principles as those in Firefox, so there will be some overlap here between what is discussed in Chapter 2, "Protecting Your Security and Privacy." I have elected to go into a little more depth discussing the Master Password settings than what was covered in Chapter 2.

Managing Your Stored Mail Passwords

Clicking View Saved Passwords allows you to manage your stored passwords. See Chapter 2 for more information about the Password Manager functionality as well as some screenshots.

What Is a Master Password?

A master password is a mechanism that can be used to protect different types of devices (both software and hardware devices). Both Thunderbird and Firefox have built-in Software Security devices, so you are able to use a master password to manage the information that is stored on the device (literally, the software).

If you work in an office, someone probably has the master key to the office (and, if you are like me, you are usually trying to find that person when the alarm in the Riser Room is going off for no apparent reason...and Sparky is whining—well, that’s another story...). While the Master Password is not actually the Master Key in this instance, it does protect the Master Key, which is the mechanism used to protect potentially sensitive data—things such as your email password or certificates, for example.

Why Would You Want to Set a Master Password?

You might be using a machine that other people have access to, and you don’t want them to be able to download any new messages or send any messages from your account. If you have saved passwords and then set a Master Password, Thunderbird protects the saved passwords by prompting you for the Master Password when you click View Saved Passwords.

When you click Show Password, Thunderbird prompts you for the Master Password before you are allowed to see the saved password information.

Setting a Master Password

In addition to being able to store your saved passwords, Thunderbird allows you to set a Master Password for your mail accounts. Follow these steps to set your Master Password:

  1. Go to Tools | Options | Advanced.

  2. Click the Master Password button.

  3. As shown in Figure 11-6, make sure to check the box that says "Use a master password to encrypt stored passwords."

  4. Click Change Password.

  5. Make sure that "Software Security Device" shows in the drop-down menu.

  6. Type your password twice and click OK.

Figure 11.6

Figure 11-6 The Master Password options screen.

An Extra Layer of Security—Encrypting Versus Obscuring

"Encrypting" data and "obscuring" data are two very different animals. If you elect to save your mail passwords by using the Password Manager functionality built into Thunderbird, this information is stored locally on your computer in a file that is fairly difficult to crack (but it can be done). If you enable the check box in the first section that says "Use a master password to encrypt stored passwords," this file is then encrypted, making it extremely difficult for someone to open or view it.

Change Master Password

As shown in Figure 11-7, clicking Change Master Password launches a screen that allows you to change or set your Master Password. Make certain to pick a password that you will remember—if you forget your Master Password and have to reset it, you will lose all of your stored passwords. It also helps you to rely on the password quality meter when selecting a password—using combinations of numbers, letters (uppercase and lowercase), and symbols is always a good idea. Remember, if someone gets the master password to your account, he can easily masquerade as you in a number of ways.

Figure 11.7

Figure 11-7 The Thunderbird Change Master Password screen.

Master Password Timeout

You can use these settings to manage how often you want to be prompted for a Master Password. To be extra cautious, it might be wise to set the preference to "Every time it is needed."

Reset Master Password

Resetting your Master Password causes you to lose all your stored passwords as well as any certificates or keys.

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