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OpenPGP Email

Note, this article is in addition this HOWTO for Windows

Frequently Asked Questions / Rayservers Portable Thunderbird FAQ

  1. How do I unzip? Answer: Double click. If that does not work, get 7Zip, install, then double click.
  2. Where to I extract the files. Answer: To your Desktop or to a Flash Drive - take your email with you!
  3. The folder Rayservers is on my desktop - can I copy it to a flash drive? - Absolutely! And we recommend you do.

SSL IMAP on Thunderbird for the Impatient - on Mac OS &c.

  1. Download and install Mozilla Thunderbird.
  2. In the Add Account Wizard, use the following settings:
    1. Incoming and Outgoing Username is full email (examples): or
    2. Incoming server type: IMAP.
    3. Incoming server: imap.rayservers.com
    4. Outgoing server: smtp.rayservers.com
  3. Checking mail: Edit -> Account Settings (Linux) or Tools -> Account Settings (Windows) - change:
    1. You have to enable SSL in Account Settings-> Server Settings -> Security. Screenshot.
    2. Check Email now.
  4. Sending Email:
    1. You have to enable TLS in Account Settings-> Outgoing Server and set the Port to 465 or 22225. Screenshot.
    2. Fix the Sent Folder as in these screenshots Using the mouse to pick the sent folder , Resulting setting.

Enigmail for OpenPGP

  1.  Download and install GPG
    1. On Windows,
      1. Download and install GnuPG.
      2. Download Enigmail and save on your desktop.
      3. In Thunderbird, Tools->Add Ons -> Install -> Pick the Enigmail XPI from above download.
    2. On Ubuntu Linux - $ apt-get install enigmail OR System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager, install Enigmail.
    3. On Mac: Same as Windows, replace GPG4Win with MacGPG .
  2. Generate a PGP key:
    1. OpenPGP -> Preferences, Check Display Advanced Settings
    2. OpenPGP -> Key Management, Generate Key.
    3. Key Exchange with correspondent, see here .

 The guide below is step by step If you have any problems check the screenshots below.


 

This guide assumes you have already installed the free OpenPGP for Windows .

Download Enigmail and Thunderbird

A) Download Enigmail and save on your desktop.
Steps - vist the Download Enigmail link, ensure the Operaring System and Email Client are correctly selected, then click the Download Link below the drop boxes.

B) Download Mozilla Thunderbird.

 

Install Thunderbird

C). Double click the Thunderbird setup to launch the installer application

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D). Accept the MPL

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E)  Go for the standard install...

 

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F)  It starts installing....

 

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G) Thunderbird is installed ....

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H)  On launch, it pops up the new account wizard, which is not too clever about SSL, but lets play with it...

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I)  Put in your name and email address assigned by Rayservers (email@your-domain.com if you have purchased your own domain and we are hosting it)...

 

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J) Choose IMAP as your server type and put in our IMAP and SMTP servers

 

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K) Incoming and outgoing user names are the complete e-mail address...

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L) Put in your account name now, not later...

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M) Finish the wizard.

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N) Do not panic, when Thunderbird fails to connect - SSL is not yet configured. We will get to this in the account settings menus after the Enignmail has been installed.

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Edit Thunderbird Account Settings for SSL and OpenPGP secured e-mail

O) Go to Tools -> Account Settins (Edit -> Account Settings in Linux) and click on Server Settings and under Security Settings choose SSL. The Port will automatically change to 993. You can use 993 or 1993 (preferred).

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P) Finalize the SMTP server settings in the Account Settings window - in the left pane, at the bottom, choose Outgoing Server SMTP, select the server, then click Edit.

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Q) Change the port to 22225 OR 465 (NEW - 465 has additional privacy), and select TLS

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R) Now, on the main Window click on the INBOX under the new email account, and enter your Rayservers email password.

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Create the necessary remote folders - IF NECESSARY

S) Right click on the INBOX and choose New folder, then create Sent, Drafts and Templates

 

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T) In the Account Settings menu (Tools -> Account Settings), go to Copies and Folders and set them as below.... see next step for exact mouse instructions.

 

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U) Choose Other, then the email account, then move to the right, INBOX will pop uo, then to the right of that Sent will pop up - choose this. Set the Drafts and Templates folders respectively.

 

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V) Under Composition and Addressing - ensure that Compose messages in HTML format is NOT checked.

 

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At this point, you should be able to send and receive email.

Proceed to install Enigmail

W) Install the Enigmail Plugin by going to Tools -> Add Ons...

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X) Then click on Install (above) and then find the Enigmail extension on the Desktop that you downloaded at the start of this process...

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  Y) Click the Install Now when it is ready...

 

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Z) It will prompt you to restart Thunderbird... choose Restart

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IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A PGP KEY - from installing GPG4WIN

NOTE - If you did not generate a key via GPG4WIN, then in Thunderbird go OpenPGP -> Key Management.

 - If you have a saved key on USB stick, choose File -> Import Key from File

 - If you do not have a key, choose Generate -> Generate -> New Key Pair

You may then follow the rest of this section to check your settings.

AA) Click on the OpenPGP Security option in the left pane, Enable OpenPGP support. Click the Use specific OpenPGP key ID, at which point a wizard will start, and you can choose all its default settings OR cancel out of the wizard. This guide assumes you already created a Key

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AB)  When prompted for the key, select the key, and then click OK.

 

 

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AC) Select the options below, then click Advanced

 

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AD)  Increase the timeout for sanity, then check the Display Expert Settings box, at which point you will see more options at the top of the menu.

 

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AE) Check all the options on the Sending tab.

 

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AF) The only option that should NOT be checked is the GnuPG Agent, unless you have that installed, which is unlikely.

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Exchanging OpenPGP keysusing Enigmail

AG) The first time you correspond with someone similarly set up, you have to send them your PGP public key... in the compose window, simply use OpenPGP -> Attach my public key.

 

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AH) Your correspondent will right click on the attached key and choose Import OpenPGP key, and reply with her key attached.

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Once both parties have each other's keys, even the provider of the email account (Rayservers) will not be able to read the email. The SSL/TLS for IMAP and SMTP protects headers during transmission to and from Rayservers - even who is corresponding with whom will not be known to network snoops if both correspondents use Rayservers.

Have you backed up your PGP key?