Gmail "less secure apps" setting and IMAP

Question

Hello,

Can I still use Mail.dll email library to connect to a Gmail account if it has disabled access for less secure applications: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/6010255

Jogy

Answer 1

Mail.dll uses IMAP over SSL/TLS to access Gmail. This is secure and safe way of accessing an email server. It relies on .NET framework security model.

This setting affects IMAP access (even with SSL/TLS turned on). Using login methods that require knowing user's password (e.g. Login, UseBestLogin) fails, when this setting is off.

Workarounds:

• Use OAuth 2.0 (OAuth 2.0 for installed applications, OAuth 2.0 for web applications, OAuth 2.0 for service accounts) which works.

• Use application specific passwords: https://www.limilabs.com/blog/enable-imap-in-gmai

• [no longer valid] Turn so called 'less secure apps' on: https://www.google.com/settings/security/lesssecureapps

It is not an issue of whether or not client application is implementing the latest version of SSL/TLS etc., Google simply tries to limit places that store users' passwords.