DOVECOT allow Plaintext authentication

Enabling plaintext authentication over non-secure connections in Dovecot can compromise security because it sends passwords in clear text over the network. However, if you have a specific need to allow plaintext authentication over non-secure connections, you can configure Dovecot to permit it. Here's how you can do it:

1. Edit the Dovecot Configuration File:

Open the Dovecot configuration file (/etc/dovecot/dovecot.conf or /etc/dovecot/conf.d/10-auth.conf) in a text editor. You might need root privileges to edit this file.

bash Copy code sudo nano /etc/dovecot/conf.d/10-auth.conf Enable Plaintext Authentication: Find the section in the configuration file that deals with authentication. Look for a line that starts with disable_plaintext_auth and set it to no.

disable_plaintext_auth = no Save and Close the File: After making the changes, save the file and exit the text editor.

alexlai@h2Jammy:~$ sudo nano  /etc/dovecot/conf.d/10-auth.conf
[sudo] password for alexlai: 
alexlai@h2Jammy:~$ diff  /etc/dovecot/conf.d/10-auth.conf /etc/dovecot/conf.d/10-auth.conf.ori
10c10
< disable_plaintext_auth = no
---
> #disable_plaintext_auth = yes

alexlai@h2Jammy:~$ sudo systemctl restart dovecot
alexlai@h2Jammy:~$ sudo systemctl status dovecot

Restart Dovecot: To apply the changes, you need to restart the Dovecot service.

bash Copy code sudo systemctl restart dovecot With this configuration, Dovecot will allow plaintext authentication over non-secure connections. However, keep in mind the security implications and ensure that your network is adequately secured, especially if plaintext authentication is necessary.

It's recommended to use SSL/TLS encryption for all email communications to protect sensitive information such as passwords.