version 1.5.0.9 Encryption Algorithms

[LesF]

I've received e-mails from several senders (valid e-mails that I was expecting, not spam) that cause the following dialog message appear (example here is from a UPS message, but other senders have also caused this message to be generated):

"Thunderbird and http://www.ups.com cannot communicate securely because they have no common encryption algorithms."

I can click through the dialog box (takes about five clicks) and read the mail, but there appears to be several instances that show a red diamond where I assume an image should appear.

I realize that this I'm using a VERY old version of T-Bird (by choice, as it's the last version to give me all the functions I need without extra bells and whistles), but I don't want to change to a later version. Is there a way to eliminate these dialog windows (perhaps by updating the T-Bird encryption algorithms?).

Thanks for your help.

[tanstaafl]

Normally you can disable security warnings by adding a security exception but I'm not sure that 1.5.0.9 supports that. See http://kb.mozillazine.org/SSL_Security_Error

The only way of updating the ciphers available is to use a later version. Your version is using old weak ciphers that many servers no longer support. See http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic ... &t=3039150 for a related discussion. if you don't want to use a later version your best option might be to see if you can configure a insecure connection, though that means your password will always be sent in the clear.

I realize you don't want to use a recent version (current release is 52.6.0) but I suggest you consider the idea of installing a later major version such as 38.8.0 instead. See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Go_back_to_an ... hunderbird

Are you running into this problem using a mailto: link in a browser? The reason why I'm asking is I would have expected a https: link in the error message if that was the case.

[LesF]

Thanks, tanstaafl.

I tried to install the security exception add-on, but it doesn't appear to work with my TB version. Of course, it's possible that I put the .xpi file in the wrong folder, but I tried putting it into my Profile folder and then into my Profile/extensions folder with no success. Does it require a reboot/restart of TB to take effect?

I haven't noticed this problem with any mailto: link in a browser.

I'll research v. 38.8.0 to see what kind of "baggage" it has over and above what I need.

[tanstaafl]

You normally install an add-on by going to tools -> add-ons -> extensions, clicking on the gear like icon in the upper right corner and selecting "install add-on from file" from the list box. It's also possible to drag and drop the add-on file to that screen. 1.5 is too old for me to remember how you add an add-on with it but it should be very similar. They might have a different icon than the gear.

See http://kb.mozillazine.org/Update_an_obs ... hunderbird . Unfortunately I never bothered to update it after version 11. You can tell Thunderbird not to install the bundled Lightning (calendar) add-on when you install a new version.

See https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbi ... easenotes/ . Two of the big changes added in 38.* is support for OAuth2 authentication (useful for Gmail IMAP accounts) and making OpenSearch queries open in the user's default browser.

[LesF]

Thanks for the info, tanstaafl.

I tried installed the add-on per your recommended method, with the same results - no luck.

I haven't decided yet whether it's worth the hassle to install v.38 just to solve this problem. For the time being, I'll live with the older version.

[tanstaafl]

What add-on are you trying to install? I might be able to find a workaround or an add-on that's a viable replacement. It's possible to install a lot of add-ons that only support version 3.* of Thunderbird either by editing the manifest file (to change what version it claims to support) or install an add-on such as disable addon compatibility checks at https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunde ... src=search . The odds get worse for an add-on that only supports earlier versions but it sometimes can be done.

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Editing_an_ad ... patibility

[LesF]

I guess I'm a bit confused. I thought that I was trying to disable security warnings by adding a security exception. But upon reading your initial reply, I guess that won't solve the cipher issue. If the only way to address the problem described in my original post is by updating my version of TB to get the latest ciphers, then I'm prepared to live with the problem rather than do that. Another option would be to use a different email client that would do what I want (and only what I want), but there doesn't appear to be one out there.
It appears that I've been torpedoed by the very obsolescence that I've been so comfortable with.

Also, given my muddied understanding of the problem and issues involved, if you have any solutions for me to try, please be very specific regarding their implementation.

Your help is very much appreciated. Thank you.

[tanstaafl]

You need to either get a more recent version of Thunderbird or use a different email client to solve the cipher issue. I have difficulty understanding your reluctance to install Thunderbird 38.8.0 in a different directory (use custom setup) and try it out. It will automatically use your existing profile. You'll need to spend some time customizing it to make it closer to what you're used to, but that is not hard to do. You're not going to find a different email client that is a closer match.

I installed 1.5.0.9. It found my accounts but didn't find my passwords because the storage location has changed to a SQLite database. 1.5.0.9 has a different default theme, but there are some "complete themes" you could try with 38.8.0 to make it look more like the old 1.5 theme. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunde ... b-dl-users for example tries to emulate it. There are problems using it with versions later than 17, but https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunde ... d/reviews/ has some suggestions on how to work around that. I suggest you take a look at "classic TB2" theme at https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunde ... b2/?src=ss instead. It is described as "Theme using mostly TB2 icons plus the best of TB1.5, TB3, and later versions" That is probably a better choice as it will work as is.

The folder pane in 1.5.0.9 doesn't have optional folder columns but you can disable them. The throbber in 1.5.0.9 is replaced with a stupid "hamburger" button but thats something easy to live with.

I assume you are using POP accounts, so the big changes in IMAP accounts won't effect you. 1.5.0.9 doesn't have global search. If you don't like that its easy to disable. Ditto for the quick filter bar (yet another way to search). There is no direct equivalent to the search features in 1.5 but there are three different ways to search (classic, global and quick filter bar) in 38.*, I'd assume you'd like one of them.

The main difference in toolsbars/layout/view is that 38.0.8 won't have a status bar. In general 38.0.8 has cosmetic changes plus adds some more features, most of which you can either ignore or can disable. Whether or not you'd be happy with 38.0.8 only you can tell. But it certainly seems worth your trying.

[LesF]

OK, you're very convincing.
I've downloaded v.38.8.0. I'll be out of town for a while, but I'll install it next week and see how it works.
Your information has been very helpful. Thank you.

[LesF]

Hi again, tanstaafl.

Well, I finally got a chance to install v. 38.8.0. With a little tweaking, and installing the theme you recommended to use mostly TB2 icons, I found this version to be OK for my needs. It has fixed the encryption algorithm issue that prompted my original post.
However, with v.38.8.0, I find that there is no title bar at the top (the bar that allows you to move the window around the screen, and is present on all other windows). This title bar is missing with both the default theme and the TB2 icon theme. Is there some setting I'm not seeing to correct this?

Thanks again for your help.

[tanstaafl]

Glad to help.

Change mail.tabs.drawInTitlebar to true using the config editor at tools -> options -> advanced -> general if you want the title bar back. Personally, I prefer not having it as it gives me one more line of screen real estate. According to https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1056009 they made this change in 17.0

[LesF]

tanstaafl, this was already set to true. Must be something else wrong? The individual tabs already have a title om them. I'm talking about the title bar that should show above the Menu bar for the full window.

[tanstaafl]

I misspoke. Change it to false.

On my system there is no title bar for Thunderbird and the tabs reach to the very top of the main window. The title/text for each tab and the tab identifying the current folder is the only thing above the menu bar. Its on the same line as the controls to minimize/maximize/close the main window. If I change mail.tabs.drawInTitlebar from true to false I get a title bar. I'm using TB 52.7.0 but I suspect the same thing applies to your version .

[LesF]

That fixed it - thanks. I'll leave both versions on my system for awhile to see whether I like this new one enough to keep it. Although, with the TB2 theme in the extensions folder, my older version presents a dialog that the extensions are unsigned, and I have to click through that to get to the inbox (if I choose the install options, it shows as incompatible). Just a nuisance at this point.

One other question: if I uninstall one or the other (which I'll obviously do when I make up my mind) will this still leave my profile intact, i.e., will I lose my saved emails?

[tanstaafl]

Uninstalling won't delete your profile unless you check the checkbox to delete your data when uninstalling. Its UNchecked by default. I forget when that option was added, but it was at least after version 17.