In today’s custom mailbox settings, if you are connecting your Gmail account to Freshdesk, you can choose the Plain Authentication method, provide username/password and set up your incoming or outgoing mailbox settings.
What is this about?
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We will be removing the option to set up your Gmail mailbox using the Plain Authentication method going forward
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You can use the OAuth option, that is, you can sign in through Google automatically and complete your incoming or outgoing mailbox settings
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OAuth is an open-standard authorization protocol or framework that provides applications the ability to secure designated access
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It is an authentication protocol that allows you to approve one application interacting with another on your behalf without giving away your password
Why are we deprecating Plain Authentication?
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This process requires you to allow less secure apps to connect to your Gmail making it tedious to set up the mailbox
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This process is not completely secure
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Setting up 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) is also required to complete the process
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Gmail will soon deprecate this option from their end and stop supporting this process. Read more on this
Why OAuth?
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Protects your account by helping Gmail identify and prevent suspicious login attempts, and allows them to enforce G Suite admin-defined login policies, such as the use of security keys
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OAuth doesn’t share password data and instead uses authorization tokens to prove an identity between consumers and service providers
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There are no multiple passwords or external steps involved here
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An easier, faster and more secure way to login
Note:
- Whenever the token expires, we will display a banner inside the account to update your Google password and then sign in using OAuth again to update your settings inside Freshdesk
- This feature will be rolled out to all accounts in August 2021
Cheers!:)
-Swetha Shiva, Community Manager
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