Email 101 - fundamental concepts


OVERVIEW

Target audience: All McGill Students, Alumni, Faculty and Staff

The following is a quick primer on terms used when discussing email, with McGill-specific examples. These terms are frequently used in the many email configuration articles in the IT Knowledge Base.

In this article:

announcement

NOTICE: Recommended email client

It is highly recommended that you use the Outlook email client on your computer and your phone/tablet. It offers a higher level of security with build-in 2FA and Modern authentication compliance and ensures that you have access to your emails wherever you are. If you are using an email application other than Outlook, please take note:

  • Many third-party email applications are not yet compatible with Two-factor authentication (2FA) as they use Basic authentication (username and password only).
  • Due to a growing security risk, Microsoft, like other large email services, ended support for Basic Authentication.
  • If your McGill account is 2FA enabled, you will no longer be able to manage your McGill email using services such as Gmail, Windows Mail and Yahoo. We strongly suggest you use one of the recommended solutions mentioned above instead.

POP3 and IMAP email protocols are to be used only if no other options are available since they do not offer the security features expected from modern connection protocols. In doubt, use the Outlook email client.

For more information, please contact the IT Service Desk..

Email server (host/service)

All Student, Alumni, Faculty and Staff email mailboxes are now hosted on Microsoft Office 365 (outlook.office365.com), a cloud-based service.


Email client or app

A software application, running on your local computer, that you use to access your email. Examples include Outlook and Mac Mail. You need to configure your email client application in order to receive mail from the email server.


Mobile App

A mobile email client from your preferred App store or installed default on your mobile device. For McGill email it is recommended to use the Outlook App from the Apple and Android stores.


Web-based email / Web app

To access your email, calendar and related features from anywhere, without having to configure an email client on your own computer, use the web based version of Microsoft Outlook (Office 365) at: https://outlook.com/mcgill.ca/


references

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: