Stephen Royle

This is a ultra-short post related to [sending email via the command
line on Linux/Rasperry
Pi](https://quantixed.org/2021/01/19/ive-gotta-get-a-message-to-you-automated-emails-from-raspberry-pi-zero/){data-type="post"
data-id="2271" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"}.

On 30 May 2022, Google disabled the handy feature that allowed less
secure sign in to Google accounts. This feature was a handy way to
authenticate command-line routines that send email.

I noticed my daily emails had stopped, and when I tested sending an
email using `ssmtp`:

::: {.wp-block-syntaxhighlighter-code}
``` {.brush: .bash; .title: .; .notranslate title=""}
echo "Hello, World!" | ssmtp fakeaddress@someplace.com
```
:::

sure enough:

::: {.wp-block-syntaxhighlighter-code}
``` {.brush: .plain; .title: .; .notranslate title=""}
ssmtp: Authorization failed (535 5.7.8  https://support.google.com/mail/?p=BadCredentials ay15-20020a5d6f0f000000b002183cf9cd69sm277180zzz.15 - gsmtp)
```
:::

The setting to allow less secure access had definitely been switched off
with no chance of turning it back on. So, what to do? Google would like
all apps to authenticate properly, but the problem with a command-line
utility is there is no way to get a window to pop up and authenticate as
can be done with regular apps. I tried and failed a few things before
hitting on the answer. **App Passwords**

- Enable two factor authentication (if it isn't already) on the gmail
  account you want to link
- In the Google account, select "Security". Select "App Passwords" under
  "Signing in to Google".
- Make a description for your app here. I used "ssmtp on raspberry pi".
- Generate the 16 digit app password. Make a note of it!
- Click done.

Now on the computer that will send the emails do
`sudo nano /etc/ssmtp/ssmtp.conf`

::: {.wp-block-syntaxhighlighter-code}
``` {.brush: .plain; .title: .; .notranslate title=""}
root=myaccount@gmail.com
mailhub=smtp.gmail.com:587
 
FromLineOverride=YES
AuthUser=myaccount@gmail.com
AuthPass=myAppPassword
UseSTARTTLS=YES
UseTLS=YES
```
:::

To be clear: `AuthPass` should be your new 16 character App Password and
NOT your gmail password.

Save with ctrl + X and Y.

Now test it out:

::: {.wp-block-syntaxhighlighter-code}
``` {.brush: .bash; .title: .; .notranslate title=""}
echo "Hello, World!" | ssmtp fakeaddress@someplace.com
```
:::

Success!

For how long this route will work, I do not know.


This is a ultra-short post related to sending email via the command line on Linux/Rasperry Pi.  On 30 May 2022, Google disabled the handy feature that allowed less secure sign in to Google accounts. This feature was a handy way to authenticate command-line routines that send email.

Messaggi di Rogue Scholar

I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You II: fixing SSMTP gmail authorisation