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The password features does not work. Open TB, and I can read my email without using the password. Why?

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I use a password for security. When I click onto TB, I do not have to use my password to read my emails or it will not download. I cannot figure out how to change my password. When I tried to set the master password, it claims to have confirmed the new one. But I have to use the old password, or I do not have to use a password at all to read my email, if it downloads. This is after I uninstalled and installed TB 24.4 three times. Now what, any ideas?

I use a password for security. When I click onto TB, I do not have to use my password to read my emails or it will not download. I cannot figure out how to change my password. When I tried to set the master password, it claims to have confirmed the new one. But I have to use the old password, or I do not have to use a password at all to read my email, if it downloads. This is after I uninstalled and installed TB 24.4 three times. Now what, any ideas?

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Here is my understanding: the master password secures your saved passwords. In other works, it unlocks your password to connect to the server to send and receive mail. It doesn't prevent people who have access to your computer from opening Thunderbird and seeing what's already there.

This article has an extended discussion of many methods to try to prevent others from reading your already downloaded mail: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Protecting_the_contents_of_the_profile_-_mail