How to Hack Gmail Notifier to Use SSL

There is an application available that allows you to check your e-mail without ever opening a web browser. Gmail Notifier saves you time by previewing messages and composing new mail right from your toolbar. Gmail Notifier doesn't use a secure connection, and sends your password unencrypted every time it checks for mail. You can add security by forcing it to use SSL instead of its regular HTTP connection.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hex editor (PC hack only; not needed for the Mac)

On a Mac

1. Click on the Notifier menu, and while holding down the Cmd and Opt keys, select Preferences.

2. Choose the hidden settings editor.

3. Type "SecureAlways" in the key field.

4. Put a 1 in the value field.

5. Click on the Set button.

6. Quit Gmail Notifier. Next time you open it, it will be over a secure SSL connection.

On a Windows PC

7. Quit the Gmail Notifier program.

8. Make a copy of the file gnotify.exe.

9. Rename the copied file by adding .BAK on the end--gnotify.exe.BAK.

10. Use a hex editor to open the original gnotify.exe file (the original one that should still be in Program Files in the Google/Gmail Notifier folder).

11. Deselect the option "Open as Read Only" and then type http://mall, then hit enter. You can use the Find command (ctrl-F) if you are having trouble locating it.

12. Find the URL that Gmail Notifier uses. The first one, for logging in, should already be correct (https://). The second one is the one that the Notifier application uses. This one will read just http:// (no s).

13. Use ctrl-A to select all the text in the field, then delete it.

14. Type "https://mail.google.com/mail/"

15. Save the file and close out of your hex editor.

16. Restart Gmail Notifier. It will work through an SSL connection instead of an HTTP connection now.