Account Setup

To create your account, click the 3 dots (lower-left), and select ACCOUNTS
The ACCOUNTS window opens

1. Select your PROVIDER
2. Enter your DISPLAY NAME
3. Enter the EMAIL ADDRESS
4. Enter the PASSWORD for this account
5. Press + ADD

If the entered credentials are correct, your account is created.  Repeat for any other accounts you have.

Account Listing

Your accounts are listed on the left.  The account at the top of the list is what loads at startup.
Use the up/down arrow buttons to change the order if desired.

Edit

Choose an account in the listing, press EDIT.
Items you can edit are: DISPLAY NAME, PASSWORD, IMAP SETTINGS.

Delete

Choose an account in the listing, press DELETE.

Account Refresh

Above the listing is the refresh button.  You can also refresh a folder by clicking on it in the folders column.

Account Change

Above the listing is the account change button. Of course, useful if you have multiple accounts.

Providers

Some of the providers require additional settings for a 3rd party email client to function
Please familiarize yourself with your providers requirements

AOL

Another one of the originals and lots of folks still have them…. America On Line
In order for Client to access the IMAP servers, you need to perform the following steps:

Allow Less Secure Apps

1. Sign into AOL in your browser
2. Click on the Gear Icon in top-right corner, then choose Account Info
3. Click Account Security, then log in again with your password
4. Click the toggle button Allow apps that use less secure sign in: to ON

Use 2-Step Authentication

1. Sign into AOL in your browser
2. Settings > Account Security
3. Add two-step verification for extra security
4. Turn on toggle button, verify with SMS
5. Click ‘Create app password’
6. Use this password to create new account in Complok
7. Be sure and remove all spaces in this new password, so that it is exactly 12 characters long

Default Settings:
Incoming Server: imap.aol.com
Incoming Port: 993
Outgoing Server: smtp.aol.com
Outgoing Port: 587

AOL Settings Website: Settings For AOL

GMAIL

Some of the many, many items in the browser version, we feel are not really needed and do add complexity. Since Complok is focused on encryption and simplicity, we do not included these functions:

1. Labels – Client uses the traditional folder structure which is all anybody we have consulted with uses
2. Circles, categories, chats – also for the same reasons
3. Starred folder – If the mail is important, you save in ‘Important’ or make a user folder, starred is redundant
4. Folder ‘Important’. Also not included in list as can cause issues if turned off in Gmail web settings

In order for Client to access the IMAP servers, you need to perform the following steps:

Allow Less Secure Apps

1. Sign into Gmail in your browser
2. Go to My Account (logo) in top-right corner then ‘Manage your Google Account’
3. In Security, set up and turn on ‘2-Step Verification’
4. Click the toggle button Allow less secure Apps: to ON
5. Next ‘Create and use app password’, info here
6. You will use the ‘new’ password instead of your regular one for the Gmail account in our app

Default Settings:
Incoming Server: imap.gmail.com
Incoming Port: 993
Outgoing Server: smtp.gmail.com
Outgoing Port: 465

Gmail Settings Website: Settings For Gmail

GMX

A branch of one of Germany’s largest internet service providers.
In order for Client to access the IMAP servers, you need to perform the following steps:

Activate IMAP Sync

1. Sign into GMX in your browser
2. Click on the Email tab, then Settings (lower-left corner)
3. Click POP3 & Imap
4. Check the Enable access to this account via POP3 and IMAP
5. Click Save

GMX IMAP Activation website steps here

Default Settings:
Incoming Server: imap.gmx.com
Incoming Port: 993
Outgoing Server: mail.gmx.com
Outgoing Port: 587

GMX Settings Website: Settings For GMX

HOTMAIL – LIVE – OUTLOOK

Hotmail, one of the originals, has been discontinued for new accounts. If you have an existing address, it is now combined with the Outlook system and uses the same servers and ports.

Default Settings:
Incoming Server: imap-mail.outlook.com
Incoming Port: 993
Outgoing Server: smtp-mail.outlook.com (smtp.live.com can also work)
Outgoing Port: 587

Hotmail – Live – Outlook Settings Website: Settings For Hotmail/Outlook/Live

iCloud

Apple’s email service.
In order for Client to access the IMAP servers, you need to perform the following steps:

Email Account Creation

Even though we are running client on windows, your email creation must be done on your Apple device.
These are the steps we used in the Mac:

1. Click the Apple Icon, then choose System Preferences
2. Click iCloud
3. Check Mail
4. Create address : someone@icloud.com

iCloud Email Address help here

Generate App Specific Password

1. In your Apple device, click on Security
2. Go to:  App-Specific passwords
3. Click on Generate Password…
4. Label name:  Complok
5. Click Create
6. Use this new password to create your Complok iCloud account

Default Settings:
Incoming Server: imap.mail.me.com
Incoming Port: 993
Outgoing Server: smtp.mail.me.com
Outgoing Port: 587

iCloud Settings Website: Settings For iCloud

YAHOO

This provider has been in the news for 2 reasons (see our News page). First was the hack that was not publicized for a long while, and the scanning of hundreds-of-millions of accounts for U.S. Intelligence! If there ever was a need and reason for ultra encryption, well here it is.

We do not include the functions:

1. Smart Views

In order for Client to access the IMAP servers, you need to perform the following steps:

Allow Less Secure Apps

1. Sign into Yahoo in your browser
2. Click on the Gear Icon in top-right corner, then choose Account Info
3. Click Account Security, then log in again with your password
4. Click the toggle button Allow apps that use less secure sign in:  to ON

Use 2-Step Authentication

1. Sign into Yahoo in your browser
2. Settings > Account Security
3. Add two-step verification for extra security
4. Turn on toggle button, verify with SMS
5. Click Create app password
6. Use this password to create new account in Complok
7. Be sure and remove all spaces in this new password, so that it is exactly 12 characters long

Default Settings:
Incoming Server: imap.mail.yahoo.com
Incoming Port: 993
Outgoing Server: smtp.mail.yahoo.com
Outgoing Port: 465

Yahoo Settings Website: Settings For Yahoo
Generate third-party passwords: How

ZOHO

A growing provider since about 2008. We find it is very fast in the Complok client.
In order for Client to access the IMAP servers, you need to perform the following steps:

Enable IMAP

1. Sign into Zoho in your browser
2. Then Settings (upper-right corner)
3. Highlight Mail, then select: Mail Accounts at the bottom of the list
4. Click the little button IMAP
5. Check the IMAP Access box

Generate App Specific Password

1. Click the upper-right picture, My Profile
2. Click on My Account
3. Click on the large panel Two Factor Authentication
4. Click on Manage Application Specific Passwords (under Application Specific Passwords)
5. Enter App Name:  Complok and then your regular password for the account
6. Click Generate
7. Use this new password to create your Complok Zoho account

Default Settings:
Incoming Server: imap.zoho.com
Incoming Port: 993
Outgoing Server: smtp.zoho.com
Outgoing Port: 465 w/ SSL, 587 w/ TLS

Zoho Settings Website: Settings For Zoho

Shared Secret

Hi Security Mode

Out of the box, all emails between Complok users are fully End-to-End encrypted, if the ENCRYPT MESSAGE box is checked.  At this initial level, 3 separate encryption keys are generated, unique to each email, which protect the email contents.

Note:  If you select ENCRYPT MESSAGE and send to a non-Complok user, they will receive unreadable gobbledygook.

Max Security Mode

Add a SHARED SECRET to the encryption keys
Click the 3 dots (lower-left), and select SHARED SECRET
The SHARED SECRET window opens

Here, both parties agree on a ‘Shared Secret’ word/phrase.  The only difficulty is how to share something like this in a secured manner.
Proper options for this are:

1. In person
2. By regular mail in a sealed envelope
3. By confirmed encrypted text or voice mail messaging

Each party, then enters the secret in their own app as in this following example:

Bob’s email: bob123@gmail.com
Sally’s email: sally456@yahoo.com
Shared Secret:  MountainTop789

Bob, in his shared secret page, enters Sally’s address (sally456@yahoo.com) and the secret (MountainTop789)
Sally, in her shared secret page, enters Bob’s address (bob123@gmail.com) and the secret (MountainTop789)

Multiple Accounts

If either party has multiple accounts, then the SHARED SECRET must be entered for each account. 
If in the above example, Bob has 3 email accounts (bob123@yahoo.com, mrbob@gmail.com, bob888@icloud.com).  Sally then would enter the shared secret MountainTop789, 3 times, once for each of Bob’s email addresses.

Mobile Complok

If you also are using our iOS or Android email client, then you must use the same shared secret word for that recipient’s email address.  Our desktop app synchronizes perfectly with the mobile apps.

And…

You can and should use different shared secret words for each contact you have.  Complok does NOT store or have any knowledge of your secrets.  It is entirely up to you to write them down or remember them in a way you choose.

Settings

To access settings, click the SETTINGS button (lower-left)
The SETTINGS window opens

Email Receive Settings

Check for new email
Set to ON and select MINUTES to automatically check for new emails

Play sound with new emails
Set to ON to hear a sound on new email arrivals

Alert if read receipt requested
Set to ON to get a popup alert

Adjust mail time
Enter a number other than zero if your email time stamps need adjusting for your part of the world

Email Compose Settings

Initial compose font size
Enter a number for your default font size

Encryption initially selected
Set to ON if you want this option to be auto-selected on opening the compose window

Reply All – If recipient was a Cc, then also reply as a Cc, else as a To
Set to ON if you want to reply as Cc

Resize smaller send image attachments
Set to ON, select a threshold image size for resize, and desired compress size (320,640,1280)

Security Related Settings

Clean links of social media and analytic tracking
Set to ON to clean pasted links into compose window, and, clicked on links in received mail.

Compose

To compose a new email, click on the + NEW button (upper-left)
The COMPOSE window opens

Contact Select

Select email TYPE:  To, Cc, Bcc (all color coded)
Click the PEOPLE button to access your device’s People App contacts and select 1 or more
Click the CHECK MARK (lower-right) to close the People App window
Contacts are added to the recipient bar. Click on a recipient to remove

Contact Add / Edit / Delete

These actions are done in the Windows ecosystem, using the PEOPLE APP

Just under the CANCEL button is the PEOPLE App button
Click to open and make your changes

Microsoft recently removed People from the start menu app listing. To get it back, simply right-click in the task bar, and select: Show People on the taskbar.

Manual Address Entry

Type address in the ‘Type address here…’ area, then press + ADD (changes color with valid address)

The Message

Type your subject and message into the appropriate boxes
To format your text, SELECT IT, then use any of the available format buttons in the row
To add attachment(s), click the ATTACHMENT button (right edge of row), and browse for attachments

Options

Request receipt
Check the box.  Your recipient will receive a notice you have requested this (optional for them to respond)

Encrypt
Check the box.  Message is encrypted.  To decrypt and read message, recipient must also be using Complok
Also see SHARED SECRET below

Link (URL) Pasting

We offer you 2 quick methods for doing this.  You have a webpage open and want the send the site (URL address);

 Method One

1. Click or dbl-click the website address area until it is all highlighted, i.e., selected
2. Press CTR-C or right-click and select COPY
3. Paste into message area (press CTR-V or right-click and select PASTE)
4. Click the SELECT ALL format button and the entire link is selected
(do SELECT ALL only if the link is the only item in message area, otherwise select it manually with the mouse)
5. Click the HYPERLINK format button. The URL text is converted into a clickable link for your recipient

Method Two

1. Click or dbl-click the website address area until it is all highlighted, i.e., selected
2. Press CTR-C or right-click and select COPY
2. In the format button bar, click the GLOBE
3. The link is pasted and converted into a HYPERLINK

Note:  If the LINK CLEAN toggle button (above read email section) is set to LINK CLEAN: YES, then in both of the above methods, the URL is cleaned of social media/analytics tracking garbage.  You have done your part in stopping the tracking trail.

What is Complok Link Cleaning and Which do you prefer?

Links not cleaned
https://www.greatfood.com/recipes/tropical-sweet-and-spicy-pork-tenderloin/?_cmp=quickdinners&_ebid=quickdinners392025&_mid=403337&ehid=ede84afc8826876fdef8a1624000c276276e4266&os_ehash=ede74afc8824876fdef9a1624000c276275e4266

https://www.skhotsauce.com/?fbclid=IwAR4KqWBFKNFHyp3Y5rc0Kusms5LXCdKjZd4Je8VbIMUuQ12TdbqowQct6NA

Links cleaned by Complok
https://www.greatfood.com/recipes/tropical-sweet-and-spicy-pork-tenderloin/

https://www.skhotsauce.com/  (note in this one, the ‘fb’ is how Facebook tracks clicked on advertisements) – NO WAY !!!

Read

Email Listing

Emails colored BLUE are new, unread, and turn to BLACK when read.

Mode: Read or Select

Complok starts up in READ mode, where you can LEFT CLICK on an email in the listing to read (showing in the right column).

While in READ mode, you can RIGHT CLICK on an email to bring up a context menu with options:

Delete
Auto-Sort
Edit Pixel

Note: If you hold down the CTRL key, select multiple emails, then RIGHT CLICK, the only choice is DELETE.

To change to SELECT mode, where you can select multiple emails, click the MODE button at the top of the email listing (check mark).
Then you can perform these actions on all selected emails (using buttons above the listing):

Delete
Move
Mark all as read
Mark selected as spam

Controls Above Email Content

Top Row

Delete
Delete current email from view and listing

Reply
Click to reply to sender

Forward
Click to forward this email to recipients you choose

Move
Move to desired folder

Reply All
Click to reply to all who received this same email

Mark as spam
Click to move to spam folder where servers are supposed to remember this action

Print View
Click to open the print dialog, view number of pages, then PRINT or CANCEL options

Save to File
Click to save current email contents (html content) to a file (name of your choosing)
Then, you can dbl-click the saved file to open in your default browser.
In the browser, you can then select PRINT…

Bottom Row

The read screen actually functions like a web browser.  Thus, at times, you may be able to GO BACKWARD and GO FORWARD, as revealed in the buttons with the left and right pointing arrows.

Add contact
Click to open PEOPLE APP, then click SAVE to open ADD CONTACT window

Links open browser
Click to toggle with LINKS OPEN HERE

Link clean: Yes
Click to toggle with LINK CLEAN: NO

Receipt Requested
If has turned YELLOW, then sender requested a read receipt
To OPTIONALLY do this, simply click the button

View Header
Click to view full header and IP origins, useful for forensic examinations

Controls Below Email Content

Overall Read Mode Button
Click to toggle between read processing modes:

Normal Open – Email read with no filtering (Spy pixel tracking still performed)
Text Only – Only the text part is shown if sender’s email program included a text only part
Block Images – Email read with no images processed for safety

Spy Pixel Tracking Status

This text box show the current pixel tracking status and any action taken on this email message, per your PIXEL TRACK setting.

Calendar App

Click to open the Microsoft Calendar App

Spy Pixel Tracking

All emails opened for reading are scanned for hidden tracking pixels.  Recall, that these little gems send info about you back to the sender, supposedly in the name of advertising.  If found, a pop-up alert will appear:

Options in the alert are (with option to remember choice for future emails from this sender):

Normal Open
Block

Spy pixel warning dialog

 

 

 

 

 

What we do – We always select BLOCK and see if the resulting email is still ok, meaning that the content that we need to access is still good.  Sometimes you may need a link that is blocked (not too common). So, if your email is good after choosing BLOCK, go back and reopen the email, and this time check the option ‘Remember choice for this sender’.

You can always see the pixel tracking status of your opened email by checkout the pixel status text box below the email message.

Editing Pixel Action

You can edit an action that you have previously set for a particular email address in 2 ways:

1. Right-click on the email in the listing, and change the action
2. Open the PIXEL TRACK window, 3 dots (lower-left), and do the same

Oh, and here is an interesting article on this topic.

Phish Scanner

Complok automatically scans the text content of all messages for suspicious wordings that are commonly associated with phishing scams.
If any are found, a popup will show and alert you.

Phish scan warning dialog

 

 

 

 

 

If the email is from a known, safe sender, click the button ‘Add sender to safe list’.
After that, you will not be notified again on any further emails from this sender.

Auto-Sort

You may wish to have certain emails automatically sorted to a folder, bypassing the INBOX.
This is a useful function in managing your emails and keeping your inbox cleaner.

There are 2 ways to add a sort folder to an email address:

1. Open the AUTO-SORT window, click the 3 dots (lower-left), and choose the sort folder
2. RIGHT CLICK on an email in the listing, choose AUTO-SORT

Folders

To manage folders, click the 3 dots (lower-left) and select FOLDERS
This opens the FOLDER MANAGEMENT window

Standard functions here:

Create New Folder
Rename Folder
Delete Folder

File Utility

To locally encrypt files, click the 3 dots (lower-left) and select FILE UTILITY
This opens the FILE ENCRYPTION UTILITY window

Encrypt File(s)

1. Browse for files
2. Enter a password, twice
3. Press ENCRYPT

Decrypt File(s)

1. Browse for previously encrypted files (all end with a .enc)
2. Enter previous password
3. Press DECRYPT

Important: As always, we do not store or save your password for security.  It is up to you to remember or write it down securely.

Printing

With the email you want to print showing:

1. Click PRINT VIEW (upper-right)
2. Click PRINT… to open the print dialog
3. Adjust SETTINGS
4. Click PRINT or CANCEL

Suspicious Attachments

Complok scans for many suspicious attachment extensions.
Thankfully, many providers also scan for these and block the email.

Please examine the screen below and see what will appear if suspicious attachments are found:

1. They will be listed in RED
2. A popup will appear to give you warning