Update #15 - Using Gmail App Password to Get Alerts!

Date: May 22nd, 2025 Category: Security / Automation Backlink: Update #14 – Auto-Banning Fail2Ban IPs Based on AbuseIPDB Reputation 

 

 I made a new Gmail account for alerts on my VPS. 

 I created a new app password: 

 

 I installed a mail alert system via msmtp (Lightweight SMTP Relay Client) with Gmail Support: 

 sudo apt update

sudo apt install msmtp msmtp-mta -y 

 I hit no on this screen here: 

 I made a hidden file using this command: 

 sudo nano ~/.msmtprc 

 I filled in my email and app password within the file: 

 

 I secured the file using: 

 sudo chmod 600 ~/.msmtprc 

 The 600 meaning: 6 = read (4) + write (2) = read/write for the owner 0 = no permission for group 0 = no permission for others I tested the file by echoing myself an email: 

 echo "Success! Email is working." | msmtp -v <your.email@here.com> 

 If you have the app password set up and followed along you will get a email. It should say success on the bottom after running the command: 

 

 You can now use this to set up alerts for all different kinds of thing which I will do.