Mail Accounts Remaining Open After Program Closed

danh62103 wrote:

Hello,

I'm having an odd problem with mail accounts.

I'm using several Microsoft and Gmail accounts through the Apple Mail app on an M1 iMac that is always running the latest OS. About once a week, I need to use a VPN to connect outside my region (Northeastern US). I learned early on that if the mail app was open, the Microsoft accounts would identify an unusual connection and cause a variety of issues. I made it a habit of always shutting down the mail app before connecting the VPN and it was resolved.

In the past several months, that's no longer a solution. When I connect my VPN, even with mail closed, it triggers Microsoft to detect an unusual connection. Is there a change about how online account connection runs in the background or something else that may explain this?

This seems minor, but it results in about 15 alert texts and emails, having to reset my Microsoft passwords, then update those passwords in many device's mail apps, xbox, Windows Store, etc... EVERY single week and is driving me crazy.

Try disabling the VPN and compare your results...

A true VPN tunnel, for example between you and your job, or a Bank server would be of value, otherwise might be time to re-think the usage.

see: Public VPN's are anything but private

https://gist.github.com/joepie91/5a9909939e6ce7d09e29

Your Microsoft account includes Mail but it also includes other services and they are all linked. Just quitting Mail does not quit all the other Microsoft services.

You can get some insight into this by opening System Preferences => Internet Accounts and select Microsoft Exchange or 365 -- whichever version of Microsoft you are using. You will see other services there. See image below. The example I show still has Contacts active and it will stay active even if Mail is completely closed. Even after you quit Mail, those other services may be executing in the background, causing your conflict. There may also be other linked Microsoft account services that aren't shown in the Internet Accounts pane but are still active, for instance Microsoft One Drive, etc. The VPN may be flagging internet traffic from one or more of those other services, even after Mail is closed. Look carefully at everything you are using Microsoft for. In fact, MS-Office (or Office 365) will check for updates in the background often and this activity could be flagged by a VPN.

The issue is not Microsoft, the issue is that your VPN is restricting your normal use of the computer. You should be able to configure the VPN to avoid this issue. Keep in mind that most commercial VPNs do not provide the privacy some people think they provide. In fact there have been many scandals where VPN sellers were found to be misusing (and selling) personal information of their customers. The only VPN you should use is one provided and configured by your employer or financial institution. My employer requires use of one and it is configured so none of those issues you describe are occurring.

Just to be clear, when you say you "closed" Mail, you do mean you fully Quit it, right? Did you quit before establishing the VPN connection?

Just checking for possible explanations.