In a bid to enhance email security and reliability, Ovation Hall has moved away from using PHP Mailer on its Plesk servers. With this change, users and scripts are no longer able to send emails through Sendmail, reducing the chances of malicious activity or unauthorized email access. For those using WordPress or other content management systems (CMS), we now recommend configuring emails through SMTP to ensure seamless and secure delivery. Below, we’ll walk you through setting up SMTP on WordPress using the popular plugin WP Mail SMTP by WPForms. Why Ovation Hall Disabled PHP Mailer PHP Mailer, the default email method for many web servers, is susceptible to misuse, often allowing scripts to send unauthorized emails through Sendmail. This vulnerability can lead to spam, phishing attacks, and other security risks for websites and their users. By disabling PHP Mailer and encouraging SMTP, Ovation Hall improves email security and helps prevent these threats, providing peace of mind for our clients. How to Set Up SMTP for Your WordPress Site Using WP Mail SMTP by WPForms Step 1: Install and Activate WP Mail SMTP Plugin Step 2: Access WP Mail SMTP Settings Step 3: Configure Email Settings Step 4: Set Up Sender Name Step 5: Choose SMTP as the Mailer Step 6: Enter SMTP Details In this section, configure your SMTP settings as follows: Click Save Settings to apply your changes. Step 7: Test Your Configuration Once the settings are saved, send a test email from your contact form or the WP Mail SMTP plugin to confirm that everything is working properly. If the email doesn’t send: Recommended SMTP Plugins for WordPress To ensure reliable email delivery, we suggest using any of these popular SMTP plugins: Switching from PHP Mailer to SMTP is a significant step in protecting your emails and maintaining communication integrity for your website. With Ovation Hall’s support, setting up SMTP on your WordPress site is quick and effective.