It's a known problem. As a workaround you can install this add-on. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/startupmaster/

Christ1,

Thanks. But is there a fool proof password application? If we press the Esc tab on the keyboard, or press cancel on the window, Thunderbird opens up eventually. Any advice please?

Thanks,

LS

Yes that's by design. The master password protects your password store, not your email messages.

Having got in by cancelling, try getting new mails or sending one. You'll be asked for the account's password again.

The startup master addon is a fair approximation to your request, because it can be set to simply close Thunderbird if it isn't given the correct password. It isn't "strong" security because a savvy user could start Thunderbird in safe mode, disabling this and all of your add-ons , or in any case they could go straight to your message store and read or copy the mail stores directly without needing to open Thunderbird. If you want such security, use individual user accounts as offered by your OS.

Check these article for more information on the master password and to protect the contents of your profile. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Master_password http://kb.mozillazine.org/Protect_the_profiles_contents