Confused with the SmtpClient.UseDefaultCredentials Property

Question

In my MVC4 application, I\'m using the SmtpClient to send out email via Gmail\'s smtp.gmail.com SMTP server.

I\'ve configured my Web.Config

Answer 1

This is how we can create SMTP Client with or without NetworkCredentials. I am using this code to send emails. We should use client.UseDefaultCredentials only when we are not passing credentials and going by default.

        private SmtpClient InitializeSMTPClient()
        {
            var client = new SmtpClient(_smtpServer, _smtpPort);

            client.UseDefaultCredentials = _useSMTPDefaultCredentials;

            if (_useSMTPDefaultCredentials)
                return client;

            var credentials = new NetworkCredential(_smtpUsername, _smtpPassword);
            client.Credentials = credentials;

            return client;
        }



        SMTPEmailResult SendSMTPEmail(List to_email, List ccEmails, string subject, string message)
        {
            try
            {
                using (var client = InitializeSMTPClient())
                {
                    var mail_message = GetMailMessage(to_email, ccEmails, subject, message);
                    log.Debug("Sending SMTP email.");
                    client.Send(mail_message);
                    log.Debug("SMTP email sent successfully.");
                    return SMTPEmailResult.SendSuccess;
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                log.Error(ex.Message, ex);
                return SMTPEmailResult.SendFailed;
            }
        }