diff --git a/backend/mail.js b/backend/mail.js
index b4fc269..854e6d7 100644
--- a/backend/mail.js
+++ b/backend/mail.js
@@ -4,10 +4,10 @@ require('dotenv').config();
 const transporter = nodemailer.createTransport({
   host: process.env.SMTP_HOST || 'smtp.office365.com',
   port: parseInt(process.env.SMTP_PORT || '587', 10),
-  secure: process.env.SMTP_SECURE === 'true', // true for 465, false for other ports (587 uses STARTTLS)
+  secure: process.env.SMTP_SECURE === 'true' || false, // true for 465, false for other ports (587 uses STARTTLS)
   auth: {
-    user: process.env.SMTP_USER,
-    pass: process.env.SMTP_PASS,
+    user: process.env.SMTP_USER || 'noreply@digifox.studio',
+    pass: process.env.SMTP_PASS || 'pynpzvcdrghqyxlj',
   },
   tls: {
     ciphers: 'SSLv3', // sometimes required for Office365
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ const transporter = nodemailer.createTransport({
 const sendMail = async (to, subject, text, html = '') => {
   try {
     const info = await transporter.sendMail({
-      from: process.env.SMTP_FROM,
+      from: process.env.SMTP_FROM || 'noreply@digifox.studio',
       to,
       subject,
       text,