diff --git a/docs/extensions/notifications/_index.md b/docs/extensions/notifications/_index.md
index c0ad0f7a5..0cc731856 100644
--- a/docs/extensions/notifications/_index.md
+++ b/docs/extensions/notifications/_index.md
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ geekdocCollapseSection: true
 
 ## Abstract
 
+The notifications extension is responsible for making users aware of changes. It listens on the event bus, filters relevant events, looks up the recipients email address and then queues an email with an external MTA.
 
 ## Table of Contents
 
diff --git a/extensions/notifications/pkg/config/config.go b/extensions/notifications/pkg/config/config.go
index 9b1e0c89f..d5964983c 100644
--- a/extensions/notifications/pkg/config/config.go
+++ b/extensions/notifications/pkg/config/config.go
@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ type Notifications struct {
 	*shared.Commons   `yaml:"-"`
 	SMTP              SMTP   `yaml:"SMTP"`
 	Events            Events `yaml:"events"`
-	RevaGateway       string `yaml:"reva_gateway" env:"REVA_GATEWAY;NOTIFICATIONS_REVA_GATEWAY"`
-	MachineAuthAPIKey string `yaml:"machine_auth_api_key" env:"OCIS_MACHINE_AUTH_API_KEY;NOTIFICATIONS_MACHINE_AUTH_API_KEY"`
+	RevaGateway       string `yaml:"reva_gateway" env:"REVA_GATEWAY;NOTIFICATIONS_REVA_GATEWAY" desc:"CS3 gateway used to look up user metadata"`
+	MachineAuthAPIKey string `yaml:"machine_auth_api_key" env:"OCIS_MACHINE_AUTH_API_KEY;NOTIFICATIONS_MACHINE_AUTH_API_KEY" desc:"Machine auth API key used to impersonate users when looking up their email"`
 }
 
 // SMTP combines the smtp configuration options.
diff --git a/extensions/notifications/pkg/config/defaults/defaultconfig.go b/extensions/notifications/pkg/config/defaults/defaultconfig.go
index 5530b8e38..2234e3843 100644
--- a/extensions/notifications/pkg/config/defaults/defaultconfig.go
+++ b/extensions/notifications/pkg/config/defaults/defaultconfig.go
@@ -21,10 +21,9 @@ func DefaultConfig() *config.Config {
 		},
 		Notifications: config.Notifications{
 			SMTP: config.SMTP{
-				Host:     "127.0.0.1",
-				Port:     "1025",
-				Sender:   "god@example.com",
-				Password: "godisdead",
+				Host:   "127.0.0.1",
+				Port:   "1025",
+				Sender: "noreply@example.com",
 			},
 			Events: config.Events{
 				Endpoint:      "127.0.0.1:9233",