Gmail requires secure access for both pop3 and smtp. Take a look at the thread http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=10428.0 to see how to set up gmail with Avast!. Plus you can search on SSL to find more info. Since SSL/TLS email is encrypted and decrypted in the client, external virus scanners (including avast!) can’t read or scan it. Most virus programs just pass the traffic. The solution is to pass email in and out unencrypted from gmail to a proxy program (stunnel) that does the actual ssl encryption/decryption of the pop3/smtp email and communicates directly with the ISP server on the appropriate ports. Openssl is just the library of encryption/ decryption routines that support it. One time setup required using these free routines per the instructions in the thread.