Mail shield and SSL

Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security
1

I think my ISP requires some kind of secure connection (SSL?) and ever since I downloaded Avast 5 I cannot connect to the mail server if the mail shield is on. I am using XP and have the problem with Eudora, Thunderbird, and Mailwasher. If I turn the shield off, I can connect no problem.

Also, when the shield is off, the icon in the tray has the “i” triangle and does not spin. The other features of Avast are still operative, right?

2

Please read this topic:
http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=53988.msg457575#msg457575

My Reply #11 in particular.

3

Thanks ;D, I actually got the same advice on another forum.

4

I also got the notice that I needed to turn off SSL for my accounts in Thunderbird, and that made me feel a little nervous. I followed the instructions and did so, but Thunderbird is acting weird since doing that, and twice I had to repair what seemed like corruption of the *.msf files. I am going to turn off mail shield as a result. I’m careful about how I deal with email anyway.

Just to be sure I understand, though… Avast will be able to protect me as long as I download and scan attached files I get via email before I open them, correct? Turning off mail shield won’t prevent it catching trojans, worms, etc.?

5

Welcome wombat88

E-mail tips that I have learned

  • Delete all e-mails that seem suspicious without opening.
  • Never open attachments from unknown sources. They may contain viruses that can damage your computer.
  • Scan attachments with a virus program before opening them, even if they come from a friend.
  • Make sure that you have the most recent version of your virus scanning program and that your virus database is up-to-date.
  • The File Shield will read an attachment when opened but you could right click on the attachment and scan it first.

I believe in Layered Protection as no anti virus application can provide 100% protection from today’s prolific malware purveyors on the Internet.

I use several layers:

  • avast! anti virus
  • HOSTS file managed by HostsMan to block known malware sites
  • Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM) to block malware from installing
  • Windows Defender to block Microsoft known malware
  • WinPatrol Security Monitor to monitor what the others miss
6

Again, just for my own feeling. I have the mail shield turned off because it prevents connection with my ISP’s mail server (I’m sure it has to do with SSL). The icon in my tray shows the new orange globe “e” with a yellow “i” triangle. It does not spin as the regular icon does. The program is still working on all the other areas, correct? Just making sure :slight_smile:

7

so would you like to enable the mail scanner or not ? … can work if you want to, whatever you read or hear here and there ;D

@ Yokenny: could you please finally stop that. You’ve already done it a few times, when a poster has issues with the mail scanner, you just advise him not to use it, you’re kidding or what ::slight_smile: do what you want on your system and let others use Avast 5 components as they wish.

8

Yes, I would like to enable the shield. I remember having to do something long ago in the original Avast to make it work.

9

OK so let’s try it in Thunderbird first ? and I need to know who’s your mail provider…

edit: or at least, as I see now it’s your ISP, protocol used ? ;D you’re gone? ;D

10

Hi, I’m a newbee to forums so if I error that is why.
I had my mail scanned with the 4.8 version. Now with the 5.0 I don’t have the mail shield, yes I would like to have it.
I’m using 2010 outlook, Microsoft live.com account, Vista Home Premium 32 bit.

11

Sorry, I went out after I posted. I’m using PennTeleData as ISP, ptd.net. In my mail settings (Eudora) The settings I see are STARTTCS, POP, Passwords auth. If I have the mail shield on, I can’t even connect to the ptd mail server. Program doesn’t matter, Eudora, Thunderbird, or Mailwasher.

12

OK try this, in thunderbird, right click your account in the left pane to open the account settings panel:

  • in server settings, set POP port to 110, no ssl (none), enter username (without @…) if server requires authentication. Don’t tick "server requires secure authentication.
  • at the bottom of the left pane, go to outgoing server, then in the right pane, edit SMTP and set port to 25 (or 587), no ssl (none), enter username (without @…) if server requires authentication. Don’t tick "server requires secure authentication.
13

Those are the settings I already had been using.

14

OK so now check in the mail scanner settings under the ssl accounts tabs what he ports are: it should be:
POP 995 SSL
SMTP 465 SSL

15

What happens when you try to use Mailwasher? The only change you should need to make with Avast! is to uncheck the SSL box under “advanced account options”. Your server is promail.ptd.net ?
Update: I tried a fake login to your server, as xxx@ptd.net, and got as far as the “bad username or password” message. So Avast! was able to successfully set up the SSL session using port 110 between mailwasher and your pop server. what do you see?

16

When I try to check mail with the free version of Mailwasher 4.1.7.6 I get the message “The POP server is not responding appropriately, ensure that you have specified the address of a POP server.” If I try in Thunderbird, I get “An error occurred with the POP3 mail server. Mail server promail.ptd.net responded:”. If I use Eudora, I get “ERR cannot establish SSL, SSL_connect error 10054”. If I turn the mail shield off, all the programs function fine.

I changed the port numbers from 110 and 25 to 995 and 465, that didn’t work. Then I changed the encription from TLS to SSL, then to none and still no help. At 110, 25 and SSL and none it worked one time, but the settings reverted to TLS on the POP3 server and it stopped again. I think I’ll just skip using the mail shield for now. Thanks for the help.

17

110 and 587 are what work for me. You made no other changes to your working Mailwasher settings except to turn off SSL? Under Mail Shield/expert settings/ssl accounts what does it say?

18

I have tested connecting to the POP3 server promail.ptd.net. When the respective mail scanner account is set to

  • port 110/none - connection is successfuly established (without encryption)
  • port 995/SSL - SSL is successfuly established
  • port 110/TLS - “-ERR cannot establish SSL, SSL_connect error 10054” is returned