Avast WEBforum

Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: pete7769 on September 11, 2007, 02:11:37 PM

Title: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 11, 2007, 02:11:37 PM
Hi to all

         Please Please can someone help  ???, i have only just noticed that avast does not scan my incoming or outgoing emails from gmail, i have looked around on this board and realise the two programs i need to get to be able to get this to work, but I'm not too technical and the threads i have read have confused me no end, also its seems that all the threads i read only seem to talk about scanning one email provider, ie gmail, my other worry is that i have two email accounts, an orange one that works/scans fine and the gmail one, both of which download into my email program, but i don't want to upset the e-mail scanning of the orange one, so please please please can someone show me in very simple terms, what I'm supposed to do, as regards to settings, modifying ini files etc, i really want to get this working but I'm just not sure of what to do.

Thanks in advance
Pete  ;)
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: Lisandro on September 11, 2007, 02:15:20 PM
First of all, it's not possible because Gmail uses SSL (Secure Socket Layer) connections. Avast mail scanner doesn't support SSL (Secure Socket Layer) connections. But take a look here: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=10428.0 to see how to set up secure email with avast!.

There is an explanation of this here: http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=28150.msg229981#msg229981

Since SSL/TLS e-mail is encrypted and decrypted in the client, external virus scanners (including avast!) can't read or scan it.
The solution is to pass e-mail in and out un-encrypted from your client (Outlook Express, Thunderbird, ...) to a proxy program (Stunnel) that does the actual ssl or tls encryption/decryption of the pop3/smtp e-mail and communicates directly with the ISP server on the appropriate ports. Download here: http://www.stunnel.org/download/binaries.html
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 11, 2007, 02:22:02 PM
Thanks for the reply  :), but these are the same threads i have looked at, but they totally confused me, i was just really hoping that some very kind person would just show me exactly what to do on this thread so that i dont get confused with any settings that i dont need, like spam filters etc   :(

Pete
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: Lisandro on September 11, 2007, 02:24:39 PM
You'll need to download and install Stunnel.
You'll need to configurate the stunnel.conf file to work with GMail.
Then change your email account configurations and set avast.
If you want help, start and ask 8)
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 11, 2007, 02:27:33 PM
Ok tech, thanks a lot, can i continue to ask on this thread??, i will download tonight, its the ini file and avast that im going to have problems with, by the way im using avast pro, xp sp2, and incredimail (dont laugh!!)

Thanks

Pete  ;)
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: DavidR on September 11, 2007, 03:08:22 PM
Also see http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=26654.msg217996#msg217996 (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=26654.msg217996#msg217996), it is a little more detailed, I don't know if that is a good or bad thing ;D

Or Gmail and Avast Providers (http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=14854.msg125401#msg125401)
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 11, 2007, 04:08:29 PM
Thanks DavidR, like i said before i will download it tonight and start having a look, please can you watch this thread as im sure things are not going to go smoothly, like i said before im just worried that i will either stop scanning my orange e-mail or it will just stop sending/recieving e-mail full stop  ;D
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: DavidR on September 11, 2007, 05:32:22 PM
There will be many eyes watching the topic, all those who contribute to the topic get a notification of new posts.

Personally I don't use Gmail so don't have a requirement for Stunnel, but there are many on the forums who do including Tech, so you should have plenty of help. print off the topics some find it easier to work from print than continually switch back and forward from the topics.

Welcome to the forums.
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: Lisandro on September 11, 2007, 05:34:34 PM
can i continue to ask on this thread?
Yeah... we'll be here.
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 11, 2007, 07:07:55 PM
hi Chaps

          i have done everything as described here

http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=26654.msg217996#msg217996

but although e-mails are coming through, they dont appear to be scanned, when i look at the on access scanner, it tells me the outgoing e-mail from my orange account has been scanned, but i sent it to my google e-mail address and when that comes in the on access scanner doenst change, saying incoming message scanned???

i have attchaed the stunnel log file if this will help???

Pete
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 11, 2007, 07:34:50 PM
just tried to send e-mail from my google account to my google account, it went and i can now see it in my inbox on the web, but my e-mail program wont download it???, i have also attached my avast ini file to see if that will help solve the problem...

Pete
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: alanrf on September 12, 2007, 01:27:19 AM
It looks to me from the log that you have set your mail client to use port 11110 as the POP port that connects to STunnel. 

Now you must tell avast to scan the connection between your mail client and STunnel. 

In the Internet Mail provider you need to click "Customize" and in the Redirect tab you need to add your chosen POP port (11110) to the POP box making sure to separate it from the number already there with a comma. 

You need to add your chosen SMTP port (11025) to the SMTP box making sure to separate it from the number already there with a comma.

You also need to uncheck the "Ignore local communication" box. 

Now click "OK" and avast should start scanning your GMail messages.   
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: alanrf on September 12, 2007, 01:34:11 AM
Did you edit the avast4.ini yourself rather than using the avast interface?

Your avast4.ini, has multiple POP & SMTP redirect entries.  I am not sure how avast will interpret those. 

What does the Interneet Mail provider show in the Redirect tab for the redirected ports?

By the way you must now remove from your mail client any setting for a secure session for your GMail account (bot for POP & SMTP).  If you still have it set for a secure session it will be blocked.   
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 12, 2007, 08:59:45 AM
Thanks for the info alan, i have now set everything back to how it was as i was having so much trouble sending e-mails, i will have another look on thursday night and try what you said, i will also attach my original avast ini file so that you can see how that looks before i change anything, by the way i changed the ini files using the normal text editor, not within avast itslef.
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: alanrf on September 12, 2007, 10:21:25 AM
It is always best to use the avast interface to make changes whenever possible rather than inventing your own changes to the avast4.ini file.

Please let us know how you get on and if you need further assistance. 

I found it fairly easy to get STunnel working with GMail and having avast in there scanning away. 
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 12, 2007, 11:19:44 AM
Thanks again alan, i didnt relaise that you could change the ini file within avast, can you please explain how, but like i said i will post the original one first so that you can see what it like, but at the moment it seems to be scanning my pop3 e-mails ok, both in & out.

Pete  ;)
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: alanrf on September 12, 2007, 10:08:43 PM
I already explained to you above how to use the avast GUI to change the ports intercepted.
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 13, 2007, 09:00:53 AM
Oh i see, sorry about that, a lot of posts i have read tell you to edit the ini file by using notepad and adding lines that way, like this quote from a post...

"Step 2 should be like:

1. Go to Avast4.ini, which is by default in "C:\Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast4\DATA" folder.

2. Open Avast4.ini file and find [MailScanner] section.  Make sure that "IgnoreLocalhost=0" and add the lines below.


Code:
PopRedirectPort=110,11110
SmtpRedirectPort=25,11025
3. Save and close Avast4.ini file."

so i take it i dont need to do this if i use your instructions???


also does this look correct for the entry for the stunnel config???

# GMail
client=yes
debug=debug

# POP3
[gmail-pop3s]
accept=localhost:120110
connect=pop.gmail.com:995

# SMTP
[gmail-smtps]
accept=localhost:12025
connect=smtp.gmail.com:465


Pete
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 13, 2007, 08:11:57 PM
Dear All

           i have now uploaded my original avast ini file, and the stunnel conf that i have just created, can someone please check these and let me know what the next thing to do is, thanks a million

Pete
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 13, 2007, 09:20:44 PM
can i continue to ask on this thread?
Yeah... we'll be here.

Please can someone help???
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: Lisandro on September 13, 2007, 09:27:34 PM
Your Stunnel.conf file should be:

Code: [Select]
# GMail
client=yes

# POP3 service, listens on localhost:11110
[gmail-pop3s]
accept=127.0.0.1:11110
connect=pop.gmail.com:995

# SMTP service, listens on localhost:11025
[gmail-smtps]
protocol=smtp
accept=127.0.0.1:11025
connect=smtp.gmail.com:587


Your avast4.ini file must have - among others things - into [MailScanner] section:

Code: [Select]
PopRedirectPort=110,11110
SmtpRedirectPort=25,11025
IgnoreLocalhost=0


Stunnel must be running and both Stunnel and ashMaiSv.exe must be allowed to connect the Internet into your firewall settings.
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: Lisandro on September 13, 2007, 09:29:33 PM
PopRedirectPort=110,11110
accept=localhost:120110
Should be ONLY 11110 and 110,11110

SmtpRedirectPort=25,11025
accept=localhost:12025
Should be ONLY 11025 and 25,11025
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 13, 2007, 09:38:49 PM
thanks i have now changed them, please can you check, also do i need to change my mail settings in my e-mail program???

Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: alanrf on September 13, 2007, 10:19:02 PM
1) Yes, you must change the POP port for your GMail account in your mail client to 11110
2) You must change the SMTP port in GMail account in your mail client to 11025

3) Go to the Redirect tab of the Internet Mail provider and uncheck the Ignore local communications box
4) Click OK


Remember, as I said above, that you must not select a secure connection for your GMail account's POP & SMTP connections in your mail clinet.
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 13, 2007, 10:23:42 PM
hi
  still no good,i have done that, my other settings are smtp port 465 and pop port 995, and are set to require secure connection (SSL), do these also have to be changed??

Thanks
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: alanrf on September 13, 2007, 10:26:05 PM
Did you read what I said that you must change the ports?
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 13, 2007, 10:32:58 PM
i think so, but im getting more confused, i have taken some screen shots of my e-mail client settings....
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: Lisandro on September 13, 2007, 10:34:29 PM
still no good,i have done that, my other settings are smtp port 465 and pop port 995, and are set to require secure connection (SSL), do these also have to be changed??
It's exactly the contrary... you MUST change the ports and do NOT use SSL.
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: Lisandro on September 13, 2007, 10:38:29 PM
On the first picture, servers are 127.0.0.1 (and not the number of the ports).
On the second one, the ports are 11025 and 11110.
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 13, 2007, 10:39:29 PM
Right let me get this striaght, the ports that are 465 and 995, i change them to what???
11110 and 11025, but the server screen that used to say pop.gmail.com and smtp.gmail.com, i leave them alone???

Pete
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: alanrf on September 13, 2007, 10:43:40 PM
No, as Tech just told you the server name for POP and SMTP must be set to localhost (or 127.0.0.1 means the same as localhost))

The port number for POP must be 11110
The port number for SMTP must be 11025
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 13, 2007, 10:45:36 PM
 ;D i think im there, hang a second while i send a few e-mails to check??, this is going to sound crazy but is there any where i can test to see if the avast is checking both incoming and outgoing e-mails???
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: alanrf on September 13, 2007, 10:47:26 PM
If you view the message source (or the full message headers) you will see an X-Antivirus line inserted saying scanned by avast.

You will only see this in the sent message when the message is received (it will not show in the copy in the Sent folder of you mail client).
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 13, 2007, 10:52:34 PM
 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Great, thanks so so much for your patience and understanding, at last i can sleep!!

Pete ;)
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: Lisandro on September 13, 2007, 11:00:22 PM
Great, thanks so so much for your patience and understanding, at last i can sleep!!
Do you mean it work now?

To see if avast! is scanning emails, check one of these points:

1) Is the avast icon (the special one of email scanning) be shown in the system tray?

2) Is your email header with the lines X-Antivirus: avast! (VPS XXXXXX-X, XX/XX/2007), Inbound message and X-Antivirus-Status: Clean? (Right click the message, choose Properties and Details)

3) Are clean notes added at the bottom of the email? (Internet Mail provider settings)
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: pete7769 on September 13, 2007, 11:06:50 PM
yes

1.Its always showing
2.yes
3.yes


Thanks so so much   :)
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: Lisandro on September 13, 2007, 11:18:05 PM
Thanks so so much   :)
We're glad you finally succeed!
Welcome to avast forums and feel free to come back any time you need help 8)
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: beurket on January 08, 2010, 10:00:50 PM
I know that this problem appears to have been resolved long ago.  I have been using stunnel to provide Avast virus scans with Netscape and Thunderbird 2.0 for access to gmail IMAP all this time.  But after migrating to Thunderbird 3.0 all of this stopped working.  I can get access either if I bypass either the Avast intercept of the stunnel port, or bygoing direct from Thunderbird  to gmail.  Neither if thes options will scan for viruses.
Title: Re: Please Help with Avast & Gmail
Post by: Pondus on January 08, 2010, 10:33:23 PM
Quote
I know that this problem appears to have been resolved long ago.  I have been using stunnel to provide Avast virus scans with Netscape and Thunderbird 2.0 for access to gmail IMAP all this time.  But after migrating to Thunderbird 3.0 all of this stopped working.  I can get access either if I bypass either the Avast intercept of the stunnel port, or bygoing direct from Thunderbird  to gmail.  Neither if thes options will scan for viruses.

Nr.1|this tread is from 2007, you should have started a new
Nr.2 still in Beta but soon to be released Avast V5 can scan SSL
Nr.3 why worrie, gmail have already done the spam and virus scan with Postini before you get the mail, if Virus is found the mail is removed, you will never see it
Postini is using two virus engines from McAfee and Authentium

Postini http://www.google.com/postini/
Authentium http://www.authentium.com/mainv2/index.htm
McAfee http://www.mcafee.com/us/