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Consumer Products => Avast Free Antivirus / Premium Security (legacy Pro Antivirus, Internet Security, Premier) => Topic started by: balm on December 03, 2010, 12:41:55 AM

Title: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 12:41:55 AM
ive set up my gmail account also in WLM. All seems to be running properly.

for the benefit of others having trouble with gmail and WLM,

WLM settings:

incoming imap.gmail.com, #143, disable SSL
outgoing smtp.gmail.com, #25, disable SSL

in email options, select read, plain text (will see the avast note inside the email message)


Avast SSL accounts:

gmail.com (imap), #993, select SSL
gmail.com (smtp), #25, select SSL


1. does this sound about right...?



2. my report file txt doesnt contain any detail info, even though i selected all, is this typical ?:


Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: DavidR on December 03, 2010, 12:59:59 AM
So long as it is working it must be doing something right ;D
I don't use gmail so I can't speak from experience.

The report file doesn't show much detail, it is for the most part just showing when it started and when it stopped (so you can confirm it is running). It is only when you get alerts or errors, etc. that it starts reporting those. You can change the report file default settings (soft errors, OK items, Skipped items), but then the file just gets huge, full of not very valuable information.
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: Charyb-0 on December 03, 2010, 01:04:29 AM
This is how mine is set in Avast. Setting in WLM are the same as yours. You can always send a test email and see if it is scanning. Check your mail shield for the last file scanned (at the bottom). Not certain if it will work correctly if you have the same port 25 in both places.
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 02:16:25 AM
thank you,

heres what i just did, oddly this also seems to work, not sure about the port #25, in WLM, both accounts have smtp #25, the inbounds are #110, & #143

can sharing the same port #25 conflict..


i included now all ports in the troubleshoot redirects...


re. the report file, none was created for todays date, and i have all items checked to be included, even OK items, shouldnt these appear in a report txt...? all shields are showing similarily

Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: Charyb-0 on December 03, 2010, 02:48:54 AM
Regarding the report files... I tried it with all checked and report only showed shield started and stopped. Then restarted computer and reports showed everything. Looks like you have to reboot for changes to take effect. That's a whole lot of reporting. You need or want all of this?

Actually, I tested it another way. After checking and unchecking reporting options for file shield, I disabled the file shield then re-enabled it which caused it to report correctly. Too bad the reports don't automatically change as you tick and untick the boxes. For anyone who leaves their computer on permanently or never disable/enable their shields, the reports may never reflect the changes.

Anyone care to verify this?
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 03:19:07 AM
interesting ill, try, ive NEVER seen any changes in the report files,...
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 04:01:27 AM
the report file is always empty here, but i found a Mail.log file which is huge in program data
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: Charyb-0 on December 03, 2010, 04:14:05 AM
Go here: C:\ProgramData\Alwil Software\Avast5\report

and open EmailShield.txt

What do you see? Is it completely empty?

Does it show something like this?

* avast! Real-time Shield Scan Report
* This file is generated automatically
*
* Started on: Thursday, December 02, 2010 7:55:21 PM
*

Did you try going to mail shield/expertsettings/report file? Tick generate report file and tick all "reported items" boxes then stop and restart the mail shield? Then send and receive email to test it.
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 04:29:24 AM
ok thanks now i see it worked!
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: Charyb-0 on December 03, 2010, 04:43:56 AM
Good! Here is a link to the knowledgebase regarding email setup https://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=458&nav=0,2. It is showing gmail (POP) instead of gmail (imap). Just thought it would be useful info. I think you can also setup gmail using POP. POP downloads all headers and bodies whereas I believe imap just downloads headers. I prefer the imap better as message bodies are stored on the server until you open it. At least that's my understanding.

One question, you had mentioned that you added all ports in the troubleshoot redirects.  "i included now all ports in the troubleshoot redirects..."

Why did you do this? I would have left the Avast defaults just as they were. These are probably best left alone.

 
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 04:48:58 AM
so for the network , and behavior shields we must rely on the graphical interface presentation only for an immediate confirmation of activity (since no expert settings to report all)...? i assume by default only negatives are reported in this file...
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 04:52:02 AM
re. ports
Quote
Why did you do this? I would have left the Avast defaults just as they were. These are probably best left alone


oops i thought these were the remaps after avast does the SSL conversion, so i forced them in there, so ill leave them as they were defaulted then....thank you
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: Charyb-0 on December 03, 2010, 04:57:13 AM
There are no settings. I saw activity in the behavior shield a few times but never any reporting on it. I don't care too much for it when there is a detection of some type and there is nothing that shows you what it is. I think there was a post on it somewhere. I will see if I can find it.

EDIT: I think this was it. http://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=61342.0

Below are the defaults if you don't remember them. I hope that Avast is working on a Restore to Default option.
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 05:39:29 AM
i appreciate all your guidance Charyb


Quote
POP downloads all headers and bodies whereas I believe imap just downloads headers. I prefer the imap better as message bodies are stored on the server until you open it. At least that's my understanding.


yes, i hadnt quite fully grasped this idea:

i think it comes down to this according to gmail:

Quote
Unlike POP, IMAP offers two-way communication between your web Gmail and your email client(s). This means when you log in to Gmail using a web browser, actions you perform on email clients and mobile devices (ex: putting mail in a 'work' folder) will instantly and automatically appear in Gmail (ex: it will already have a 'work' label on that email the next time you sign in).


in gmail i have settings enable POP, and enable IMAP
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 05:50:07 AM
according to avast help, re. redirects:

Quote
These settings allow you to specify which ports are used for your email and web communication, if the standard ports are not used. This is important to ensure that your emails and web browsing are monitored by avast!, regardless of which ports are used.


kind of sounds all ports used should be entered here, thus the ones in SSL accounts settings...?
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: Charyb-0 on December 03, 2010, 06:08:54 AM
The way I think of it is that Avast is the middle man. Your email provider communicates with Avast using ports 993 (imap) and 465 (smtp) (encrypted) then Avast communicates with your email client (Windows Live Mail) using ports 143 and 25 (unencrypted). 143 and 25 are the Avast defaults for imap (incoming) and smtp (outgoing). No need to change the default redirects since gmail uses standard SSL ports.
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 04:48:08 PM
i like that explanation....


ok so the redirects are just the standard ports (in this case)  for Avast-Email client communication.
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: Charyb-0 on December 03, 2010, 05:09:58 PM
Yes. If you delete these defaults or change them you will render your webshield and mail shield useless.

This was in the help file:
Redirect Settings

These settings allow you to specify which ports are used for your email and web communication, if the standard ports are not used. This is important to ensure that your emails and web browsing are monitored by avast!, regardless of which ports are used.

For the web, avast! normally expects all communication to take place through port 80 and everything else is ignored. If you use a proxy server to access the internet and you want the communications between the proxy server and your computer to be scanned, you should enter the port which is used to connect to the proxy server. You should only enter the ports for HTTP traffic, not for ICQ, DC++ etc. For mail, the default ports are the standard port numbers for the four basic email protocols. If you use a different port (or ports), they should be entered here. Multiple port numbers should be separated by commas.

Ignored addresses - here you can enter server addresses or ports that you want to exclude from scanning.
Ignore local communication - if this is checked, avast! will not scan communication between applications running on your computer. Unchecking this box will result in local communications being scanned, which may slow down your computer slightly.



Have you upgraded Windows Live Mail to 2011? I did and reverted back. Didn't like the cluttered interface. To me, it was one big sloppy mess. I like the 2009 version much better because of this. If you intend to upgrade it or already have done so please let me know what you think of it.
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 06:11:11 PM
edit:- do you know why i have #25 in both places for my "sympatico.ca" account (in Avast SSL accounts, and WLM client), will this work as normal...?


- i just set up on WLM (2011), i think i used to use Windows Mail (its been a while), and i loved it!

but now im getting to hate WLM, im not quite sure why, but it seems like in simplifying it they made it more obscure to use...make any sense ? - just google WLM and you will see a lot of negatives
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: Charyb-0 on December 03, 2010, 07:08:14 PM
I googled sympatico email settings because I had questions concerning the same host names for both incoming and outgoing mail. Also, wanted to know which ports. Does this look familiar? I can't test it because I don't us sympatico.

http://internet.bell.ca/index.cfm?method=content.view&content_id=1067
The following information is from the link above.

Incoming mail server (POP)
POP Server: pophm.sympatico.ca
Port: 995
User name: Email address (e.g: jsmith@sympatico.ca or jsmith@bell.net) and password (e.g.: a123456z)
SSL: Be sure to select the “this server requires a secure connection (SSL)” or “use SSL (Secure Sockets Layers)” option

Outgoing mail server (SMTP)
SMTP Server: smtphm.sympatico.ca
Port: 25 (or 587 if port 25 does not work
Authentication: Yes User name: Email address (e.g: jsmith@sympatico.ca or jsmith@bell.net) and password (e.g.: a123456z)
TLS/SSL Required: Yes (select TLS if available, if not, select SSL)

Under smtp in avast ssl accounts use port 587 (not 25). The above also states to use TLS if available. It seems there are problems with using port 25. Type in the host names as shown above for pop and smtp. Leave your email client (Windows Live Mail) exactly as you have it.

http://www.asknardo.com/how-to-solve-outgoing-sympatico-email-problems-using-ssl.php

Mainly read this in the article (see below). It is dated January 2010 so take if for what it is worth. Don't know if it relates to newer versions of Avast.

"There are incredibly few ISPs on the planet that are stupid enough to implement SSL security using port 25 for SMTP as Sympatico has done – I can think of only a couple of others that are doing the same thing … one is in Portugal.  It is a de facto standard of email worldwide that port 25 is used for unsecured email connections.  The de facto email standard for sending SMTP with SSL is port 465.

avast, quite reasonably, assumes that it can scan port 25 connections because the standard is that port 25 connections are unsecured.  If there is a requirement from the email server (as there is with Sympatico) that port 25 be secured then avast will, unfortunately, get in the way and prevent the connection.  If you happen to be a Sympatico user you have no choice but to turn off outbound scanning."





Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: YoKenny on December 03, 2010, 08:40:59 PM
If you happen to be a Sympatico user you have no choice but to turn off outbound scanning.

I happen to be a Sympatico user I have turned off outbound scanning and WLM works fine for me.

I find that the File System Shield has adequate protection.
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: balm on December 03, 2010, 11:50:31 PM
im a little confused now, my present set up, i sent test email from sympatico (thru WLM) to gmail, and the scanner seems to work on it, more test to do though...

are you saying that at present it would be as if im using a totally UNSECURED connection for smtp sympatico (mail client has SSL unchecked, and avast ssl accounts - entered smtp #25 isnt really an SSL )???


(sympatico did tell me never uncheck SSL, and they didnt understand trying to have avast scan emails..., but then again no surprise because they (Bell) are out of control!)

 
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: Charyb-0 on December 04, 2010, 12:32:06 AM
im a little confused now, my present set up, i sent test email from sympatico (thru WLM) to gmail, and the scanner seems to work on it, more test to do though...

are you saying that at present it would be as if im using a totally UNSECURED connection for smtp sympatico (mail client has SSL unchecked, and avast ssl accounts - entered smtp #25 isnt really an SSL )???


(sympatico did tell me never uncheck SSL, and they didnt understand trying to have avast scan emails..., but then again no surprise because they (Bell) are out of control!)

 
No, that's not what the article says. It states that Sympatico is using encryption on a port that is normally used unencrypted. That's why others have had problems scanning outgoing email. Others seemed to have problems using port 25 and SSL with Avast not being able to scan. There is a solution and that is to use smtp port 587 and TLS in the Avast SSL accounts. That's all. It doesn't seem like the correct way of doing things with port 25 in both locations. That's why I think you should change it to port 587 and TLS in Avast SSL accounts. Then test it's operation. I think it will work just fine this way. Go back to reply #19 and give it a try. I'm going to be gone for the rest of this weekend so I won't be able to reply. Good Luck and I will have a look when I get back. Maybe someone else can help in the meantime. I can't say whether or not if using port 25 in both locations would allow Windows Live Mail to work outside of Avast's protection. It seem like it could be a possibility though. That's why I think you should change it to port 587 and TLS in Avast SSL accounts.

Title: Re: Windows Live Mail config & Avast settings for GMAIL and Sympatico ISP
Post by: balm on December 04, 2010, 01:58:36 AM
 
Quote
I can't say whether or not if using port 25 in both locations would allow Windows Live Mail to work outside of Avast's protection. It seem like it could be a possibility though. That's why I think you should change it to port 587 and TLS in Avast SSL accounts.


thanks for the caution, thats quite disturbing....i thought if it "looks" like the mails are being scanned, then thats good enough, but if something else is actually going on, or is comprimised, or more importantly if this has the effect to remove a secured encrypted (ssl) connection between Avast and my mail server, then thats a different matter...


so ill try using the other port (587) to be sure. thank you
Title: Re: Windows Live Mail configuration & Avast settings for GMAIL account
Post by: Charyb-0 on December 04, 2010, 03:33:40 PM
After some more thought into it, if it was working outside of Avast you would probably receive an error message because your email client is unencrypted and the server is encrypted. Something like "error WLM was unable to communicate with server". I don't know what the exact message would be. In this case the mail would not be sent. If it sends and receives properly and is scanned while doing so then you are probably good to go.

You can also add notes to incoming and outgoing mail showing that they have been scanned by Avast. See attachments. Then you will have no doubts. Good way to advertise for Avast too!