Author Topic: Email scanning concerns  (Read 2669 times)

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bodah

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Email scanning concerns
« on: August 14, 2005, 06:55:58 PM »
Hi everyone,
I am trying to figure out whether or not the free home edition of Avast will scan my emails or not.
I have tried another similar program (AVG) and it does not work no, due to a change in my ISP service.
I use outlook express 6.
Apparantly, I need a scanner that supports "ssl scanning".
I do not know what that means, or how to tell. I am a total beginner with computers.
I know that my computers server things (when i used to be able to scan normally ) were called Pop6.sympatico.ca and smtp1.sympatico.ca and they are now called Incoming mail- pophm.sympatico.ca
Outgoing mail- smtphm.sympatico.ca


Is there any way to know if it will scan my email without having to download and install it to check>?

Offline Eddy

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Re: Email scanning concerns
« Reply #1 on: August 14, 2005, 07:16:16 PM »
SSL = Secure Socket Layer
It is a way of encrypting data(streams)
There is no av-software that can scan it.
So you need a workaround.
It is possible to have the mail scanned.
This is explained in another thread here.
Please use the search option to find more info.

HERE is one example on how to do it.

bodah

  • Guest
Re: Email scanning concerns
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2005, 07:25:07 PM »
Thanks for your response.
I tried a search, and read the thread on the link you posted.
To be honest, I have no idea what it even means, it is way above my head and really not something I feel comfortable with even trying to mess around with.
I have had too many other major computer mess ups to risk it.
I do not know what else to do, seems I am out of luck.
I will just keep fuming at my ISP and pray to god I do not get infected via email. Although,  I did once before, and my isp took away my account.
*cries*
Thanks for your time.
Angela

Offline Lisandro

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Re: Email scanning concerns
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2005, 07:38:13 PM »
I have had too many other major computer mess ups to risk it.
It's not a risk... although, it's an advanced configuration.
avast mail scanner doesn't support SSL (Secure Socket Layer) connections.
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. Another drivers (OpenSSL) are need as a library of encryption/decryption routines.
The best things in life are free.

Spiritsongs

  • Guest
Re: Email scanning concerns
« Reply #4 on: August 14, 2005, 08:34:52 PM »
 :) Generally speaking, make it a point NOT to click on
     Attachments to an email. And if you receive an email
     from an address you trust that has an Attachment,
     do NOT click on it until you check with the Sender that
     they, personally, sent it to you . There are people out
     there that "steal" email addresses, then send malware
     in an Attachment and the recipient thinks it was from the
     trusted & reliable Sender. And delete Junk Mail as quickly
     as possible .