Avast update blocking outlook express from connecting to internet

[DavidR]

I have checked avast and the SSL connections is enabled, so i'm not sure if this is what is causing the issue or not (i haven't changed any settings). What exactly do I need to change in outlook/avast settings? I'm a computer beginner so any instructions will need to be very basic!

As per the link posted above ( https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=167819.0 ) I did try to see if outlook had add ins for avast but I couldn't navigate to this section to see if this was the case.

What we really need you to confirm is what email client you are using, you switch between calling it 'Outlook Express 2008', 'outlook express' and 'outlook' ?

Microsoft (MS) Outlook is completely different to Outlook Express and avast treats them differently. The avast plug-in is for MS Outlook only not Outlook Express, which uses just the Mail Shield for email scanning.

[REDACTED]

I have exported and imported the certificate as per the above instructions, however I am still getting the same error message and outlook will still not connect. Any other options/suggestions would be much appreciated!

[Eddy]

It does connect or you would not have gotten the error message from the server.

And please answer DavidR's question.

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Outlook Express 6 is what comes up under program details.

[DavidR]

Outlook Express 6 is what comes up under program details.

There is no add-in for OE6 that is only for MS Outlook, which is why you couldn't find it.

I did try to see if outlook had add ins for avast but I couldn't navigate to this section to see if this was the case.

It is so long ago that I used OE6 it is hard to remember its settings or suggest other things to try.

Looking at part of the error message again "Server Response '-ERR Cannot establish SSL with POP server."

I just wonder if it is literally that avast cant create an SSL connection with a POP server. So I suspect that your account settings in OE6 are set for POP3 connection port 110 and not the secure connection port 995 used by some ISP email servers.

[REDACTED]

yes, in the error message it mentions port 110. So in that case, how do I change/fix the port?

[Eddy]

Port 110 is the default port for email (pop3 and imap)
There is nothing to fix/change since the connection is working fine.

The only thing you have to do is setting up your email client (OE6) correctly:
Here is a example on how to do it:
http://support.real-time.com/windows/email/express_6.html

[REDACTED]

I have gone through these steps provided in the link, and it appears that my outlook settings are already configured correctly. Still not sure why avast is blocking the program from receiving/sending emails.

[Eddy]

Did you also add the certificate as explained on that website ?

And why using a 14(!) year old mail client with all the security flaws it has ?

[DavidR]

Port 110 is the default port for email (pop3 and imap)
There is nothing to fix/change since the connection is working fine.
<snip>

This is I believe where the problem lies, avast is trying to make a secure connection on a port that isn't expecting/accepting a secure connection. Hence the fairly specific error message "Server Response '-ERR Cannot establish SSL with POP server."

It is a very long time since I used OE6 and avast together and at that time there was no direct SSL/TLS scanning or forwarding (redirection). What you were able to do then was uncheck the option in the Mail Shield settings not to try and use SSL/TLS for that account. That was the only was to scan that email account as plain old POP3.

Unfortunately this detailed email account/s settings isn't present since avast versions were able to handle SSL/TLS email.

The only real option I can think of is to uncheck the avastUI > Settings > Active Protection > Mail Shield > Customize > 'Scan SSL connections' option. Even then I don't know if this will stop avast trying to send this by secure connection.

[Eddy]

-ERR Cannot establish SSL with POP server

It means that the connection with the server is established but the email client is not setup (correctly) to use SSL.

Most common causes:
- No ssl selected in the mail client
- None or wrong certificate
- The mail server is not supporting ssl (very rare nowadays)
- The mail provider is using a non-standard port for ssl

[bob3160]

@ scornish89
Have you contacted your Internet service provider and asked them for the proper ports to use

[REDACTED]

Thankyou to everybody who has tried to assist me in solving my problem.

 For now I have unticked the "Scan Inbound Mail" option in the mail shield settings (but leaving the scan SSL connections box ticked), which has allowed me to send and receive emails again. Not ideal, but there does not seem to be any other solution as it appears that the new update of avast is just incompatible with my outlook express.

[bob3160]

Thankyou to everybody who has tried to assist me in solving my problem.

 For now I have unticked the "Scan Inbound Mail" option in the mail shield settings (but leaving the scan SSL connections box ticked), which has allowed me to send and receive emails again. Not ideal, but there does not seem to be any other solution as it appears that the new update of avast is just incompatible with my outlook express.

Sorry but you're incorrect in your assumption.
Solve your problem with your settings and Avast will scan your emails.
Have you contacted your ISP to get the information regarding the ports used

[Eddy]

http://support.real-time.com/windows/email/express_6.html

Did you do as explained on that website ? (not just check your settings)
Did you imported the certificate as explained there ?