avast 4.6 and smtp

[patty]

 can't send e-mail since getting Avast 4.6. What is this about ISP blocking port 25. They say they are not but even with all providers paused I can't send so I don't see how it could be Avast. Can't send with a Norton's AV either with this ISP. If they are blocking how do I stop it so I can send in OE again? Any help would be appreciated.
  Patty

[DavidR]

Do you have both avast and Norton installed on the same system ?
if so this is a recipe for disaster. More on that later after your answers.

I assume that you are able to receive email from that account ?
If your ISP was blocking port 25 (SMTP) it should tell you to use a different port for how to set-up your email account, this is usually port 26 if they are blocking port 25.

What is your OS ?
Is your email account set-up correctly, the smtp server is often different to the pop3 server, e.g. smtp.ispname.com not pop3.ispname.com. Does it require you to log on and or log on securely (if so are these options ticked and user name and password entered, etc.
What error messages are you getting when you try to send the email ?

[patty]

  no I don't have both, just Avast but I know someone with my ISP that had the same problem and had to remove Nortons. My internet account is set up correctly with POP in which works and SMTP for outgoing which doesn't." I get server does not support a SSL connection. Account: blah blah Server blah blah Server response 250 OK Port 25 secure(SSL) server error 250 error numberox800CCC7D." All my settings on my account are correct. When I called my ISP they said it is because Avast as well as almost every other AV out there is not compatible (the offer their own for $6.00 amonth!!!!) But even with providers not running it won't send? They said I have to completely remove Avast?! But then what happens to the 2 viruses in my chest?
   By the way I appreciate the quick response. Thanks. I can't get squat done until this is fixed.

[patty]

 Sorry, OS is XP service pack 2

[DavidR]

I get server does not support a SSL connection. Account: blah blah Server blah blah Server response 250 OK Port 25 secure(SSL) server error 250 error numberox800CCC7D." All my settings on my account are correct.

I would say something isn't correct, are you trying to connect using SSL (secure sockets layer) encrypted email ? - see this link from a google search of the ox800CCC7D error, it is for a different ISP likely but the principal is the same and should help with the explanation and images below - http://www.tiscali.co.uk/help/email/oe_errors_0x800ccc79.html

avast doesn't intercept SSL email, it can't scan encrypted email (that is the whole point of SSL) so it doesn't try. so avast shouldn't effect it.

As the error states the email server at your ISP doesn't support SSL and it would appear you are trying to send secure email using port 25. Check your email accounts in OE, Tools, Accounts and look at the Properties of the one giving the problem. Use the images to ensure SSL (secure anything) isn't enabled and try again.

Viruses in the chest would be removed if you uninstalled avast, but I think the people at the ISP are talking through an orifice south of their navel.

[CharleyO]

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Welcome to the forums, patty.   

I agree with David. It seems your ISP is trying to "persuade" you into buying their other service and $6 a month is rather high. Do you mind telling what ISP you are using? I would like to do some research about it. If you would not like to say, I will understand.   


***

[patty]

 All my settings are correct except that those boxes are checked(requires SSL), but they always were before. Do they need to be? Will my mail not be encrypted if I uncheck them? My provider is Sympatico through Bell Canada. Here in the socialist land of monopolies they are pretty much the only game in town in alot of areas... Thanks for taking the time to help, by the way.

[patty]

  I just tried to uncheck those boxes and I can't send or receive. It tells me my Server does not recognize my address now. Could this be something my ISP has done intentionally to sell their product? If so, is it even possible to get around it no matter how I try?

[DavidR]

All my settings are correct except that those boxes are checked(requires SSL), but they always were before. Do they need to be? Will my mail not be encrypted if I uncheck them? My provider is Sympatico through Bell Canada. Here in the socialist land of monopolies they are pretty much the only game in town in alot of areas... Thanks for taking the time to help, by the way.

If they are insisting that you use SSL then they should support it, however your error message clearly states that the SMTP port 25 doesn't support it, so it is probably the wrong port.

I don't use SSL email so I'm not to familiar about it, but I know a friend (google.com) and a search for 'secure smtp port number' without the quotes returns many hits. In one it mentions port 465 as the SSL SMTP port, perhaps that is what yours should be set to (leaving the options ticked) - http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~rakerman/port-table.html#email-ports

I don't know anything about your ISP or Sympatico, but isn't there a support page or FAQ about setting up your email accounts to use SSS SMTP ?

[patty]

  I'm sorry, I probably wasn't clear. My e-mail worked with these settings including port 25 until I installed avast. My ISP claims that it stops working when anything but approved AVs are used because they are not compatable with their services ( the only supported they say are theirs and mcafee)but the problem is even with providers off I can't send now but I can receive. They are telling me I have to completely remove Avast but I have viruses in my chest that I obviously don't want to release. Right now it seems my choice is Avast with no outlook ex or outlook ex with viruses reinfecting me. Neither of which is an option.....

[DavidR]

That does help, the fact that it worked before. So what AV were you using then ?  if not theirs or McAfee's then it shouldn't have worked according to their compatibility statement.

Well avast monitors the email ports 110, 25 and 143, now if the SMTP port is used for encrypted email avast will try and scan the content of the traffic and since it is encrypted will fail I believe, now I don't know what happens after that.

If Sympatico/ISP were to use port 465 for SSL SMTP traffic in line with standards, then avast wouldn't scan it as it isn't on the monitored email ports. Whilst this doesn't directly help you you could elect not to scan outbound email, unfortunately that would apply to all outbound email traffic.

My ISP claims that it stops working when anything but approved AVs are used because they are not compatable with their services ( the only supported they say are theirs and mcafee)but the problem is even with providers off I can't send now but I can receive.

The fact that with the Internet mail provider terminated yet you couldn't send, kind of blows a hole in their statement about compatibility.

I'm sorry I'm at a loss as to what else to suggest.