Author Topic: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email  (Read 5305 times)

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Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« on: May 06, 2017, 06:47:38 PM »
For unrelated reasons. yesterday I uninstalled avast free antivirus (using avastclear.exe) and reinstalled avast free 17.4.2294. Ever since, avast is blocking incoming email when the email shield is enabled. I have checked my firewall settings (Privatefirewall 7.0) and cannot find any rules denying access. Naturally, I do not want to keep the email shield disabled. Any help troubleshooting the problem would be greatly appreciated. My OS is Windows 8.1 Pro (64 bit).

The problem occurs with all three email clients I am using: Thunderbird, Outlook and gmail. Outgoing messages are not affected. FWIW, Thunderbird produces the following error message: "An error occurred with the POP3 mail server. Mail server pop.telus.net responded:

Offline Asyn

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2017, 07:19:28 PM »
Repair Avast:
1. Control Panel -> Add/Remove programs -> Avast
2. Click on 'Repair'.
3. Follow instructions.
4. Reboot.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2017, 07:56:42 PM »
Thank you for your prompt reply. Unfortunately, I have tried using the Repair tool via Control Panel twice to no avail. I don't know if it is normal but, when using Repair, the final "launch executable" step seemed to take forever (several minutes)  to complete.

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2017, 07:58:47 PM »
Perform a clean installation with the off-line installer.

Offline Asyn

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2017, 08:01:54 PM »
Perform a clean installation with the off-line installer.
1. Download Avast Free Antivirus: https://files.avast.com/iavs9x/avast_free_antivirus_setup_offline.exe
2. Follow instructions: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility (Run this tool for all prior installed Avast versions..!!)
3. Reinstall Avast with the downloaded installer from point 1.
4. Reboot.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2017, 09:37:56 PM »
Thank you both for your suggestions. However, despite a clean uninstall and a fresh reinstall with the offline Avast Free AV setup program, the problem remains. However, I may have identified where the problem is occurring.

If I disable the Mail Shield, the problem disappears. However, the problem also disappears if shut down my firewall, Privatefirewall 7.0. I have double-checked to ensure that all rules relate to avast modules are set to allow traffic. Nevertheless, there appears to be some conflict between the latest version of Avast Free AV and Privatefirewall 7.0. There have been no recent updates to Privatefirewall, so the conflict would appear to have been introduced by the latest version of avast free.

Faced with the choice of disabling the Mail Shield or shutting down my firewall, there really is no choice and I obviously have to disable the Mail Shield. I don't know if you have any further suggestions to resolve the issue.

Offline Asyn

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2017, 09:41:20 PM »
I'd suggest to get rid of PFW, the FW in W8.1 does a good job.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2017, 09:49:12 PM »
If I understand correctly, Windows 8.1 FW only protects for incoming traffic. Arguably, protection from unwanted outgoing traffic is at least as important. e.g. should unknown malware somehow find its way onto your computer.

Offline Asyn

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2017, 09:53:32 PM »
If I understand correctly, Windows 8.1 FW only protects for incoming traffic.
Nope, you're talking about XP/Vista. Since W7 you're good to go with the Windows FW.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0


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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2017, 10:11:24 PM »
Quote
  Naturally, I do not want to keep the email shield disabled   
All mail providers usually have spam/virus filter on the mail server (don't know of any that dont) so they are already checked when you recive it

You may check with your mail provider


Offline Asyn

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #11 on: May 06, 2017, 10:14:58 PM »
Quote
  Naturally, I do not want to keep the email shield disabled   
All mail providers usually have spam/virus filter on the mail server (don't know of any that dont)...
Unfortunately there are many without any or with weak filters.

Edit: So I wouldn't rely on the ISP.
« Last Edit: May 06, 2017, 10:33:30 PM by Asyn »
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #12 on: May 06, 2017, 10:15:51 PM »
Subsequent to my last post, I found this link describing how Windows FW can be set UP to block outgoing traffic? https://www.ghacks.net/2016/05/02/block-all-outbound-traffic-in-windows-firewall/

However, to do so on a selective basis appears to be quite complicated and would require considerable time to determine which programs need rules to allow outgoing permission. The article suggests that third party software, Windows Firewall Control, can simplify matters. There are deficiencies, e.g. it does not sync with Windows FW.

While composing this, I notice that others have posted alternative suggestion for providing outgoing protection with Window FW.Thank you all for your generous assistance. I will explore different solutions and report back when I have settled on one. 

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #13 on: May 06, 2017, 10:17:05 PM »
OK, you're welcome.
W8.1 [x64] - Avast Free AV 23.3.8047.BC [UI.757] - Firefox ESR 102.9 [NS/uBO/PB] - Thunderbird 102.9.1
Avast-Tools: Secure Browser 109.0 - Cleanup 23.1 - SecureLine 5.18 - DriverUpdater 23.1 - CCleaner 6.01
Avast Wissenswertes (Downloads, Anleitungen & Infos): https://forum.avast.com/index.php?topic=60523.0

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Re: Avast Free 17.4.2294 blocking incoming email
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2017, 03:34:48 AM »
I decided to uninstall Privatefirewall 7.0 (after saving its settings should I want to return to it) and am now using Windows 8.1 Firewall, supplemented by BiniSoft's Windows Firewall Control to manage outgoing traffic. I am happy to report than I am no longer experiencing any problems with Avast's Mail Shield.

Once again, thank you everyone who kindly offered suggestions and assistance.