avast e-mail scanner

[whitty]

I downloaded avast home last week for my new computer.  The mail scanner worked the first day and scanned me messages in outlook express, but after that it will no scan incoming or outgoing messages.  I have za firewall, spyware blaster, spybot s&d, and ewido as a standalone scanner.  Any ideas as to why it won't scan wii be welcome.  By the way , the e-mail scanner is set up according to the instructions.

[DavidR]

What error messages are you getting, or post a screenshot of the error.

Does ZA (Pro ?) allow access for ashMaiSv.exe ?
If it is blocked allow it, if it is allowed delete the entry for it and check for email. This will force ZA to ask permission again for ashmaisv.exe (avast email scanner), allow it full access. ZA on occasion seems to forget the permissions even though the list shows it is allowed.

[bob3160]

David you might be on dial-up but you beat me to it....

whitty, welcome to the forum.

[whitty]

I tried what you suggested, but it did not work.  By the way it is za free not pro. 

[DavidR]

Please explain what you found when you checked (e.g. did it already allow access for ashMaiSv.exe ?) and what you did exactly ?

Not that I don't believe you but there was more than one option and we need to know exactly what you did.

I also asked you about what errors you get when trying to send or receive email ?
This could help us to help you.

[whitty]

Sorry I took so long posting back, but I've been out.  I don't get any error messages when I send an e-mail, the scanner will not scan the message or insert clean message note.  I also un-installed and re-installed avast, but that didn't make any difference.  Any other suggestions?

[DavidR]

First you have to establish that they can be scanned, avast can only scan accounts that use standard email protocols and ports, 25, 110, 119 and 143. So if your email doesn't use those ports or protocols they won't be scanned.

What is the domain of the email account, in the server pop3 and smtp details ?
Does your ISP email accounts use SSL/TLS (secure/encrypted) email ?
When you are downloading email does the avast icon rotate ?
In the email headers is there something like this ?

X-Antivirus: avast! (VPS 0629-2, 21/07/2006), Inbound message
X-Antivirus-Status: Clean

[whitty]

Outgoing is port 25, incoming 110. The icon does not  rotate. I am not sure about the others except the headers are not like that.

[whitty]

Sorry, headers are like that I don't know about the ssl/tls.

[DavidR]

If the header information contains those lines then your inbound email is being scanned, so I can't understand why the avast a icon isn't rotating. If you double click the avast icon you should be able to see the avast! On-Access Scanner window, select the Internet Mail provider from the list of providers, there is a Scanned count: and Last scanned: items these should increase and change respectively, do they.

I asked for the server domain info because I want to know what the email is likely to be, if it were sympatico, etc. then the email might be using encryption. This gives me clues to try and help you without it I'm in the dark and guessing. Outlook Express, Tools, Accounts (select one), Properties, Server tab. Now you have the image I posted what are the details ?

Do you use Hotmail/MSN, Yahoo or any other web based email ?
Do you use gmail ?

[whitty]

The mail scanner does not show any mail that it has scanned. The count is 0, the header says pop.net-power.net. Ialso use hatmail.

[bob3160]

Which program are you using to get your email?
Outlook Express  -  Outlook   or something else or,
are you checking your email on-line?

[whitty]

I use outlook express and I check online.

[DavidR]

I can't see how you are getting the avast x-antivirus info in the email headers yet the scanned total reads 0. The total does reset after you reboot.

By your comment, "I use outlook express and I check online" if you use your browser to check your email, that is web based email, avast can't scan hotmail (or web based email because it doesn't use the pop3 protocol).

Yahoo/Hotmail are not pop3 email services (unless you pay for the pop3 service), it is web based (so the Internet Mail provider doesn't directly protect it). Web based email is simply your email being viewed in the same way you browser the internet. The pages (that display your email) are downloaded into your Temporary Internet folder, just like regular web pages and displayed on your browser screen.

The Web Shield and finally Standard Shield will scan your files (as they are downloaded into your Temporary Internet folder) when sensitivity is set to High. You can get round this 'problem' using 3rd party applications to download the Hotmail messages through the pop3 server.

I checked net-power.net but couldn't see any information about how the email accounts should be set-up, but it does seem they are more geared up to using web mail. So the information above would also be applicable. It is only when you use OE to download pop3 email that it will be scanned

[bob3160]

whitty,
Please bear in mind that we aren't sitting in front of your computer.
Unless you tell us precisely what is happening, there isn't any way for us to give you
meaningful advice. We are just guessing and using knowledge from past experiences.