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1. I haven't reinstalled Office yet, do you think it would change things if I use Microsoft Outlook as opposed to Express? (Although I seem to remember that SSL has always been necessary)
Well, not sure if that would change anything... Sympatico still use SSL. I don't use MS Outlook, so I can't tell much about it, sorry. All I know is that if you start using MS Outlook, you will also have to enable
OUTLOOK/EXCHANGE provider in avast! On-Access Scanner settings. In case you will not use Outlook Express any more, you'll not need your INTERNET MAIL provider running any more, so you can disable it completely.
2. I'm surprised that other sympatico users are not screaming about this; have you heard of any issue with this before?
I've heard about similar issues with some other providers, but have no clue what's happening with Sympatico. I never liked them anyway, and was more of a Rogers cable kind of lover
. But when Rogers cable stopped acting as good ISP, I simply fortgot about them all, and switched to another ISP called Securenet.net with headquarters in Montreal. Old company I worked for as computer technician got me a good deal with this ISP because they have huge contract with them, and all our customers were (are) on Securenet. It's ADSL, high speed of course, and I never ever had any single problem with them... and I'm talking about last 2 and half years.
3. Do you know of any scanning software that can be used in conjunction with Avast for my email, in the event Bell can't help? (Although new to Avast, so far I like it)
Well, I am not that familiar with another software because as I mentioned there is no need on my end to use one... the only account I have that use SSL is GMAIL, but I check that account through WEB access, not through my Outlook Express, and their web access already got some good anti-virus and anti-spam protection. There are some programs that can help you have your outbound (SSL) checked by avast!, but as far as I've heard, there is quite some stuff to be configured in order to make it work properly.
I am sure TECH can help you with this one because I remember he wrote about those programs here in this forum some time ago.
Cheers !