Author Topic: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?  (Read 11299 times)

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birka1

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I have Avast Free 6.0.1367, and was wondering if the Mail Shield scans my Online  E-Mail Accounts like Yahoo (main account - from server ISP Rogers POP/SMTP), and GMail, Hotmail etc.  Have Outlook and if I download there it shows if inbound/outbound message clean. I does not show anything  if clean or not on the Online Accounts. Does Avast Free scan it with no message, or is there a setting for this or not.  Have Windows 7 Home Premium SP1. Have all the shields active.  Kind of uncertain about this function..........Would appreciate any help regarding this in case I'm not protected as I should be. Not having any problems so far, but not knowing is making me nervous....

Offline DavidR

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2012, 06:43:23 PM »
If you view your email through a browser then NO the Mail Shield doesn't monitor/scan that traffic.

The web shield which monitors browser http traffic should, but if you use https connections to browse your email then it is a secure, encrypted protocol and avast can't scan it. That is the whole point of https, secure encrypted traffic to keep prying eyes out.
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Offline CraigB

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2012, 06:44:20 PM »
The email shield is used for scanning mail that would come into your system via an email client such as Thuderbird or windows live mail etc, with online email provider it is the web and network shield that are protecting you.

ady4um

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2012, 06:45:12 PM »
When you access an email account using a web interface, Mail Shield is not scanning it.

When you access the same email account using your email client, Mail Shield can be configured to scan it.

It is not about gmail, ymail, hotmail or whatever. It is about which protocol you use to access the email account. Web interface -> http. Email client -> pop3 + smtp / imap.

Hermite15

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2012, 06:47:59 PM »
I think he's got it guys :D

Offline CraigB

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2012, 06:51:31 PM »
I think he's got it guys :D
" She's " got it  ;)

Offline DavidR

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2012, 06:52:57 PM »
I think he's got it guys :D

Are you sure ;D
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Offline Pondus

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2012, 06:54:19 PM »
I think he's got it guys :D
naaa....me post also    ;D



Quote
in case I'm not protected as I should be. Not having any problems so far, but not knowing is making me nervous....
all your mail accounts are already protected.....even if avast dont scan it


Microsoft protect all msn/hotmail/live mail accounts with Trend Micro
Yahoo use Norton
Gmail use Authentium and McAfee


Hermite15

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birka1

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #9 on: January 30, 2012, 07:31:10 PM »
If you view your email through a browser then NO the Mail Shield doesn't monitor/scan that traffic.

The web shield which monitors browser http traffic should, but if you use https connections to browse your email then it is a secure, encrypted protocol and avast can't scan it. That is the whole point of https, secure encrypted traffic to keep prying eyes out.

I checked the Yahoo email site with FF Page Info, and it uses http:, but states it is not encrypted, so what does this mean? Also if I want to download Macaffe it tells me to get rid of Avast.  So am I protected or not   ??

Hermite15

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #10 on: January 30, 2012, 07:38:07 PM »
If you view your email through a browser then NO the Mail Shield doesn't monitor/scan that traffic.

The web shield which monitors browser http traffic should, but if you use https connections to browse your email then it is a secure, encrypted protocol and avast can't scan it. That is the whole point of https, secure encrypted traffic to keep prying eyes out.

I checked the Yahoo email site with FF Page Info, and it uses http:, but states it is not encrypted, so what does this mean? Also if I want to download Macaffe it tells me to get rid of Avast.  So am I protected or not   ??

it means that the web shield will be able to scan yahoo mails pages like any other page as long they're not encrypted, so you're fine. As to McAffee, forget it, don't even attempt to install an AV when you already got one, this will bring a lot of mess. Either stick to Avast, or uninstall it first and then try something else if you want, but honestly, you're better off with Avast ;)

ps: to be clear, this McAfee message is meant to avoid AVs conflicts, nothing else. So yes with Avast installed, your system is safe.

birka1

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #11 on: January 30, 2012, 08:53:38 PM »
If you view your email through a browser then NO the Mail Shield doesn't monitor/scan that traffic.

The web shield which monitors browser http traffic should, but if you use https connections to browse your email then it is a secure, encrypted protocol and avast can't scan it. That is the whole point of https, secure encrypted traffic to keep prying eyes out.

I checked the Yahoo email site with FF Page Info, and it uses http:, but states it is not encrypted, so what does this mean? Also if I want to download Macaffe it tells me to get rid of Avast.  So am I protected or not   ??

it means that the web shield will be able to scan yahoo mails pages like any other page as long they're not encrypted, so you're fine. As to McAffee, forget it, don't even attempt to install an AV when you already got one, this will bring a lot of mess. Either stick to Avast, or uninstall it first and then try something else if you want, but honestly, you're better off with Avast ;)

ps: to be clear, this McAfee message is meant to avoid AVs conflicts, nothing else. So yes with Avast installed, your system is safe.
Thanks for replying. I do not want to get rid of Avast (have used it a long time, and really like what it can do), and also know that 2 AV's is like you say asking for trouble so not the thing to do.  So if I understand you correctly the Web Shield scans my yahoo mails pages, but gives no indication of clean/not clean like in an email client like I have like Outlook, and the system is safe, which was what I wanted to know. Again thanks for all the replies to my query  :)

Offline DavidR

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #12 on: January 30, 2012, 09:30:03 PM »
You're welcome.

Whilst it may not give a direct indication that it is clean, the web shield is very good om http protection. And you will know for sure if there is something wrong if it alerts.
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birka1

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #13 on: January 30, 2012, 09:54:17 PM »
I  spoke too soon. Called my ISP and asked them and they told me to  go to the Sign In Page which is https: with Strong Encryption.  So if nobody has my password they say it's safe.  How should I set the SSL accounts since when I'm signed in it shows as http: not encrypted, or does it matter?

 Attachment of the encryped info on Sign In page.

« Last Edit: January 30, 2012, 09:56:12 PM by birka1 »

Offline Pondus

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Re: Mail Shield Avast Free 6.0.1367 - Does it scan Online email accounts ?
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2012, 10:07:39 PM »
The SSL settings is only if you use a mail client, like outlook / outlook express / thunderbird etc

avast! 6.x: Some e-mails are not scanned by the Mail Shield
http://support.avast.com/index.php?_m=knowledgebase&_a=viewarticle&kbarticleid=842&nav=0



when you use web mail there are no settings.....you just logg inn
« Last Edit: January 30, 2012, 10:10:09 PM by Pondus »