email connection blocked?

[lilyinmd]

Hi, was interested if any ideas about a problem I am having the past couple of days after loading the latest Windows XP patches and also McAfee security software update (Virusscan, firewall, etc.)

Since doing the last update, I'm finding that my mail clients can no longer connect to my email servers, and just time out. This is happening no matter what combination of email client (Outlook, Earthlink Total Access) and mail server I attempt to try.

All the email settings look normal/correct as they were before, and the firewall settings as far as I can tell show that these programs should have full access as previously to connect out to my Internet mail accounts (dialup, POP3 mail, running from a 2003-vintage Dell PC with more than adequate performance specs for this sort of use.) Manually disabling the McAfee programs seems to have no benefit on this problem, have tried that a few times.

Also I can get to my mail through webmail, so don't believe it is anything to do with mailservers themselves being offline or having performance problems.

Any suggestions welcome.

[jmatt]

Maybe this > Control Panel > Internet Options > Connections > Settings > Proxy Server > untick , Use a proxy
server .

Or ,

Your port settings have changed .

Most use 25 , but others can be used , like 25000 .

[snowmonkey]

Try this if you have a copy of McAfee in hand. uninstall the McAfee and try your email application again. Most likely McAfee has mess up your security setting. By the way, Windows XP's Firewall is by far more superior then McAfee Firewall so use that instead of third party software like McAfee.






cheers

[bongsky1169]

i recommend zone alarm unless you can tell me of others. didn't like black ice at all.

[jmatt]

I use Kerio .

http://www.kerio.com/kpf_home.html
Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) is a software agent that builds a barrier between your personal
computer and the Internet. KPF is designed to protect your PC against attacks from both the
Internet, and other computers in the local network.

KPF controls all data flow in both directions from the Internet to your computer and vice
versa, and it can block all attempted communication allowing only what you choose to permit. This makes KPF an ideal solution for notebook computers that freely travel in and out of the corporate network, facing exposure to various risks as they connect from different locations.
Kerio Personal Firewall protects againstinformation theft, modification or destruction
Trojan horse applications spyware
unauthorized access from within the local network
denial of service attacks to applications or services

Available FREE for home use.

For Windows 98, Me, NT, 2000 and XP.
NOTE: Windows 95 is no longer supported due to the termination of its support by its producer.

[beeboy]

Shields Up is a good place to check your firewall and look at brands of firewalls that pass testing.
http://grc.com/lt/scoreboard.htm