Is this normal? Emails cannot be sent without disabling Norton email scanning

  • Thread starter Thread starter ambermcenturff.crosstimbersarch
  • Start date Start date
A

ambermcenturff.crosstimbersarch

Hello,

We've recently signed up for NetFirms web hosting, and the email will
not work unless I disable Norton Email Scanning. When Norton is
active, I get an error message when I send emails from my NetFirms
account. The solution according to both NetFirms and Norton is the
disable Email Scanning.


My question is, is this a pretty common thing with web hosts?


Thanks,
Amber
 
Hello,
Click to expand...

'ello. I just answered you in alt.www.webmaster, and wondered why you
posted your query there. This is probably the better group for your
question. So I will copy my answer here:
We've recently signed up for NetFirms web hosting, and the email will
not work unless I disable Norton Email Scanning. When Norton is
active, I get an error message when I send emails from my NetFirms
account. The solution according to both NetFirms and Norton is the
disable Email Scanning.
Click to expand...

There is no reason to be scanning your Incoming and Outgoing mail. As
long as you have your a-v software running real-time, it will still
prevent you from executing a virus you received (if in its database).

And all modern viruses use their own SMTP engines, so scanning Outbound
is usually pointless as well.
My question is, is this a pretty common thing with web hosts?
Click to expand...

If they use secure servers (SSL), yes. I've seen reports in my ISP's
newsgroups that Norton (and McAfee too) have problems with SSL, probably
because non-standard ports are used.

Please don't multi-post; cross-post only if necessary.
http://oakroadsystems.com/genl/unice.htm#xpost
 
Thanks a lot for the input. Yeah, I posted in webmaster first, then I
found anti-virus searching for similar topics and thought it was a
better match, so I put it here as well.
 
I have made a bit of progress, learning that it's NOT a problem in
Outlook Express. I've been trying to get this office to switch to
Express because of all the hell I went through with Outlook at an old
job. I'm the only one who uses the calendar feature of Outlook, so it
would be an easy transition. Yippee!

BTS, NetFirms says they have Shared SSL Encryption, with Dedicated SSL
Available. NetFirms told me today that there is no reason on their end
that the email shouldn't work, and that I should check with Outlook and
Symantec for solutions. So long as Express continues to work with
email scanning, I am happy with that solution.

Additionally, I appreciate your input regarding the need for email
scanning. All the research I had done suggests the same as you said -
that as long as the computer is protected in other ways, we would be
fine. My boss and her husband are VERY hard to convince about things
like that. It was like pulling teeth to convince them that having a
website with a hosting company wouldn't cause the office to
spontaneously combust. I have entertained suggesting a new anti-virus
program, but after a huge ordeal regarding choosing a web host, I know
it's nearly impossible to get them away from the big, well-known names.


The other day, they were having trouble getting live update to work,
and they called an on-site tech support company to come out. He looked
up the solution on Symantec's site, did the steps, and left. I
could've done that! They are very paranoid about their computers, so I
try to be sensitive and work around it whenever possible. And now I
run live update all the time so I can address any issues myself before
they get on my computer!
 
Amber said:
I have made a bit of progress, learning that it's NOT a problem in
Outlook Express.
Click to expand...
[snip]

I had the same trouble once.

It turned out to be a definitions update glitch and was resolved with the
next update.
 
Amber said:
I have made a bit of progress, learning that it's NOT a problem in
Outlook Express. I've been trying to get this office to switch to
Express because of all the hell I went through with Outlook at an old
job. I'm the only one who uses the calendar feature of Outlook, so
it would be an easy transition. Yippee!
Click to expand...

Why not update everyone to SeaMonkey, and use its browser, email, and
BTS, NetFirms says they have Shared SSL Encryption, with Dedicated
SSL Available. NetFirms told me today that there is no reason on
their end that the email shouldn't work, and that I should check with
Outlook and Symantec for solutions. So long as Express continues to
work with email scanning, I am happy with that solution.
Click to expand...

I've seen a lot of postings, especially in my local ISP newsgroups, that
Office/Outlook users need to make sure their version is fully patched
(Microsoft patches). Can't find the link at the MS site at the moment.
Additionally, I appreciate your input regarding the need for email
scanning. All the research I had done suggests the same as you said -

The other day, they were having trouble getting live update to work,
Click to expand...

Heh, there's a clue.
 
Amber said:
Because my boss would shit a brick at the suggestion. You should've
seen her face when I mentioned the switch to Outlook Express.
"Noooooooo, not chaaaaange!!!" I'll be choosy with my battles for
now!
Click to expand...

Reall bosses who *know* how to be bosses always rely on subordinates to
fill in for stuff they themselves don't know.

Give me her email address!
 
Reall bosses who *know* how to be bosses always rely on subordinates to
fill in for stuff they themselves don't know.

Give me her email address!
Click to expand...

Oh, I would argue more if I were more confident in my own knowledge.
It's way more than hers but still a small percentage of those who
*really* know what's going on. She's an old school architect. :-)
Can't fault her. She just recently caught onto computerized CAD
drawings instead of hand drawings.

I'm guessing it's an Outlook problem more than a Norton problem.
*cringes* But again, I'm content if Outlook Express continues to be a
solution.

Thanks again for all the input.
 
Beauregard T. Shagnasty said:
(e-mail address removed) wrote:
Click to expand...
There is no reason to be scanning your Incoming and Outgoing mail. As
long as you have your a-v software running real-time, it will still
prevent you from executing a virus you received (if in its database).
Click to expand...
And all modern viruses use their own SMTP engines, so scanning Outbound
is usually pointless as well.
Click to expand...

I have a question regarding this (and apologies for replying to
a week-old post).

Shouldn't an outbound SMTP scanner be looking at all outgoing
traffic to SMTP ports and/or using SMTP protocols? Why would
it matter if the virus has its own "SMTP engine"?

Or is the functionality I'm looking for only implemented in
firewalls?

Steve
 
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