FAQ

The Personal E-mail Scanner is a plug-in which scans incoming/outgoing e-mails automatically. You can use it with E-mail clients that do not have their own plug-in in AVG. So you can use it for example with Outlook Express, Mozilla, Incredimail, etc. If you have chosen the Personal E-mail Scanner to install during the AVG installation, there are automatic servers created for e-mail control - one for checking incoming e-mails and the second one for checking outgoing e-mails. Using these two servers e-mails are automatically checked on ports 110 and 25 (standard ports for sending/receiving e-mails).

Personal E-mail Scanner works as an interface between e-mail client and e-mail servers on the Internet.

• Incoming mail:
  E-mail client sends request to Personal E-mail Scanner to get mail, it receives message from the server, tests it for viruses, removes infected attachments and adds certification. Then the message is passed to the e-mail client.
• Outgoing mail:
  Message is sent from e-mail client to Personal E-mail Scanner; it tests the message and its attachments for viruses and then sends the message to the SMTP server.

Note: Scanning of outgoing e-mails is disabled by default. An infected file cannot be sent in an e-mail (from this computer), as it would be automatically blocked by the Resident Shield.
The scanning of outgoing e-mail can be enabled in Personal E-mail Scanner settings.

If, after the Personal E-mail Scanner installation, there are no automatic servers created (you can check it here: AVG Control Center->E-mail Scanner->Properties->Personal E-mail Scanner->Properties->Servers tab), you can try to create them manually this way:

• Click on Add->Server type->POP3 - protocol for receiving e-mail messages->Connection->choose Automatic on the right side of the screen and click on OK
• Click on Add->Server type->SMTP - protocol for sending e-mail messages->Connection->choose Automatic on the right side of the screen and click on OK

This way is the Personal E-mail Scanner able to check all e-mails sent/received on ports 110/25 automatically (default ports for receiving/sending e-mails).
If you have problems to create automatic servers manually, please contact our technical support.

In some unique cases you have to create servers in the Personal E-mail Scanner manually. The typical case is when you are using secure communication (SSL). In this case you have to create servers in the Personal E-mail Scanner this way:

(AVG Control Center->E-mail Scanner->Properties->Personal E-mail Scanner->Properties->Servers tab)

• click on Add->Server type->POP3 - protocol for receiving e-mail messages->Connection->choose Fixedhost on the right side of the screen and type here name of your original POP3 server->choose port number (5200 recommended)->enable the secure communication in the Connection dialogue and click on OK
• click on Add->Server type->SMTP - protocol for sending e-mail messages->Connection->choose Fixed host on the right side of the screen and type here name of your original SMTP server->choose port number (5100 recommended)->enable the secure communication in the Connection dialogue and click on OK
• Then you have to to set up the account in your e-mail client this way:
• server for incoming e-mails: 127.0.0.1, port number as configured in the Personal E-mail Scanner
• server for outgoing e-mails: 127.0.0.1, port number as configured in the Personal E-mail Scanner
• disable secure communication in your client

If you have problems to create automatic servers manually, please contact our technical support.

We have tested the latest version of the MailWasher program. There is no problem with the AVG E-mail scanner. Any problems would be with incorrect MailWasher settings. Please open the MailWasher program -> Tools -> Accounts -> select the account -> Properties -> switch to Bouncing and outgoing mail ->SMTP server address -> Advanced account options -> Outgoing SMTP server -> enable My SMTP server requires authentication

You do not have to change anything in AVG. Only check settings of the E-mail Scanner component in the AVG Control Center. Open the AVG Control Center, double-click on the E-mail Scanner button, select the Personal E-mail Scanner and click on Properties button. You should see this in the list of servers:

If you don’t have the Personal E-mail Scanner installed, you have to install it first:

• download the latest AVG 7 installation file on web site Downloads-Programs
• run this file and choose the Add/remove components
• install just the Personal E-mail Scanner, remove the others

If these servers weren’t created automatically and you can see some other server here, please follow these steps to create automatic servers:

• open the AVG Control Center->E-mail Scanner->Properties->Personal E-mail Scanner-> Properties->Servers tab->delete all the servers here
• click on "Add"->"Server type"->POP3 - protocol for receiving e-mail messages-> "Connection"->choose "Automatic" on the right side of the screen and click on "OK"
• click on "Add"->"Server type"->SMTP - protocol for sending e-mail messages-> "Connection"->choose "Automatic" on the right side of the screen and click on "OK"

It’s assumed that your e-mail account settings in Outlook Express are all correct. Please right-click on the Mailbox Filter icon in the system tray and choose “Exit”. Now you can run Outlook Express program. Click on “Tools” menu and select “Accounts”. Check the settings of POP3 server in all your accounts. The “MAILBOX.FILTER.PROGRAM” must not be selected as the POP3 server (original settings have to be here). Then close Outlook Express and run Mailbox Filter program.
In Mailbox Filter window click on “Program Options” and select “E-mail Accounts”.
Delete all the e-mail accounts here (click on “Account menu” and select “Delete this E-mail account”). After this you can click on “Account menu” and select “Import e-mail account information”. When it asks you to “Link”, click on “OK”. Choose “Next”, “Search now”, “Next”, select all e-mail addresses from e-mail client you are using and click “OK”. Now click on the “Look up” button. Now Outlook Express will start automatically. Click “Send and receive” here and close Outlook Express. Close the Mailbox filter window. Click “OK”.

You may experience difficulties sending emails after the installation of AVG and the Personal E-mail Scanner plug-in. In addition, there may be other reasons why emails were returned erroneously to the sender that are unrelated to AVG (for example: failed authentication of the SMTP server, Internet connection difficulties, termination of a dial-up Internet connection by Outlook Express, etc.).

Disabling the outgoing email scanner may solve these problems or, at the very least, help determine if AVG is causing the difficulty.

• Launch the AVG Control Center (by double-clicking on the AVG icon in the system tray)
• Double-click on the E-mail Scanner component
• Choose Personal E-mail Scanner from the list of installed plug-ins
• Click on the Properties button
• Click on the Servers tab, select the SMTP email server and click on Modify button
• Disable the Activate this server and use for sending/receiving e-mail option in the new window dialog
• Apply the new settings by clicking the OK button.
  

Note that the security of your computer is not compromised by disabling scanning of outgoing email. The incoming e-mail scanning is still active and protecting your computer.

With reference to ChoiceMail:
If you want to have incoming e-mails tested (before they are sent to ChoiceMail), you should use the Personal E-mail Scanner with manual configuration.

1/ How to configure AVG Personal E-mail Scanner

• open AVG Control Center
• double-click on E-mail Scanner component
• from the installed plug-ins drop down menu select Personal E-mail Scanner
• click on the Properties button
• switch to the Servers tab
• double click on POP3 server
• change connection to user/computer
• change local port to 10110
• confirm changes (OK button)

2/ How to configure ChoiceMail

• open ChoiceMail
• go to Options menu -> Configuration
• Click on E-mail Account settings
• change POP3 source user name to <user>/<server>
• <user> = user name, the same as was in this field before
• <server> = POP3 server name, the same as is now in field "POP3 source host"
• change POP3 source host to 127.0.0.1
• check the option "Specify POP3 connection port" and change the number 110 to 10110.
• click Test button to test the new settings
• click on the OK button to save the changes

Now all your incoming e-mail will be tested by the AVG Personal E-mail Scanner and should be received OK.

If you are using a POP3/SMTP based e-mail client and there is a problem with e-mail delivering, or you need to disable the Personal E-mail Scanner for any another reason, follow these steps:
Open the AVG Control Center program -> double-click on the "E-mail scanner" component -> select "Personal E-mail Scanner" in the "Installed plugins" list. Now click on the "Disable plugin" button. After you do this, no communication on ports 110 or 25 will be scanned by the AVG Personal E-mail Scanner. When you need to re-activate it, open the AVG Control Center program -> select the "E-mail scanner" tab by one left click -> click on the "Activate" button on the bottom of the AVG Control Center window.

To set up AVG Anti-Virus protection for e-mails on your Gmail account, please follow these steps:

Settings in Outlook Express:
1. Run Outlook Express->Tools->Accounts->Properties->Servers tab:
- POP3 server: 127.0.0.1
- SMTP server: 127.0.0.1
- enable the last option: My server requires authentication
2. Tools->Accounts->Properties->Advanced tab:
- disable the "This server requires a secure connection (SSL)" option both for POP3 and SMTP server
- Outgoing mail (SMTP): 5100
- Incoming mail (POP3): 5200

Settings in AVG Personal E-mail Scanner:
Run AVG Control Center->E-mail Scanner->Properties->Personal E-mail Scanner->Properties->Servers tab:
click on Add->Server type->POP3 - protocol for receiving e-mail messages->Connection->choose Fixed host on the right side of the screen and type here name of your original POP3 server (pop.gmail.com) ->choose port number (5200)->enable the secure communication in the Connection dialogue (Secure to dedicated port (TLS)) and click on OK button

click on Add->Server type->SMTP - protocol for sending e-mail messages->Connection->choose Fixed host on the right side of the screen and type here name of your original SMTP server (smtp.gmail.com) ->choose port number (5100)->enable the secure communication in the Connection dialogue (Secure to dedicated port (TLS)) and click on OK button
- save all these settings

Please try to send/receive e-mails using your Gmail account.

We have encountered some problems with the AVG Personal e-mail scanner (EMS) when Norton Anti-Virus or Norton Anti-Spam is installed together with the AVG. If you have Norton Anti-Virus or Norton Anti-Spam installed on your computer, please uninstall it as it is not possible to use both applications at one particular computer (it works the same way and therefore it is in a conflict). You might need to reboot your computer to get your e-mail account functional after the uninstallation.

The latest version of Webroot Spy Sweeper contains also email scanner that can be in conflict with AVG Personal Email Scanner component. If you want to use AVG Personal Email Scanner together with installed Webroot Spy Sweeper on your computer, please deactivate email scanner in Spy Sweeper this way:

Start Webroot Spy Sweeper -> select "Shields" button -> select "Email attachments" tab -> uncheck "E-Mail Attachments" option.

Please note that all other functions of Webroot Spy Sweeper will be available.

In case you have changed Dial-Up connection to Broadband, it is required to change also the AVG configuration to be able to send/receive e-mails properly.
You can set this the following way:

- open AVG Control Center
- double-click the E-mail Scanner component
- Select the "Personal e-mail scanner" in the Installed Plugins section (it is also a simple check - it is not used on your computer if it is not listed here)
- click on the Properties button
- click on the Edit button next to the Network Connection information and change it to your currect connection
- confirm settings with OK

You should be able to send/receive e-mails using your new Internet connection now.

Also, please note that it is needed to change the configuration of the Update Manager as well in this case as well.
Please do the following:
- open AVG Control Center
- right-click the Update Manager component > Settings
- on the tab "Dial-Up" untick the very first option "Use Dial-Up connections"
- confirm settings with OK

Warning: In case the new (broadband) connection is done using DSL modem, which is connected via USB interface directly to your computer, it is needed to keep the original dial-up settings, with connection profile obtained from the connection settings in your operating system.

In case of any issue or question please feel free to contact our technical support.