WINDOWS MAIL HAS BEEN BLOCKED

[Guest]

Hallo all

OS Vista home premium
McAfee Security Centre installed

I am unable to send Emails in Windows Mail. I get the following error
message.-

“McAfee has blocked a program sending email message from your computer.
This activity might indicate that a worm is on your computer.
Details:
Name: C:\Program Files\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe
Description: Windows Mail “

Also in the message window

“The host 'smtp.talktalk.net' could not be found. Please verify that you
have entered the server name correctly.
Subject 'Re: ProblemsLoggingIn (Routing Code: C826-L003-Q110-T0295-S999)
QID35 (KMM28307323V76162L0KM) :ke1', Account: 'mail.talktalk.net', Server:
'smtp.talktalk.net', Protocol: SMTP, Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error:
11001, Error Number: 0x800CCC0D

The host 'mail.talktalk.net' could not be found. Please verify that you have
entered the server name correctly.
Account: 'mail.talktalk.net', Server: 'mail.talktalk.net', Protocol: POP3,
Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 11001, Error Number: 0x800CCC0D

0 of 2 tasks has been completed successfullyâ€

I have scanned my computer with Spybot and McAfee free scan and only a
couple of cookies were detected and removed but the block remains. There is
a link I could click which would enable me to remove the block but without
being sure of what I am doing I am afraid to do so.
The following may be relevant
I was unable to
successfully install SonyEricsson (mobile phone) PC suite on my computer.
After a number of failures I thought that McAfee programs (securityCenter)
might be the cause so ,(after disconnecting from the internet) I disabled the
SecurityCenter and then uninstalled and reinstalled the SonyEricsson program.
This time the installation was successful. However, while exploring the
functionality of the program the connection between the phone and computer
dropped and I was unable to restore it. So I decided to repeat the procedure
of reinstalling the program which had worked before.
This time during the installation procedure I was asked if I wanted to
install SonyEricsson Vista Compatible network adapters. That struck me as
odd because I had not been asked that question before. However, I probably
foolishly agreed. Not only does the SonyEricsson suite not work but McAfee
now reports that I may have a worm in my computer , that a program is trying
to send email messages from my computer and as a result (McAfee) has put a
block on Windows Mail. I can still receive Emails but I can’t send any.
I am now wondering if clicking that link to supposedly install network
adapters permitted a virus (worm) to get into my computer. Come to think of
it though I wasn’t connected to the internet during the installation period
so where could the virus if there is one come from?
The scanning which I have carried out has not found any evidence of a virus
but can I be sure of that? What steps should I now be taking to protect my
identity?
Any advice would be very welcome.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Hallo all

OS Vista home premium
McAfee Security Centre installed

I am unable to send Emails in Windows Mail. I get the following error
message.-

"McAfee has blocked a program sending email message from your computer.
This activity might indicate that a worm is on your computer.
Details:
Name: C:\Program Files\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe
Description: Windows Mail "

Also in the message window

"The host 'smtp.talktalk.net' could not be found. Please verify that you
have entered the server name correctly.
Subject 'Re: ProblemsLoggingIn (Routing Code: C826-L003-Q110-T0295-S999)
QID35 (KMM28307323V76162L0KM) :ke1', Account: 'mail.talktalk.net',
Server:
'smtp.talktalk.net', Protocol: SMTP, Port: 25, Secure(SSL): No, Socket
Error:
11001, Error Number: 0x800CCC0D

The host 'mail.talktalk.net' could not be found. Please verify that you
have
entered the server name correctly.
Account: 'mail.talktalk.net', Server: 'mail.talktalk.net', Protocol: POP3,
Port: 110, Secure(SSL): No, Socket Error: 11001, Error Number: 0x800CCC0D

0 of 2 tasks has been completed successfully"

I have scanned my computer with Spybot and McAfee free scan and only a
couple of cookies were detected and removed but the block remains. There
is
a link I could click which would enable me to remove the block but without
being sure of what I am doing I am afraid to do so.
The following may be relevant
I was unable to
successfully install SonyEricsson (mobile phone) PC suite on my computer.
After a number of failures I thought that McAfee programs (securityCenter)
might be the cause so ,(after disconnecting from the internet) I disabled
the
SecurityCenter and then uninstalled and reinstalled the SonyEricsson
program.
This time the installation was successful. However, while exploring the
functionality of the program the connection between the phone and computer
dropped and I was unable to restore it. So I decided to repeat the
procedure
of reinstalling the program which had worked before.
This time during the installation procedure I was asked if I wanted to
install SonyEricsson Vista Compatible network adapters. That struck me as
odd because I had not been asked that question before. However, I
probably
foolishly agreed. Not only does the SonyEricsson suite not work but
McAfee
now reports that I may have a worm in my computer , that a program is
trying
to send email messages from my computer and as a result (McAfee) has put a
block on Windows Mail. I can still receive Emails but I can't send any.
I am now wondering if clicking that link to supposedly install network
adapters permitted a virus (worm) to get into my computer. Come to think
of
it though I wasn't connected to the internet during the installation
period
so where could the virus if there is one come from?
The scanning which I have carried out has not found any evidence of a
virus
but can I be sure of that? What steps should I now be taking to protect
my
identity?
Any advice would be very welcome.

Uninstall McAfee.
Do NOT replace it with Norton.
Install Avast 4 from www.avast.com

 

[Guest]

Frank

I know where you are coming from. I’ve experienced problems with both
Norton & McAfee in the past and would like to follow your advice. I am
hesitant to do so, however, for the simple reason that when I purchased this
computer a few months ago it came with the McAfee Security Centre including
VirusScan, Firewall, Spamkiller & Privacy Service installed with 3 years
updates included in the price I paid for the computer.
Windows Defender is turned off , it won’t update, I can’t turn it on and I
am frequently receiving Security Alerts from Windows Security Centre. I
believe that McAfee is causing this problem. There is probably a conflict
between Windows Defender and McAfee Security Centre. Yet I still hesitate to
scrap it, but I may do.

Frank, McAfee said it had blocked a program sending email messages from my
computer. It gave details which I presume is of the program it had blocked.
Name: C:\Program Files\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe. Isn’t that my Email
program (Windows Mail)? If so has it wrongly identified it as a worm!? It
is not completely blocked for it will still receive incoming mail.

Frank, I know it may not be possible to give a definitive answer but I would
value your opinion.

Would you advise me not to click the allow button against the WinMail.exe
program?

I scanned the computer with SpyBot , McAfee VirusScan , & McAfee FreeScan
and only found a few cookies which were deleted. I tried to scan with
“Smitfraudfix†but the program would not run. It is probably not compatible
with Vista. Is there anything more I can/should do?
Would it be reasonable to assume that my computer is not infected?
Many Thanks

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Frank

I know where you are coming from. I've experienced problems with both
Norton & McAfee in the past and would like to follow your advice. I am
hesitant to do so, however, for the simple reason that when I purchased
this
computer a few months ago it came with the McAfee Security Centre
including
VirusScan, Firewall, Spamkiller & Privacy Service installed with 3 years
updates included in the price I paid for the computer.
Windows Defender is turned off , it won't update, I can't turn it on and I
am frequently receiving Security Alerts from Windows Security Centre. I
believe that McAfee is causing this problem. There is probably a
conflict
between Windows Defender and McAfee Security Centre. Yet I still hesitate
to
scrap it, but I may do.

Frank, McAfee said it had blocked a program sending email messages from my
computer. It gave details which I presume is of the program it had
blocked.
Name: C:\Program Files\Windows Mail\WinMail.exe. Isn't that my Email
program (Windows Mail)?
Yes.

If so has it wrongly identified it as a worm!? It
is not completely blocked for it will still receive incoming mail.

Frank, I know it may not be possible to give a definitive answer but I
would
value your opinion.

Would you advise me not to click the allow button against the WinMail.exe
program?

As long as the otion in Tools | Options | Security that says "Warn me if
other applications try to send mail as me" is checked you should not let
McAfee block WinMail. Actually, Uninstall McAfee!

I scanned the computer with SpyBot , McAfee VirusScan , & McAfee FreeScan
and only found a few cookies which were deleted. I tried to scan with
"Smitfraudfix" but the program would not run. It is probably not
compatible
with Vista. Is there anything more I can/should do?
Would it be reasonable to assume that my computer is not infected?
Many Thanks

Avast! is a good anti-virus.
The Windows Firewall in Vista is plenty good enough.
McAfee and Norton are disasters for WinMail and many other email programs.
They're not very good for Vista, either (or WinXP, for that matter).

 

[Guest]

OK Frank. I hear what you are saying but deleting McAfee at this point will
not remove any virus/worm that may be in my computer will it? My pressing
issue at present is knowing whether my computer is infected or not and what
to do about it if it is.

 

[Julian]

OK Frank. I hear what you are saying but deleting McAfee at this point
will
not remove any virus/worm that may be in my computer will it? My pressing
issue at present is knowing whether my computer is infected or not and
what
to do about it if it is.

Just install a compatible AV like either of these two free options
Avast or AVG

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

OK Frank. I hear what you are saying but deleting McAfee at this point
will
not remove any virus/worm that may be in my computer will it? My pressing
issue at present is knowing whether my computer is infected or not and
what
to do about it if it is.

Do a thorough check for malware following all of the steps at one of these
sites:
Help with malware
All MS-MVP Sites.
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/darnit.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
For quite a few people it's by installing Messenger Plus, whose ads for
malware don't identify the malware as such and try to convince you that you
owe it to the author. See also:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971
Don't ever do a "default" install of anything. Always choose Custom and see
what else is being carried along. Don't install any extras you're not sure
of.