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email rejected on VPN
I am using ExpressVPN on my MacBook Pro, running macos 10.13.6 High Sierra. My email client Thunderbird 68.7.0 is no longer able to reliably send email while my VPN is running. Thunderbird puts my ou...
>> The SMTP settings are unchanged - smtp.telus.net, port 587, no connection security.
That is the entire problem in itself. You can only connect to smtp.telus.net without any connection security from a Telus IP. If you're using a VPN, you need to use the secure smtp settings to send. I've had no issues with Thunderbird on MacOS with the correct settings in it.
Server: smtp.telus.net
Port: 1025
Security: STARTTLS <<< Important. If SSL/TLS is selected, you will get a connection error.
The VPN is running when I use webmail, but the outgoing msgs are not rejected then, so it seems it's not the vpn. In any case, I've been using the same VPN for over a year, and the issue only cropped up recently.
With the VPN off, the IP is assigned by Telus, with VPN on, it's assigned by the VPN. Telus is blocking IPs assigned by the VPN. It has done the same thing to me when I was travelling outside Canada, even without the vpn running.
FuzzyLogic
Community Power User
Community Power UserWhen you use Webmail you are connected to the Telus servers for SMTP/IMAP/POP and thus don't have the issue. This is mentioned in the link I sent previously:
Note: Some countries may block these settings. If they are not working in the country you are in, you will have to use webmail.telus.net from any device.
You say you are using port 587 for SMTP. The link I sent says to use port 1025 and SSL. You will need to authenticate when connecting to that port (supply you Telus email credentials).
Setting smtp to port 1025 with SSL as you suggested put Thunderbird into a non-responsive state for about 6 hours. I had to shut down all applications before I could Force Quit Thunderbird, which macos rightly reported was Not Respnding. FYI.
- FuzzyLogic
I found this information for configuring Thunderbird on a PC. Not sure how different it would be on a Mac:
https://www.telus.com/en/bc/support/article/set-up-telus-email-thunderbird-mozilla
It's interesting that the servers are now gmail. I know Telus is moving to gmail but I'm not sure if this is the case for everyone.
- NFtoBC
Further to the comments of FuzzyLogic , when you use your Telus assigned IP address, you are internal to Telus’ network, and can use an unsecured SMTP login on port 465 or 587, however, since your packets on VPN travel outside Telus’ secured network, you need to authenticate as though you were travelling internationally. Thus the link to the mobile device instructions, and port 1024 plus SSL.
