Forum Discussion
Solved
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.
Sorry. The pop-up error msg from Thunderbird says "The mail server sent an incorrect greeting: mtlp000083 cmsmtp Connection Rejected - see http://wwwspamhaus.org/query/ip/ ( my vpn-assigned ip address). " I went to that web address and it indicated the address is linked to spam. If I change vpn servers, I get the same msg, but with a different ip address assigned to me by the new server. I do not send spam. I contacted ExpressVPN and their workarounds were no help. Their last suggestion was to bypass the vpn when using email, which is not a satisfactory solution. Neither is using Telus webmail, which does not cause me this problem. Why is Telus' email server treating my outgoing mail as spam? Are they trying to force all customers to use webmail?
FuzzyLogic
Community Power User
Community Power UserPlease verify that you are using the correct settings for Telus mail:
https://www.telus.com/en/bc/support/article/set-up-email-iphone-ipad
I don't believe that Telus uses Spamhaus (a blacklisting service) so it would appear to be an issue with your VPN provider. Spamhaus only blocks an IP address for 24 hours unless the address is reported again for spamming.
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
When 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.
I'm not using an iphone or ipad...
- FuzzyLogic
The settings should be the same regardless of the device/client you are using. Confirm the ports, SSL settings and server names.
I'm using IMAP for receiving, and its working fine, so those settings are good - imap.telus.net, SSL/TLS, normal password.
The SMTP settings are unchanged - smtp.telus.net, port 587, no connection security.
Thunderbird says the server is rejecting a connection. That implies the VPN is passing through the connection attempted by Thunderbird.
