24 replies to this topic

[gin_jammer]

After putting AVG into Passive Mode and a Restart, Thunderbird appeared to work normally.  I restored AVG protection, and Thunderbird appears to be back to normal.  Other than turning AVG protection off briefly, I have no idea what happened.

[Tomk]

I can't tell you exactly what happened, but I've read where the email component of AVG has caused problems with Thunderbird in the past... specifically in regards to IMAP rather than POP.  Why is to technical for me.  Basically, as I understand it, the security program stops the email client from accessing the server.  It seems to think it's a security risk.  I've seen where people sometimes reinstall their Thunderbird and it starts working.  I've seen where some people have had to disable the AVG component (I think maybe it's called Mail Shield) in order to get it to work.  And I've seen rare occasions where recycling restores things.  Sounds like you are one of the lucky ones.

 

Please note that things like this can happen with most of the security software.  Not just AVG.  Norton is notorious for breaking things.  It just so happens that there have been many issues, specifically, between Thunderbird and AVG.  Both sides have worked diligently to correct the issues (rather than just ignore the problem as happens with some vendors) but still sometimes programs just seem to forget how to communicate.

 

I'm glad you got it sorted.

[Ztruker]

Great fix T. I would never have thought about AV.

 

Now that you have a fix gin_jammer, i uninstalled Thunderbird. I don't like having multiple E-mail programs on my PC. To easy to goof. Glad all is well.

[gin_jammer]

I definitely spoke too soon.

 

Shortly after recovering the use of Thunderbird by temporarily putting AVG into Passive Mode, I found Thunderbird was again failing.  Attempts to contact AVG about the problem led me to realize that I was using their Free version, which is not well supported.  However, the AVG Community did make me aware that the “email portion” of AVG can be disabled separately.

 

With the AVG Free "email shield" disabled, I found that Thunderbird appears to function normally.  I have no idea of how much more vulnerable to attack my system is when operating thusly...but that's how I'm operating for now...

 

Thanks much for all the help!

Edited by gin_jammer, 28 February 2019 - 08:00 PM.

[Ztruker]

Dump AVG, switch to Microcosmic Security Essentials That's all I ever used when I ran Win 7, as I now only use Windows Defender with Win 10. I did use Malwarebytes Anti Malware Premium in both cases as well.

[Tomk]

While AVG was once my favorite AV... I became disillusioned with it years ago. Then Avast! was my favorite.  Again I became less than impressed as it also began to hog more resources.  Now I'm like Rich.  Every since I started using Windows 7... I've only used MSE with Malwarebytes AntiMalware Premium.  I find that combo very effective and conflicts with other programs is extremely rare.

 

 

With the AVG Free "email shield" disabled, I found that Thunderbird appears to function normally.  I have no idea of how much more vulnerable to attack my system is when operating thusly...but that's how I'm operating for now...

 

The quick version of the story is that email shield scans attachments found in emails.  Without it, you might open an attachment that is infected..and thus infect your system.  If you practice safe computing and don't open attachments that your not sure of... your increased risk is pretty negligible.

[gin_jammer]

I will definitely investigate Microcosmic Security Essentials and Malwarebytes AntiMalware Premium as I've never heard of them.

 

Is "Microcosmic" by any chance "Microsoft" misspelled?

 

Are there any free AV programs that either of you would recommend?

Edited by gin_jammer, 01 March 2019 - 06:52 AM.

[Tomk]

Yes.  It is actually Microsoft... and it is free.

 

Malwarebytes has a free version, but it doesn't offer real time protection after the trial period is over.  That means you have to manually do a scan rather than it just working in the background on its own.

Microsoft Security Essentials

Malwarebytes

[gin_jammer]

I investigated Microsoft Security Essentials and found that it is free, so despite one reviewer saying MSE was "better than nothing." I downloaded and installed it.  I have thus far noticed no conflict with Thunderbird.  I have uninstalled AVG Free.

 

Thanks for the help!

[Ztruker]

Glad you got this sorted.

 

Question. Do you make regular backups of you hard drive? If not that's another disaster waiting to happen. Not if, when. Buy and external hard drive or add a 2nd internal hard drive if a Desktop then use a program like Macrium Reflect Free to make the backup. You can schedule it to happen on a regular basis, even with the free version.

 

I just went through this with my home web server which sits under my desk and runs 24/7. It stopped running when the 120GB boot drive croaked. I bought a new drive and restored my latest backup and all is well.