Pop3 timeout for one account

[DanB]

A user account under one domain has been able to check the pop account without any problems, however yesterday they started receiving time-out messages when they try to check their mail.

The can log into webmail without problem.

The maillog shows their connection then shows "SOCKET CLOSED"

I've tried 3 different PCs on different ISPs to eliminate any connection issues.

Other users on this domain can check POP mail ok.

The permissions on the users mail file look ok.

The account is setup as unlimited and has 50 messages waiting in it (less than 3mb).

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Dan

 

[jmstacey]

If everything looks fine on the server and this user is the only one, its most likely a connection problem on his side with his isp. If it started all of a sudden it could be some problems with the users isp possibly.

 

[DanB]

Nope, am getting the same problem on a different computer on a differnt IP using this same account

 

[nobaloney]

Took me all day thinking about this... I've seen it before, but it didn't connect until right now...

Some (malicious) spam and virus engines are creating emails with a bad subject field which result in emails which can't be downloaded.

It may be fixed in the new version of pop, but don't add that until the problem with pop before smtp is fixed or your users won't be able to send mail through your server.

In the meantime you need to go into the account via webmail, and delete all the mail with weird "subject" field. That's what worked for us.

Otherwise delete all obvious spam and/or viruses.

Then you should be able to download the email.

For what it's worth, we've seen it only with Outlook and Outlook Express though others have seen the problem with other email clients as well.

Jeff