Search  Rules  Login
TheBat English » The Bat! - Configuring the E-mail Client
Pages: 1
RSS
problem sending url through bat 2.00.6 and 3.80.06, Is it posible for bat to be subverted?
 
#1
0  
Hi

I seem to have a problem sending certain emails using the bat and am not sure if this is because of a filter block on the outgoing smtp server, whether it means my versions of the bat 2.00.6 on one machine and 3.80.06 on a second machine (both using the same broadband connection) have been subverted... or whether I am just being an idiot and there is another explanation.

Here's the situation:

If I send email through bat (using smtp server of my service provider) with URL in body text of email:
for example http://www.guardian.co.uk
then the email is delivered ok.

If I then send email through bat (using smtp of my service provider) with URL in body text of email:
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227116.900-radiocontrolled-bullets-leave-no-place-to-hide.html
the email log shows that message is sent but it never arrives.

If I send the same URL through the webmail server from my service provider, it is delivered ok.

If I send the URL through yahoo web mail it is delivered ok.

If I send the URL using the bat, but with the URL in the subject line instead of the body of the email, it is delivered okay.

The problem only seems to arise when certain URL links are included in the body of the email and sent using the bat through the UK post office smtp server.

If I log into the post office webmail service and use their browser based email client, the mails are delivered okay.

The issue only arises using the bat and with these two URLs (so far):

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20227116.900-radiocontrolled-bullets-leave-no-place-to-hide.html

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2009/05/22/preventive_detention/

If anyone can give me an idea of what the issue might be (other than the need for a tinfoil hat and a dose of serious paranoia), I would be very grateful.

Thanks.

karl
 
 
 
#2
0  
weird problem, it's possible that something in these links triggers a spam filter on sending or receiving side.
Use a service like TinyURL
 
 
 
#3
0  
"it's possible that something in these links triggers a spam filter on sending or receiving side."

Thanks for the suggestion. That's what I initially thought. I'm not using a spam filter so asked the post office people if they had some filter/blocker in place and they effectively said they didn't know what I was talking about.

I'm sending through an outgoing smtp server from myself to myself. Emails go out through the post office server and the bat log shows that the connection is made and the message is sent without error.

Incoming pop3 server does not register that the emails have arrived when attempting to download to local machine or checking via the browser interface... the emails just vanish.

To test the incoming email pop3 server, I logged into that companies web interface and sent the same url using their outgoing mail server, the email was then delivered through their incoming pops sever immediately.

Same thing with yahoo interface and servers.

I've spent ages trying different combinations...
e.g.
send test email without URL = delivered ok
send test email with URL = vanish
send test email with 'neutral' url = delivered ok
resend test email with 'interesting' url = vanish

Try sending using other servers / webmail browser interface works fine.

It would be one thing if it happened consistently, what I find weird is that it is happening to specific URL types and only when I'm sending the mail through the bat.

Contacted the post office support people and the 1st level support people say they haven't a clue what I'm talking about. If I log into their browser mail interface, the mails with the urls are delivered, they are not delivered when using the bat and sending out through their smtp server.

I've tried disabling software firewall, virus scanner, other security software, but it does not make any difference.

If it carries on like this, I'll probably end up restoring to a 'pristine' disk image and trying from again from there... really don't want the hassle of reinstalling everything, but hey, so it goes.

Cheers

Karl
 
 
 
#4
0  
it is unlikely the problem to be in theBat. Try sending the same vanishing message through the same smtp, but with Outlook Express. If the same happens, the problem is outside your PC.
Also logon to webmail and check if vanished messages are in the trash/spam/bulk folder - if yes, the problem is a spam filter on received messages.

But if the problem is with some specific URL's only, disguise them with tinyurl and if then they pass through don't waste more time
 
 
 
#5
0  
Mails were not trapped in the spam/bulk folder.

But if the problem is with some specific URL's only, disguise them with tinyurl and if then they pass through don't waste more time

Excellent thinking. Thanks.

Mainly I was just vexed with the idea that there might be a filter/blocker in place. As you say, if there is a way around it, then that is the way to go.

Perhaps it is time to think about encrypting general emails just as a matter of course.

Any thoughts on GnuPG?
GnuPG

Cheers.
 
 
 
Pages: 1