Why does my pc download emails when Outllok is not open? 1

[RayMunro]

Can anyone tell me why I get emails downloaded when Outlook 2000 is not even running?

I was a bit concerned that someone had been accessing my pc after work as when I opened Outlook there were already un-read mails waiting. Then I noticed that Norton Antivirus was scanning emails when I first booted up.
In fact as I write this with IE only open I have just seen two more emails get scanned.

I am running XP Pro, have the latest definitions and have just run Symantec's online virus checker which shows no viruses or trojans.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Ray

 

[eyec]

do you have an "always on" connection to the internet?

check your settings in Outlook to see if you have an automatic send/recv set.

 

[RayMunro]

Yes,

I am on a small network connected to broadband via a router.

This has only recently started and I cannot link it to any new program installed.

Ray

 

[eyec]

maybe just a coincidence that you just now noticed it and it has been going on all along.

if you do not want it to recv unattended then change your setting to not automatically revc. that means you will have to click send/recv when you open outlook.

 

[smah]

With Outlook 2K, you can find this setting in Tools, Options, Internet E-mail tab, 'Check my local network connections.....'

 

[RayMunro]

Thanks for the ideas.

I have done what you suggest.

However, it is not that I don't want to recv unattended but that it is looking for e-mails when Outlook has not even been opened. My pc starts looking for mail as soon as it loads up and before I open Outlook. This has not happened before.

About a month ago I had a problem when Outlook did not look for mail when it loaded but the seemed to have solved itself, I did not change anything.

 

[ChrisAC]

My pc starts looking for mail as soon as it loads up and before I open Outlook"

What application is looking for mail? Your "PC" won't be but a mail application will be.

Chris.


**********************
Chris A.C, CCNA, CCSA
**********************

 

[RayMunro]

I think that this is the point I am trying to make.

I do not have ANY mail programs running that I can see.
I have checked msconfig and the start items are: Norton software, copernic desktop, logitec mouse & keyboard and Nvidia display.

I have checked Task Manager but cannot identify anything.

To recap. mail down loads and when I open Outlook it is already in the inbox. All the other pcs on the network are set up identically (by me) and do not have this problem.

Weird Eh?

Ray

 

[PPettit]

Since you're using XP Pro, is it possible that you have fast user switching enabled and that you share the same Outlook setup with another user account on that machine? I've never used this feature but I think fast user switching allows for programs initiated by an account to continue to run even when you switch to a different account. It may be that Outlook is still running under that other user session.

 

[mattjurado]

1. Is Outlook accessing an IMAP (perhaps Exchange) or a POP3 server?
2. Do you have a spam filtering product that might be accessing your mailbox prior to Outlook?

Matt J.

Please always take the time to backup any and all data before performing any actions suggested for ANY problem, regardless of how minor a change it might seem. Also test the backup to make sure it is intact.

 

[RayMunro]

Hi!

Thanks for your replies.

I am the only user on this machine.
Outlook acccesses a pop server.
I have Norton installed and it is this I can see in my task bar checking the incoming mail.

I have opened Task Manager when the mail is downloading and it shows no apps running. Processes show that System Idle is taking 99% and nothing else.

I have thought I might have a virus but every virus scan shows that I do not. I have tried online scans as well.

I have a hardware firewall via my router and Norton Firewall running as well. No trjans show either.

I have been getting about 20 Sober I infected mails every day that seem to be either directed at me or returned to my address. They have all been stopped by my ISP server which checks all mail. I suspect my address has been spoofed.

I really cannot think of any other info other that to say the other pcs on the network do not have this problem.

Any ideas.

Ray

 

[mattjurado]

What version of Norton? It really sounds like some program is fetching mail for you. Perhaps the latest Norton has settings to access your POP server? Again, is it possible you have an antispam product installed?

Matt J.

Please always take the time to backup any and all data before performing any actions suggested for ANY problem, regardless of how minor a change it might seem. Also test the backup to make sure it is intact.

 

[RayMunro]

I have Systemworks 2004 with AV included. I have been using it for some time and before the issue arose. I do not have any spam programs.

Thanks for your ideas,

Ray

 

[RayMunro]

I think I may have solved the problem.

I beleieve the cause is Copernic Desktop.

When I tried to back up my pc it would not copy mailbox.pst saying it was in use by another program.
I closed each of the programs in the system tray one by one and when Copernic was closed I could move the file. Starting it up again stopped the file being moved. So I think this must be it.

Nowhere in Copernic does it say that it downloads your e-mail or can access your internet passwords so I have completely uninstalled it.

Thanks to all of you who tried to help and maybe this is a warning for other users.

Ray

 

[mattjurado]

This program ties into your pst at all times, allowing you to search e-mails. Thus, I can see how mail was being fetched in the background. I knew there was some program that you installed that was fetching mail.

Matt J.

Please always take the time to backup any and all data before performing any actions suggested for ANY problem, regardless of how minor a change it might seem. Also test the backup to make sure it is intact.