Hi Brandy,

> SMTP connection refused--Verizon

This is one of two problems.
1) Your ISP (verizon) is preventing your connection to port 25 on 3rd
party systems.
2) You don't have the correct authentication information; any or all
of: server, user name, password

If it's Verizon blocking it (quite common, most broadband providers
block SMTP service to third parties by default) you'll have to opt out
of that "feature". AFTER opting out you MUST disconnect, restart your
DSL modem, and reconnect. If you fail to do that the 'opt out' will not
occur.


> I was going to reset my computer to a previous setting
> earlier in the week--I had specifically made a restore
> point....

Aaaacccckkkkkkkkk! Don't do that. Avoid using restore points - in fact,
the restore service should be disabled; "system restore" is the most
abused target of trojan malware. Once the malware infects your system
restore it is near impossible to remove from the computer, since it has
more control than you do in the native windows environment.


> ...I had no problems with dialup, but the same problem
> with everything else when connected by Verizon. It calls
> for the password which is never accepted.

This looks like the DSL port 25 filtering problem of "problem one". You
should be able to opt out through your Verizon support system, I can't
find the correct page because it prevents anyone that is not directly
connected to their service from being able to search their help. :(

After you've logged in here:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/verizon/
Search for "opt out port 25"
It will probably bring you to a page that looks like you would be
reporting someone that is abusing your system or service - BUT there is
an option in the dropdown near the middle of the page to "** opt out
port 25". That's what you need to use.

After you've submitted the form it takes about an hour for them to
change records on their end. Then you need to disconnect, reboot your
DSL modem and reconnect. Then you can send/receive fine using port 25.


If that doesn't work for some of your providers, see if the provider has
an option to use an 'alternate SMTP port' - each hosting provider will
provide one or more of these, usually 587 or 10025. You'll have to
contact the specific provider to find out what ports they offer.


> PS. The e-mail cloaking scripts you helped me with
> are working great. Thanks again.

Cool! I updated that article a week ago or so, making the code portions
stand out better and provided an example of how easy it is to extract
addresses from many of the other common encoding methods:
http://reliableanswers.com/js/mailme.asp

Regards,

Shawn K. Hall
http://12PointDesign.com/