It happened again and this is the response from my hosting server.

Thank you for contacting Support. Reviewing logs on the server against times when your IP was blocked, it appears to be related to SMTP syntax errors. Here's an example of the one of the log entries

2024-04-10 06:40:59.381 [2938868] SMTP syntax error in "\026\003\003?\257\001??\253\003\003f\026l\273\3772\275\024vZ!\035\021\265\247\300'\371\237\217\300\224\344\227\302p\211y\177\254U}??*\300,\300+\3000\300/?\237?\236\300$\300#\300(\300'\300" H=[172.56.69.99]:58735 I=[209.182.196.85]:587 NUL character(s) present (shown as '?') 2024-04-10 06:40:59.381 [2938868] SMTP syntax error in "\300 \300\024\300\023?\235?\234?=?

Unfortunately it would be difficult to determine what is causing this, but it would indicate a problem with data being sent by your mail client. It could be related to configuration settings in your mail client or invalid or unrecognized characters or symbols in a recipient email address, email subject, or email body. We would advise reviewing your mail client settings, email addresses you are sending to, and/or anything that may be frequently sent (it could potentially be something included in an email signature even).

Your problem's solution is likely beyond me, but if you post a screenshot of your SMTP settings, someone here may have suggestions. THank you.

Account name alan@wood-r-us.com Email address alan@wood-r-us.com Outgoing Server alan@wood-r-us.com~ecbiz320.inmotionhosting.com (Default)

Server name ecbiz320.inmotionhosting.com Port 464 Default 465 Connection security SSL/TLS No Authentication

Server type POP mail server Server name ecbiz320.inmotionhosting.com port 995 default 995 Connection security SSL/TLS Authentication Method Normal password Local directory C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\ujo7tfib.default\Mail\secure175.inmotionhosting.com

Have you tried setting SMTP server to normal password? are you using port 464 or 465?

I am using Port 465 the other was a typo I changed it to normal password Thanks for your help

Account name alan@wood-r-us.com Email address alan@wood-r-us.com Outgoing Server alan@wood-r-us.com~ecbiz320.inmotionhosting.com (Default)

Server name ecbiz320.inmotionhosting.com Port 465 Default 465 Connection security SSL/TLS No Authentication

Server type POP mail server Server name ecbiz320.inmotionhosting.com port 995 default 995 Connection security SSL/TLS Authentication Method Normal password Local directory C:\Users\Alan\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\ujo7tfib.default\Mail\secure175.inmotionhosting.com

I'm pleased that it worked. :)

Unfortunately the way it was, would work for about a month, so I wont really know it that fixed it until about a month passes. But at least that was something to hope for. Thanks,

I think you have it David.

A commercial provider that is not on "on premises" that does not require a password or use internal network authorizations for SMTP will be about as common as Martian on the side of the road with a hand sign advertising free rides to the moon. There are still a couple of providers out there that have no password on SMTP, but require authentication via POP with a password from the same address in the last few minutes to allow a send. But any account configured with password none is almost certainly incorrectly configured. There are exceptions, but not many and not common use cases.

In the case of inmotion hosting, they certainly require authentication.

   Incoming Server: secure##.inmotionhosting.com.
   Outgoing Server: secure##.inmotionhosting.com.
   Username: Your full e-mail address.
   Password: Your e-mail account password.
   Incoming Port: POP3 995 or IMAP 993.
   Outgoing Mail server (SMTP) Port: 465.
   SSL: YES.
   SMTP Authentication Required.

Open relays basically died a horrible death in the 1990s thanks to their use in SPAM and general abuse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_mail_relay

Thank you David I added the normal password setting several days ago. I have noticed that my junk mail is much less. I had my hosting company check for syntax errors since that was what kept getting me blocked. I just got the reply that I don't have any syntax errors. I believe you have found the solution to my problem that has been going on for about 8 months. Thank you so much! Alan

You are very welcome. We're always glad to assist.