I was thrilled with the reply from Tank345 and the clear instructions she gave, which all worked. BUT - concerned about the security of removing the email attachment scanning I contacted my service provider (through whom I also have McAfee supplied) and was told it WAS NOT SAFE to remove this. It took me two days to finally find a way to contact McAfee who told me to uninstall and then reinstall the Security Suite. I can tell you all, IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I told them the Internet is full of complaints about this issue and it wouldn't help but I had to at least try their advice. I just don't know what to do. Purchase a different anti-virus program (the best ones seem to be not compatible with Mozilla) or purchase the expensive Outlook. The former is the cheaper option...........

The person at your "service provider" doesn't know what he is talking about. The AV attachment check when the mail *arrives* is merely one layer of checking - there are more layers.

• If* the AV software works properly and *if* an attachment has a virus, then the AV software will detect the virus when the attachment is opened.

Thank you Wayne. So are you telling me it is okay to de-select the email attachment scanning as described by Tank345? Despite both McAfee and Telecom telling me it isn't? I hope you are right because it made such a difference to the performance of Thunderbird

What is documented at https://wiki.mozilla.org/Thunderbird:Testing:Antivirus_Related_Performance_Issues#McAfee has helped many users. It is an approved workaround according McAfee's technical contact we've been working with on various issues affecting Thunderbird. And if you read it you'll see this is well documented.

Thank you Wayne. I have been reading all Thunderbird support suggestions I could find for over six months I believe I did see this at one time but did not follow the advice so I appreciate the link. Just de-selecting email attachment scanning worked brilliantly but when I saw your comment made in May: "And, did they give a name to or describe this so called scanning that Thunderbird does? Are they talking about scanning when an attachment is downloaded? Or only when attachment is opened?" I interpreted it as meaning there is no such scanning by Thunderbird so it would not be safe. I have since read that indeed there is no such scanning but the link you provided explains that the anti-virus software should identify a virus when opening an attachment even though scanning of email attachments has been de activated (which I have to confess I find quite confusing)

It is the scanning when an attachment is downloaded that is not needed.

Well the support for Thunderbird is fantastic but I have solved all my problems by changing to Postbox - I don't have to de-select attachment scanning and I have not once had any frustrating freezing or the continual lack of response I had in Thunderbird. Considering Postbox has been a copy of Thunderbird I don't know why Thunderbird can't copy whatever it is about Postbox that makes it so quick and easy to use. I would have preferred to stay with Thunderbird and Postbox doesn't really offer much support - but maybe they don't need to.

> [tank345's posting] my internet support technician contacted me regarding the Not-responding problem I was having as a result of Thunderbird v29 clashing with McAfee causing me to have to shut down real-time-scanning in order for Thunderbird to operate properly without locking up.

After re-reading this, this could be *partly* true: 1. True - McAfee, and sometimes other vendors, do not support non-public versions of programs. Thunderbird 29 is (was) beta, and thus not a public release. 2. False - NO, it is not necessary to totally disable real-time-scanning. You should only need to exclude Thunderbird from McAfee's real-time-scanning . This allows McAfee to continue scanning all other programs.

Also, McAfee shouldn't be scanning Thunderbird's profile directory. This is sometimes broken for non-public thunderbird versions. Heck, it's even sometimes broken for public versions - but that's another sad story for McAfee.

(plus, you should disable their retarded attachment scanning)

> [tank345's posting] He [tank345's internet support] explained that Thunderbird has a built-in email scan that can't be disabled and the problem arises because both McAfee and Thunderbird are trying to scan the emails at the same time and the answer is to stop the redundant scanning of emails by McAfee not to shut off real-time scanning.

With all due respect, this is rediculous, absurd, etc. Thunderbird has no built-in email scan.

> I have solved all my problems by changing to Postbox.

Postbox has it's merits. But the postbox version is using base code of Thunderbird that is rougly 3 years old.

> I don't have to de-select attachment scanning and I have not once had any frustrating freezing or the continual lack of response I had in Thunderbird.

What is quick about is that McAfee isn't f***ing with it. This is McAfee's fault and problem, not Thunderbird.

> Considering Postbox has been a copy of Thunderbird I don't know why Thunderbird can't copy whatever it is about Postbox that makes it so quick and easy to use.

Postbox isn't open source code, so we can't uplift their code.

> I would have preferred to stay with Thunderbird and Postbox doesn't really offer much support - but maybe they don't need to.

Postbox had support years ago. What I *read* is they stopped offering support after having financial issues.

Actually having played with the postbox code (the open source part) in the last few weeks. They are actually releasing versions based on Thunderbird ESR. I do not know how they are managing the fork at a code level. But there are a couple of things that are relevant;

• Postbox has no real support, but they want your money.
• McAfee are have apparently been unable to release a product that is stable since the introduction of their new heuristics engine over a year ago.
• The most recent "fix" I have seen in McAfee is to set the scanning level to "programs and documents".

Wayne, Thunderbird wasn't causing any problems 3 years ago so perhaps that says something.

I would gladly get rid of McAfee but as it is a free deal through my service provider I am reluctant to fork out money unnecessarily for another anti-virus however it is an option I am considering. If I were someone who had paid for their McAfee software I would be making the change as soon as it expired.

I have been very grateful for the prompt attention to any problems I have experienced with Thunderbird over the years and for me, customer service is usually my priority over anything else. I haven't been asked to pay anything for Postbox yet. There was no mention when I downloaded it, that it was trial only so perhaps I will receive notification about the cost in the near future. It would still cost me less though than well reputed anti-virus software.

I am intrigued that add-ons and extensions in Postbox are links to Thunderbird.

McAfee is a very complex program. It "detects" various programs that it needs to do special accommodations for, and specific versions of those programs. When any aspect of that process doesn't work, including not doing the "right thing" even when it does properly detect, then bad things happen. As has been repeatedly proved throughout the years.

After many years, antivirus programs are still the number one headache of problems with Thunderbird that are not caused by Thunderbird.

That said, I've read that some of the free packages work nicely, Avast being one.

> I am intrigued that add-ons and extensions in Postbox are links to Thunderbird.

You should not be surprised ... Postbox is a fork of Thunderbird. But supposedly, most addons don't work on Postbox

Thanks Matt. We're stymied for a different reason, which is that the laptop in question belongs to my wife's company and they control the McAfee. Switched to Opera Mail and the problem disappeared. Sorry to lose Thunderbird for her, though -- we've used it for years.

Kevin

Well Postbox served its purpose but it just doesn't compare with Thunderbird. I have finally ditched my free McAfee and purchased Trend anti-virus and come back to Thunderbird. And HURRAH!!! no more problems with freezing or slow processing.

If you have McAfee virus scan and thunderbird is slow and not responding, shut off real time scanning in McAfee when you want to use Thunderbird and then turn on real time scanning when you're finished. This solution has worked perfectly for me. I hope this also helps others.