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AOL Port 25 FAQ

To help deter the sending of spam from AOL's network, we have begun blocking outgoing connections on port 25.

• What is port 25?
• As an email provider, how will this affect us?
• I have email with a third party company, what does this mean to me?
• Why is AOL making these changes?
• How does blocking port 25 reduce spam?
• How can I check my 3rd party email client settings?

1. What is port 25?

   This is the default port used by an email client to connect an email server. This is also the default port to send email.

2. As an email provider, how will this affect us?
   

   Members of America Online will not be able to connect to 3rd party mail servers using port 25. If your email client currently connects to your mail servers on port 25 and you are using AOL as your Internet connection this will affect you.
   *Note AOL members using the AOL client will not be affected.

3. I have email with a third party company, what does this mean to me?
   

   If you are currently using a third party email client such as Outlook, you can check your setup to see if this will affect you. If your SMTP server settings are set up to use port 25, we recommend changing them to use port 587. This is the default port for authenticated email. You may need to contact your email provider for information on connecting to their email server via port 587.

4. Why is AOL making these changes?

   AOL plays an active role in the fight against spam. These changes will help AOL continue being a leader in preventing spam, both in to and originating from our service. We also hope this will prompt other email providers to follow AOL's lead and help make these changes an industry standard.

5. How does blocking port 25 reduce spam?
   
   
   • This will help prevent virus-infected computers from sending unsolicited email.
   • Many viruses use Port 25 to propagate themselves and to spam other users.
   • Port 25 is setup without authentication (using a username and password) by default.
   • Open relays often send out from port 25.
   
   
6. How can I check my 3rd party email client settings?
   * locate your email client in the list below:

   Outlook Express

   1. Open Outlook Express.
   2. From the Outlook Express Tools menu, click Accounts
   3. Click the Mail tab
   4. Select your email account
   5. In the Properties dialog box, click the Servers tab
   6. Click the Advanced tab
   7. View the Outgoing mail (SMTP) Port

   Outlook 2000

   1. Open Outlook 2000
   2. Click the Tools menu and then click Accounts
   3. Select your email account
   4. Click Properties
   5. In the Properties dialog box, click the Servers tab
   6. Click the Advanced tab
   7. View the Outgoing mail (SMTP) Port

   Outlook 2002/03

   1. Open Outlook 2002/03
   2. On the Tools menu, click E-mail Accounts
   3. Click View or change existing e-mail accounts
   4. Select your email account
   5. Click Change
   6. Click More Settings
   7. Click the Advanced tab
   8. View the Outgoing mail (SMTP) Port

   Entourage

   1. Open Entourage
   2. On the Tools menu, click Accounts.
   3. Select your email account
   4. Click Edit
   5. On the Account Settings tab, in the Sending Mail section, click “Click here for advanced sending options.”
   6. View the Outgoing mail (SMTP) Port

   Eudora

   1. Open Eudora
   2. Open Eudora
   3. Scroll down in the navigation pane and click Ports.
   4. View the Outgoing mail (SMTP) Port

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

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