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SMTP server POP mail (Comcast.net) stopped working!?

I used to be able to receive (POP3), and send (SMTP) e-mails with OE when I use my laptop at work. But since my company was acquired by another, Outlook Express SMTP server (Send only), Yahoo IM, AOL IM, all stopped working! I can receive e-mails just fine but can not send. Tried many SMTP ports, no help. When I use my work laptop at home (Use my ISP network), it works fine. However, when I connect from home but then run VPN to access work drives, once again SMTP send fails! Is there a way to get around this "blocking" of the SMTP server? Is it possible that this is some Firewall settings that I can not access? A

Public Comments

1. Your company may have blocked SMTP traffic except for their mail servers. It's common practice to lose POP/SMTP mail.. It's unlikely you can get around it. SMTP is generally explicitly allowed on firewalls. Anything that looks like SMTP is dropped unless it is destined for the email server.
2. Classic corporate security. They've set up a firewall policy on their internet access that is locking down all ports except the ones they want used. Blocking IM's, third party SMTP, etc. is solid security policy. They've probably gone so far as to disable all SMTP except their own, and redirected ports on the router to ensure you can't work around it. The firewall isn't on your computer. It's located on the network (typically at the router; sometimes at the server) and, I'm sure, is properly secured, so there's no way you'll be able to legitimately access it.