User profile for user: Wilbert Hawker
Wilbert Hawker Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Apple Mail "Unable to verify SSL server.mail.comcast.net"

I can't send mail using Apple Mail. Keep getting message "Unable to verify SSL server mail.comcast.net. Turning SSL on or off does not affect message sending ability. "Mail was unable to verify the identity of this server, which has a certificate issued to "mail.comcast.com". The error was:
An SSL error occured while trying to read data from the server "mail.comcast.net". Verify this server suports SSL (it does) and that your account settings are correct (I've checked several times).
You might be connecting to a computer that is pretending to be "mail.comcast.net" and putting your confidential information at risk. Would you like to continue anyway? (i'm connected to Comcast)
Does anyone have a suggestion as to what is happening and what the fix might Be?
I would appreciate any help you might give.
Also, Apple Mail works fine with Comcast on my other internal drive using the same settings with O/S 10.4.6 in Built-in Ethernet . I have done screen shots of settings of both Built-in Ethernet configuations. Also, I have tried deleting the Apple Mail account for Comcast then re-establishing it and settings without success. Re-trying sending only messes up the Comcast Server settings in Apple Mail account.
WH

G4 Mirrored Doors, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Jun 11, 2006 12:39 PM

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33 replies
User profile for user: Jim Mock
Jim Mock
User level: Level 3
536 points

Jun 13, 2006 2:44 PM in response to Wilbert Hawker

I can't send mail using Apple Mail. Keep getting
message "Unable to verify SSL server
mail.comcast.net. Turning SSL on or off does not
affect message sending ability. "Mail was unable to
verify the identity of this server, which has a
certificate issued to "mail.comcast.com". The error
was:


It looks like the certificate doesn't match (mail.comcast.net vs. mail.comcast.com). I just checked the settings for my Comcast account (which I never actually use) and I'm using smtp.comcast.net for the outgoing mail server and mail.comcast.net for incoming.

Good luck.

- jim
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User profile for user: Wilbert Hawker
Wilbert Hawker Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Jun 13, 2006 5:13 PM in response to Jim Mock

Hi Jim:
Thank you for the reply and observation. As many times as I have looked at the error message I had not noticed this inconsistency. I went and checked my Apple Mail account settings and they all are set at 'net' not 'com'. My settings are the same as yours. I don't know how this has developed and don't have a clue as to how to fix the problem. Comcast is of no help. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks again Jim, you have pointed me in the direction to a solution to this frustrating problem.
WH
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User profile for user: Jim Mock
Jim Mock
User level: Level 3
536 points

Jun 13, 2006 5:53 PM in response to Wilbert Hawker

Hi Jim:
Thank you for the reply and observation. As many
times as I have looked at the error message I had
not noticed this inconsistency. I went and checked
my Apple Mail account settings and they all are set
at 'net' not 'com'. My settings are the same as
yours. I don't know how this has developed and
don't have a clue as to how to fix the problem.
Comcast is of no help. Does anyone have any
suggestions?
Thanks again Jim, you have pointed me in the
direction to a solution to this frustrating
problem.


I just tried sending a message from my Comcast account to another email account that I have and didn't get any certificate errors. Like I said before, that's with smtp.comcast.net for the SMTP server and mail.comcast.net for the POP server. One thing I just noticed is that I've got the SMTP port set to port 465 instead of 25 (which Comcast suggests for travelling), but that shouldn't really matter for the issues you're seeing.

I suppose you could try changing mail.comcast.net to mail.comcast.com and see if that works. If nothing else, you shouldn't get the mismatch error on the certificate anymore.
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User profile for user: Wilbert Hawker
Wilbert Hawker Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Jun 13, 2006 7:58 PM in response to Wilbert Hawker

Hi Jim:
Thanks for the suggestions. I tried switching the port to 465 but it didn't work. I also tried mail to mail.comcast.com but that didn't work either. Went back to mail.comcast.net as that is what Comcast recommends in it's FAQ's. It's also what I use on my 'A' drive where all settings are the same as the 'B' drive and the 'A' drive works perfectly. Tried searching with Spotlight to see if 'mail.comcast.com' turns up anywhere—it doesn't. But, I will keep pondering the issue. It's either something simple and overlooked or it's complex and unique.
THanks again
WH
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User profile for user: Ernie Stamper
Ernie Stamper
User level: Level 8
37,591 points

Jun 14, 2006 5:01 AM in response to Wilbert Hawker

Wilbert,

In addition to Duane's comment on correct name, what is your authority as to whether Comcast will accept SSL? Since Comcast has one SMTP to use when at you home connection venue, and another, authenticated one to use when traveling, I have not confirmed whether SSL is supported. See:

http://www.comcast.com/Support/Corp1/FAQ/Faq22400.html

and

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1956315&#1956315

Ernie
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User profile for user: Ernie Stamper
Ernie Stamper
User level: Level 8
37,591 points

Jun 14, 2006 5:42 AM in response to Duane

Duane,

More precise question: the use of SSL is shown in the setup instruction for use of the "traveling" SMTP, but not mentioned for the use of the SMTP for use at home. See:

http://www.comcast.net/help/faq/index.jsp?faq=EmailMail_(Mac)17798

Did you use SSL when Comcast was your ISP, or have you only verified this ability since changing ISPs, and now you would be "traveling"?

If the non-authenticated SMTP is still required when at home, then would SSL work? Not really needed, either, when sending from home, I would think?

Ernie
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User profile for user: Ernie Stamper
Ernie Stamper
User level: Level 8
37,591 points

Jun 14, 2006 7:17 AM in response to Duane

Hi Duane,

If you click on the link below, and then on the one for while traveling, then you will get the originally intended page:

http://www.comcast.com/Support/Corp1/FAQ/Faq22400.html

At that same starting page, you will see there is a different approach (the first link) to the SMTP while connected at the venue where Comcast provides the service. There you supposedly cannot use the authenticated SMTP, and instead the SMTP is authenticated by the IP address of the cable modem. It is there, that I question whether SSL can be used?

Now that your ISP is Verizon, your are in effect "traveling" and thus appropriately using Authentication by Password on the Comcast SMTP

Am I making sense?

Ernie
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User profile for user: Jim Mock
Jim Mock
User level: Level 3
536 points

Jun 14, 2006 7:57 AM in response to Ernie Stamper

At that same starting page, you will see there is a
different approach (the first link) to the SMTP while
connected at the venue where Comcast provides the
service. There you supposedly cannot use the
authenticated SMTP, and instead the SMTP is
authenticated by the IP address of the cable modem.
It is there, that I question whether SSL can be
used?


I've had no problems using SSL and SMTP Auth from home (where I have Comcast service) on port 465. I'm also using POP over SSL (port 995) without problems.

- jim
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User profile for user: R C-R
R C-R
User level: Level 6
17,800 points

Jun 14, 2006 11:20 AM in response to Jim Mock

I also can confirm that the "travel" settings work fine when using my Comcast home ISP connection, plus that the home/travel settings can be used independently for outgoing & incoming servers -- IOW, I can use the "home" outgoing server settings & the "travel" incoming ones or visa versa, as well as the "home" or "travel" ones for both.

The only tricky part is making sure the port numbers & SSL settings match.

For the incoming server (mail.comcast.net) use port 110 if SSL is not checked & port 995 if SSL is checked. For the outgoing server (smtp.comcast.net) use port 25 if SSL is not checked & port 465 if SSL is checked.

The authentication method should be "Password" in all cases except for the outgoing server when SSL is not used, where it should be "None."

FWIW, the SSL settings seem slightly slower in use, so I no longer use them on my iMac, since it doesn't travel & is always connected to the Comcast cable modem.
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