Mail cannot verify server identity on iPad and MacBook Pro

Question

Level 1

14 points

Mail cannot verify server identity on iPad and MacBook Pro

I just started receiving the "cannot verify server identity" message on both my iPad 2 and MacBook Pro. This is happening intermittently and only on my Apple products, not on my Windows computer.

The message I get on the iPad is:

Cannot Verify Server Identity

Mail cannot verify the indentity of "smtpa.midco.net". Would you like to continue anyway?

Cancel

Details

Continue

________________

Usually if I l click Cancel my message gets sent anyway. Today I tried to click Cancel and nothing happened and I couldn't just close out so I clicked Continue.

It appears as if rebooting the iPad corrects the problem for awhile, but then it comes back. Or, that may just be a coincidence because the problem seems intermittent even when I don't reboot.

I called Apple Support for this intermittent problem occurring on the MacBook Pro (because I was in my free support period after having upgraded to Mavericks) and was told the message sounds more scary than it actually is and that I should just click on the option to always trust smtpa.midco.net. That doesn't make a lot of sense to somebody who really only has a rudimentary understanding (if any, really) of what's going on since the message on the MacBook Pro includes the sentence: "You might be connecting to a server that is pretending to be "smtpa.midco.net" which could put your confidential information at risk."

Does anyone have an idea what might be happening here? What to do? Should I try deleting Mail accounts on both Apple products and setting them up again?

I'm kind of freaked out and about to switch back to Windows exclusively if I can't get this figured out.

Also, what are the numbers in parentheses after the version numbers I have posted below?

iPad 2 v. 7.0.3 (11B11)

MacBook Pro

Mavericks OS X 10.9 (13A603)

iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iOS 7.0.3

Posted on Nov 9, 2013 3:28 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 9, 2013 3:32 PM in response to bpgf

If you are connecting through a secure channel (most good email providers do now) then it might be that Midco's server certificate expired. I would report it to them.

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Answer 2

bpgf Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 9, 2013 3:40 PM in response to Alfred DeRose

Wow! That was a quick response. I did call Midco first before going the Apple route. I was told there that it appeared to be an Apple problem and Midco gave me the phone number to call for Apple Support.

I would think if it was really Midco having an expired certificate this error message would occur every single time. It doesn't. It truly is intermittent.

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Answer 3

Nov 9, 2013 3:48 PM in response to bpgf

I can't sleep :-)

First, is the "smtpa.midco.net" a type and you meant "SMTP.midco.net"?

I checked and the certificate is valid. It doesn't expire until September 2017.

Sounds like you might be syncing the email accounts through iTunes. Is this correct? If so, you could be moving whatever issue you have to the iPad from your computer.

Have you noticed if the message happens more or less in a location rather than timing? Could be that the WiFI network uses a proxy. That could be messing with you a bit and your iPad and MBP pick up on it.

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Answer 4

bpgf Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 9, 2013 4:13 PM in response to Alfred DeRose

Hi again. Well, after having this problem for a couple of days on only Apple products it finally occurred on my Windows computer. SO, I called Midco again and found that since my first call to them yesterday more trouble calls have come in to them and work orders are being generated. It looks as if it may be Midco's problem after all. I'm hoping to have this resolved sometime next week.

I'll be back to let you know either that the problem's been resolved or to ask more questions!

By the way, smtpa is not a typo. I think it is what Midco uses for wireless device connections. Also, in answer to your other question: I don't sync email accounts through iTunes.

Thanks for your interest in this.

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Answer 5

Nov 9, 2013 4:15 PM in response to bpgf

That's what I figured. Good luck. Let me know how it goes.

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Answer 6

bpgf Author

Level 1

14 points

Nov 13, 2013 12:12 PM in response to Alfred DeRose

Hello! Well, all I can tell you is that the problem has been resolved. I called Midco today for an update on the work order and was told that the problem, which evidently affected many of their customers, had been taken care of and that they were busy calling folks to let them know that. The tech support person I talked to didn't know what the problem had been, just that it was fixed. Ah, well.

Thanks again for your response to my original post.

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Answer 7

Nov 13, 2013 2:49 PM in response to bpgf

You're welcome. I'm happy to hear it all worked out.

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