This article applies to Web Hosting and Custom Email accounts only.

 When a contact sends you a message with an attachment, the message may be rejected with the following message:

Message is rejected by content filter. The message is rejected because it is likely to contain a virus.

This will occur even if the message does not contain a virus.

Intermedia POP/IMAP spam filters block certain attachment types because those attachment types often contain viruses. The current list of blocked attachment types is:

File extension       File type
.ade Microsoft Access project extension
.adp Microsoft Access project
.bas Microsoft Visual Basic class module
.bat Batch file
.chm Compiled HTML Help file
.cmd Microsoft Windows NT Command script
.cpl Control Panel extension
.crt Security certificate
.exe Program
.hlp Help file
.hta HTML program
.inf Setup Information
.ins Internet Naming Service
.isp Internet Communication settings
.js JScript file
.jse Jscript Encoded Script file
.lnk Shortcut
.mde Microsoft Access MDE database
.msc Microsoft Common Console document
.msi Microsoft Windows Installer package
.msp Microsoft Windows Installer patch
.mst Microsoft Visual Test source files
.pcd Photo CD image, Microsoft Visual compiled script
.pif Shortcut to MS-DOS program
.reg Registration entries
.scr Screen saver
.sct Windows Script Component
.shs Shell Scrap object
.shb Shell Scrap object
.vb VBScript file
.vbe VBScript Encoded script file
.vbs VBScript file
.wsc Windows Script Component
.wsf Windows Script file
.wsh Windows Script Host Settings file
.docm Microsoft Word macro-enabled file

The content of the following archived files are also being checked by antivirus:

File extension      

There are two ways around this problem:

  1. Ask your senders to rename the attachments. You can then save them to your hard drive and rename them back.
  2. Upgrade to SpamStopper, then uncheck the Reject messages with dangerous attachments option at HostPilot > Mail Server > SpamStopper page. This is not recommended because you will receive all virus attachments with no filtration.


  • Despite the attachment filtering, it is still possible to receive viruses in your mailbox. For example, many newer viruses are sent in encrypted (password-protected) .zip files, to prevent content and virus filters from detecting them. Even a virus filter can not filter these viruses, because it does not "know" the password to the .zip file. Therefore, you should keep an updated virus scanner on your computer, and should be very careful about opening attachments. If you decide to open an attachment, save it to your hard drive and have your virus scanner check it before opening.