Better Email suddenly stopped - failure state

I have been using gmail smtp settings with no issue, but they suddenly stopped. Stubstituting charter/spectrum smtp settings, it continues to fail.
Reloading - event log

Jan 17, 2020 at 21:33:54
Reloading plugin "Better Email 7.2.9"
Stopping plugin "Better Email 7.2.9" (pid 26015)
Better Email Shutting down Better Email
Stopped plugin "Better Email 7.2.9"
Starting plugin "Better Email 7.2.9" (pid 26021)
Started plugin "Better Email 7.2.9"
Better Email Starting Better Email

Any suggestions?

You'll need to change to debug logging and then try using it again.

loading better-email plug-in with detailed debugging on:

Jan 18, 2020 at 10:59:50
Reloading plugin "Better Email 7.2.9"
Stopping plugin "Better Email 7.2.9" (pid 34844)
Better Email Debug email - outgoing: Stopping device
Better Email Debug email - outgoing: shutting down
Better Email Shutting down Better Email
Stopped plugin "Better Email 7.2.9"
Starting plugin "Better Email 7.2.9" (pid 34854)
Started plugin "Better Email 7.2.9"
Better Email Starting Better Email
Better Email Threaddebug email - outgoing: Device Version is up to date
Better Email Debug email - outgoing: Starting device (smtpAccount)
Better Email Debug email - outgoing: SMTP poll, 0 items in queue

More thoughts: this issue occurred simultaneously (Jan 16) on two computers, and has stopped both better-email as well as indigo native email from sending. At one site, I have inserted charter/spectrum smtp settings for better-email, and left the gmail settings remain for indigo email. It is possible that these are wrong (charter support was not clear as to the right settings for the smtp server - I tried both smtp.charter.net and mobile.charter.net - neither worked).
I received this message from google on Jan 15 - not clear if it was legitimate or spam:

error
Critical security alert
A suspicious app was blocked from accessing your account
bob@smuseby.net
Google prevented someone from signing in to your account using a non-Google app. If this wasn’t you, they know your password and you should change it immediately.

Unrecognized device

January 15, 11:01 AM

Near United States
75.141.196.112 (IP address)
Were you recently prevented from signing in to your Google Account?

I clicked that it was me, and received the following:

Less secure app blocked
Google blocked the app you were trying to use because it doesn't meet our security standards.
Some apps and devices use less secure sign-in technology, which makes your account more vulnerable. You can turn off access for these apps, which we recommend, or turn on access if you want to use them despite the risks. Google will automatically turn this setting OFF if it's not being used.
Learn more

On my google accounts page, I have enabled access for less secure apps, but indigo emails continue to fail.
Update: after about 10 minutes, the dam broke: it seems the issue was the google less secure app setting. I guess google doesn't like indigo.
Issue seems to be resolved for now.
OK with me to delete this chain.

That's why I recommend not using Gmail as your Indigo email provider.

can't disagree.
can't get the spectrum/charter settings to work
Maybe dreamhost?

My primary email provider is RackSpace. I also use GMX as a secondary server for plugin testing and a few other things.

I have tried to set up both Charter and Dreamhost, and both have failed. Dreamhost has confirmed that I used the correct settings.
Any suggestions?

I have tried to set up both Charter and Dreamhost, and both have failed. Dreamhost has confirmed that I used the correct settings.
Any suggestions?

Try GMX.

Using the following gmx settings, I still get a 'failure' status. Maybe it takes time to become available?
from address: mrux@gmx.com
SMTP server: smtp.gmx.com
Encryption: SSL
Port 465
Login: mrux@gmx.com
Password (for above login)

or is it something else?
Never heard of GMX. Is this a way to avoid snooping of my email traffic?

Using the following gmx settings, I still get a 'failure' status. Maybe it takes time to become available?
from address: mrux@gmx.com
SMTP server: smtp.gmx.com
Encryption: SSL
Port 465
Login: mrux@gmx.com
Password (for above login)

Those look like what I'm using. How long ago did you set up the account? Have you tested sending mail to it any other way? Have you looked at their webmail app to see if you're getting anything?

What do you get in the Better Email log when it gives the failure status?

Never heard of GMX. Is this a way to avoid snooping of my email traffic?

I'm not sure what you mean. It's a free email provider. It's a division of 1&1 Hosting, which is a big European hosting company, based in Germany.

Gmx email send and receive both work.
SMTP Set up 2-3 hours ago.
Maybe working tomorrow.

Still not working. Something is “protecting” me.

I repeat: What do you get in the Better Email log when it gives the failure status?

Turn on debug logging, then restart the plugin. Post log.

Sorry - thought I had already posted the event log.

Jan 23, 2020 at 3:41:24 PM
Indigo Cocoa client connected
Better Email Debug logLevel = 5
Reloading plugin "Better Email 7.2.4"
Stopping plugin "Better Email 7.2.4" (pid 34082)
Better Email Debug better email: Stopping device
Better Email Debug better email: shutting down
Better Email Shutting down Better Email
Stopped plugin "Better Email 7.2.4"
Starting plugin "Better Email 7.2.4" (pid 39138)
Better Email Debug logLevel = 5
Started plugin "Better Email 7.2.4"
Better Email Starting Better Email
Better Email Threaddebug better email: Device Version is up to date
Better Email Debug better email: Starting device (smtpAccount)
Better Email Debug better email: SMTP poll, 0 items in queue

Current isp setting is for gmx.