Anyone use outlook express? How do you scan your html mail?

newbie~wan · December 29th, 2001, 07:46 PM

I've come to understand that you can introduce a virus to you comp by as little as checking your e-mail. If you open a message that is formatted in html, an executable could be embedded in it.

Granted I don't receive much html mail because I retain a relatively low profile, I am still somewhat concerned. How do you make sure your mail has no viruses? If you have an anti-virus, is it supposed to do this?

fatal xception · December 29th, 2001, 07:51 PM

If I remember correctly, turn off the auto-preview window.

Also, if you have a firewall and you don't use a web-based e-mail like Hotmail, you can just deny Outlook Express port 80.

Praetorian · December 29th, 2001, 07:52 PM

Its best to keep it off. The virus scanner can only scan known virues and if something new is embedded in the html you're kinda screwed.

Brainchild · December 29th, 2001, 08:06 PM

The ISP may have a virus protection mine has, and has successfuly killed 15 e-mails with viruses in the past 6 months. also, after opening the I love you e-mail,now I open no attachment mailings without an e-mail from that person telling me it coming first. Plus I use AVG Virus protection, its a free download, and scans the system every 24 hours.
Get it here
http://www.grisoft.com/html/us_downl.htm
Check into the isp protection deal
good luck

storm2k · December 29th, 2001, 08:11 PM

this wont' totally help, but also use something like zone alarm. if something tries to maliciously pull something down from the net, zone alarm should catch it.

strangerstill · December 29th, 2001, 08:16 PM

And constantly check windows update for patches.

newbie~wan · December 29th, 2001, 08:32 PM

I've got servicepak 2 and what I think is the most recent win2000 update - I did it yesterday.

No, I do not use web-based e-mail like hotmail. Sygate firewall tells me it only uses port 110 so I think im ok.

How do you turn off the auto-preview window? I was looking around in options and found all sorts of cool stuff, but nothing with that name. Do any of use guys use any of the security settings like encryption?

strangerstill · December 29th, 2001, 08:44 PM

View->Layout...

Also tick everything reasonable in Tools->Options->Security.

**Socalgal** · December 29th, 2001, 08:47 PM

I make sure my OE is in the Restricted Sites Security Zone.

OE, Tools > Options > Security > Restricted Sites zone.

Then, go to Internet Explorer, Tools > Internet Options > Security > Restricted Sites > Custom Level, disable everything in there.

If you do use Preview Pane, to help foil spammers and other ne'er-do-wellers, I've set messages to open in about 20 secs. This gives me time to check out the contents, delete it and then block sender, without ever opening the email.

ZoneAlarm Pro has a customizable email atttachment "MailSafe" feature, with quite a few attachments already listed as defaults. You can check an option to have an alert pop up if an attachment of the type configured is received.