Topic: Email Programs
How to use Outlook Express safely
I use OE - I have a couple dozen pop email accounts that I monitor and it works best for me. BUT I make it safe thru these steps:
1. Tools > Options > Read tab > check the box for Read All Messages in Plain Text. This prevents html from showing up at all and prevents viruses from auto-executing when I open an email. Since I don't subscribe to a bunch of html newsletters and I prefer lists that use only plain text, this works great for me. None of that hot pink text on a yellow background. :) (Note that this feature is only available in the last version of OE, 6.00.28 - you must upgrade if you see anything less than that. But it's a good idea to upgrade anyway, get the latest and most secure version of OE and IE.)
2. Tools > Options > Security tab > select Restricted Sites zone. This helps protect you from some of the hazards of OE's integration with IE.
3. I use Avast's home edition anti-virus program which is free and automatically checks for updates at various times when I'm online in the background. It integrates with OE as well, running all incoming and outgoing mail thru it and alerts me when there's a virus in an email, flagging the subject line with a warning.
4. I have filters (message rules in OE) set up to automatically delete anything Avast flags as a virus. I also have filters set to put any email with an attachemtn OR that's over 30k in size into a folder labeled "ATTACHMENTS". When I look at that folder, I know to be careful, scan subject lines and if I don't recognize it, then I right click on the subject and select Properties, then click on the Details tab and then on the Message Source button to view the message safely without being infected by the virus. (I do this with spam too, that way any tracking html or images they have in the spam message don't phone home to the spammer.)
5. Tools > Options > Maintenance tab, select Empty Messages from the Deleted Items Folder on Exit. This dumps all viruses (and spam too) everytime I close OE so it's completely gone.
All of this is mostly automated and doesn't disrupt my use of OE or require any time from me on a regular basis. Avast catches most viruses and they go straight to trash which gets dumped at least daily. Occasionally a virus turns up in the ATTACHMENTS folder but since I scan subject lines carefully there and use the Properties option to view the messages, I see the virus safely and then delete it.
It does require paying attention and using the tools given, but OE can be run safely. If these kind of precautions are more hassle than OE is worth, then I recommend using another email program, Eudora, Thunderbird, most any email program other than OE will be safer than OE.
For Outlook users, you can follow some of these steps, I think #1 is only available in recent versions of Outlook tho and I'm not sure if Outlook has ever had #2. Avast however will integrate with Outlook as well and scan all email for viruses (it also works with virtually any pop email program). Steps #4 and #5 can be done in Outlook, although in some versions of Outlook, it's not possible to see the message source and so no way to safely view the message.
I have Outlook on my computer and for businesses, it is a great digital day planner and the ability to access global folders, other employees' schedules and projects is very useful. On a business network where the IT department can take other precautions to keep out viruses, it's a good thing to use. At home, I never use it for email tho, it's never allowed to connect to the internet. I use it only for keeping my Contacts and for synching with my Palm Pilot.
So for Outlook users, I suggest using something else to send and receive email instead of Outlook. If you use OE and set it up to run safely, you can then easily export your email into Outlook if you want to store it there along with Contacts and other stuff.