HTML in Outlook

[SP]

Hi...I'm reposting this message (hopefully there would be some responses).

We have a POP3 email server that is set up to filter aside any incoming
messages with suspicious attachments (eg. .com .exe .pif file extensions).

Many of our users have Outlook 2003 for email client. When they create
message in HTML format and attach a regular Word document, this message
would be filtered out; the recipient would miss the email completely. When
they resend the message using Plain Text (or Rich Text) format, the message
would go through ok.

So, what is it with HTML format in Outlook 2003 that would trigger the .com
.. exe .pif
filter on our server ?

Please help.
Thank you
Steve

 

[Brian Tillman]

Many of our users have Outlook 2003 for email client. When they
create message in HTML format and attach a regular Word document,
this message would be filtered out; the recipient would miss the
email completely. When they resend the message using Plain Text (or
Rich Text) format, the message would go through ok.

So, what is it with HTML format in Outlook 2003 that would trigger
the .com . exe .pif
filter on our server ?

This doesn't address the question, but why are you filtering outgoing
messages? Why not just incoming ones?

 

[SP]

Actually, there wasn't any filtering on outgoing messages - only incoming
ones.

For example, if you send me a message using Outlook 2003 (in HTML and w/ a
Word attachment), I wouldn't be able to receive it because the filtering
function in our email server would treat that message as if it were a virus
and would move it to a virus folder (somewhere in the server that only
Administrator can see).

Now, if you send me the same message in Plain Text format, I would receive
the message no problem.

Since I don't know much how the server filter messages, I would question the
email client (why html and not plain text). I do know, however, that the
server uses a process called procmailrc (in linux) for its content
filtering.

One other thing that I haven't mentioned is...Only Outlook 2003 seemed to
have this issue. Other clients (Outlook Expres
Steve

 

[SP]

....One other thing that I haven't mentioned is...Only Outlook 2003 seemed to
have this issue. Other client (Outlook Express) did not have this problem
regardless of sending in HTML or not.

Steve