With all the virus threats attached to everything lately,
am I at threat if I use the preview pane or auto preview
with Outlook 2002? I prefer to use the preview pane to
quick review my emails. Outlook shows that the emails have
not been opened, but something must be open to review it,
right? Am I putting my computer and fellow co-workers at
risk? Someone please help.
Yes, most versions of Outlook that have the preview pane will try to
pre-process your incoming email when it shows up in the preview pane.
There are several risks from this.
Viruses are the worst consequences, but actually not that likely.
Your virus checker will stop most known virus files from executing.
Even if you get a brand new virus (not yet included in the virus data
file. I got some yesterday), I don't think that Outlook will execute
them unless you open the file and click on the attachment.
But there are other consequences. For example, a spam could contain a
link to a graphics image with a "tag". When Outlook fetches the image
it tells the spammer that its email to you has been read, meaning that
it is a live email address and ensuring that you will get more spam.
Plus if the image is offensive, you will see it. A relative is
receiving some very explicit sexual images in spam and is very
offended.
Yahoo mail (a free service) offers the option to turn off HTML
graphics, that prevents all of this from happening. Some newer
version of Outlook might have it, but mine doesn't (2000).
Another possibility is to use ZoneAlarm (free product). I have it set
so that Outlook can only access web sites in the Trusted zone. And I
have added my mail servers to that zone. Anything else that would
make Outlook go to the web is stopped by ZoneAlarm.
--
Steve M - (e-mail address removed) (remove dirt for reply)
Ecclesiastes 9-11: 'speed does not always win the race, nor
strength the battle' ...
Damon Runyon: ... 'but that's the way to bet them'
