Improve security of your Outlook Express

[Maq.H]

Supplied with Windows XP and used by a large number of Internet mail software Outlook Express allows the spread of most viruses. These operating features of Outlook Express and Windows that are hijacked by unscrupulous hackers.

A few simple adjustments will help you strengthen the security of Outlook Express and avoid unpleasant surprises.

Changing the security level:

• In Outlook Express, open the Tools menu and click Options.
  
  
• Then click the Security tab. Choose to use the Restricted sites zone which is more secure. It removes the execution of ActiveX components that can be used by malicious scripts contained in email messages.
  
  
• Check the box Warn me when other applications try to send emails from me. In this way, a dialog box will appear prompting you if a program tries to use the option of sending one of your email accounts.
  
  
• Then enable the checkbox Do not allow the opening or saving attachments that could contain a virus to block executable files arriving via mail and may contain viruses.
  
  
• Then press OK to.

[Maq.H]

Use Text mail format:

You can also reduce the risk of transmission of viruses by sending your messages in plain text instead of HTML. With fewer features than HTML, plain text is safer because it contains no code, text only. Furthermore, your messages will be lighter and faster and will be channeled.

• To configure sending plain text messages in a comprehensive way, click the Tools menu and click Options.
  
  
• Then click the Send tab and select Plain Text under heading Mail Sending Format.
  
  
• If you want to send only case by case your messages in text format, when writing a message, pull down the Format menu and then select Plain Text.
  
  
• Confirm the warning by clicking OK

Disable panel display:

Some viruses or malicious code contained in the messages you receive can be executed simply open them in Outlook Express. Now when you select a message, to delete for example, it is displayed in the preview pane and the code it contains is executed. To avoid this, the better off reading pane.

• Run Outlook Express and then pull down the View menu and then click the Format command.
  
  
• In the Preview Pane section of the window that appears, uncheck Show preview pane. Then press OK to.

[Maq.H]

Show all file extensions:
The majority of viruses that arrive by mail trying to trick your alertness by using a double extension attachments, type "rapport.doc.vbs. This second extension. Here is the vbs file.

But by default, Windows hides file extensions. So, thinking to open a Word document (. Doc), you open a vbs script that can be very dangerous. You must ask Windows to display all file extensions so you do not have to.

• Open an Explorer window and click the Tools menu and click Folder Options.
  
  
• In the window that appears, open the View tab.
  
  
• Then uncheck the Hide extensions for files whose type is known.
  
  
• Finally, click OK.