Use the New Security Improvements in Outlook Express
Published: August 4, 2004
If you use Outlook Express, the e-mail program that comes with Windows XP, you might notice that some settings have changed after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2). The new default settings are designed to help protect your computer against viruses and worms and help reduce the amount of spam e-mail you receive.
The new settings do more to help you avoid viewing offensive content in an e-mail, reduce the amount of junk mail you receive, and lessen the risk of receiving dangerous content through an e-mail.
Microsoft recommends that you maintain the default settings shown below to help protect your computer and personal information. Read on to learn more about these new settings.
View Your Outlook Express Settings
It's easy to adjust the different e-mail security settings in Outlook Express to accommodate your specific needs. Just be aware that changing the default settings can make your computer more vulnerable to spam, viruses, worms, and other security risks.
To view or change security features in Outlook Express
1. | In Outlook Express go to Tools. |
2. | Click Options. |
3. | Click the Security tab. |
Outlook Express default security settings
Virus Protection Settings in Outlook Express
You can get viruses or worms on your computer when you surf the Web, download files, or open e-mail attachments. Any e-mail message—even those that appear innocent—can easily carry a virus that might damage your data or your computer. Outlook Express now has settings that can help you prevent viruses and worms in a few different ways.
| • | Select the Internet Explorer security zone to use: The default choice for this setting is Restricted sites zones, which is what we recommend. This setting is not new to SP2. If you're upgrading from Windows XP Service Pack 1, then your previous setting will be honored and will not be changed. To learn more about security zones, see Working with Internet Explorer 6 Security Settings. |
| • | Warn me when other applications try to send mail as me: We recommend you keep this box checked to help keep viruses or other Internet intruders from taking over your programs and sending e-mail that appears to come from you. This setting is not new to SP2. If you're upgrading from Windows XP Service Pack 1, then your previous setting will be honored and will not be changed. |
| • | Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus: This box is checked by default to help protect you from viruses and worms that may be spread by e-mail. You may have turned this setting off in previous versions of Windows XP because you found that it was blocking safe Office documents that you needed to view. The Attachment Manager included with SP2 addresses this and is set by default to block attachments matching known potentially dangerous file types. |
If Outlook Express can't determine the safety of an attachment, you would see this message.
Important Although Outlook Express can help you avoid viruses, these precautions don't take the place of an up-to-date antivirus program. To learn more see Reduce your virus risk with updated antivirus software.
Increased Protection from Spam
Another Windows XP SP2 enhancement to Outlook Express helps prevent spam by limiting malicious users from capturing your e-mail address. You've probably noticed that junk e-mail often contains graphics. Sometimes as the graphic displays, it relays a message letting the sender know your e-mail address is valid, possibly making you the target of even more junk e-mail and spam.
By default, the Outlook Express now blocks external graphics from loading until you grant permission. It's a good idea to block any graphics that you receive unless you know and trust the source.
To view the graphics in an e-mail message received from a source you trust
1. | Open Outlook Express, and then open the e-mail message. |
2. | If there are any blocked graphics in the message, you will see a message advising, Some pictures have been blocked to help prevent the sender from identifying your computer. Click here to download pictures. |
3. | Click the message bar. The graphics will load for viewing. |
Click the warning message to download the pictures.
