Viruses

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Guest

I heard that Outlook is not really as risky as one would think about getting
a virus attack and that Outlook Express is what is usally attacked. Is
there any truth to that? Can anyone share any experiences they have had
with virus attacks and Outlook? Please tell us your version number too.
Thanks
 
These two articles will give you a clue as to which versions of Outlook are
most at-risk. Short version: if you use a current version and have all
updates installed, you are quite safe from everything except your own
stupidity.
http://www.slipstick.com/emo/2005/up050120.htm#preview
http://www.slipstick.com/emo/2004/up040204.htm#preview

Script kiddies don't care what version you use - Netscape and Eudora are
just as "unsafe" as OE and Outlook with the current favorite email virus -
attachments that the user has to open. Outlook is safer with embedded
scripts than OE (at least with older versions of OE), with the preview pane
slightly safer than opening messages, since active content is disabled. It's
100% safe if you turn off HTML rendering and read in plain text, except for
attachments - it's almost impossible to protect against users opening
attachments sent by spammers, other than by not allowing attachments. :)
 
I heard that Outlook is not really as risky as one would think about
getting a virus attack and that Outlook Express is what is usally
attacked. Is there any truth to that? Can anyone share any
experiences they have had with virus attacks and Outlook? Please
tell us your version number too. Thanks
Click to expand...

At one time, Outlook was quite susceptible to virus incursions. I really
don't know about Outlook Express. Any mail client that acts on data in a
message would be vulnerable. However, for some time now, Outlook has been
quite safe in its default configuration. Of course, a person can adjust
things to make it less safe by, for example, changing the security zone in
which messages are handled or adjusting which file extensions Outlook allows
through. Even then, though, since the vast majority of malware comes in via
attachments, even in a completely unprotected environment you have the most
powerful tool available: your brain. Simply delete any message with an
attachment you're not expecting, no matter the sender.
 
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