Outlook Express - hardening against attack
The purpose of this page is to show how to harden the Outlook Express mail client from Microsoft so that you can use it safe in the knowledge that bad things won't happen. There's no voodoo required, just simple configuration.
Before we look at Outlook Express, please ensure you have the latest version and your system is up to date with service releases and patches. Run Windows Update
now if you're not sure.
Now, fire up Outlook Express and open the Options dialogue which you will find under the tools menu.
Select the Read tab.
Make sure the check-box labelled Read all messages in plain text
is ticked/checked. This helps avoid all the clutter and presents the message without noise (logos etc.).
Select the Security tab.
Make sure the check-box labelled Block images and other external content in HTML mail
is ticked/checked.
Select apply and OK and we're done. That was easy wasn't it.
Please remember this one thing: there is no software in the world that can stop you launching trojan/worm/virus programs if you're determind to - if it looks dodgy - no, if it doesn't look right then don't run it - whatever it is, no matter where it came from.