One more question.
My computer tech has closed my Preview Pane in Outlook Express. How did
he do that? For six
years, I single-clicked the mail and looked below to the Preview Pane to see
what it looked like, then deleted it or just read it in the Preview Pane (I
had the pane quite large). Occasionally, for large e-mail, I would
double-click the message and open it up to a full page by itself.
Tech told me that when I click the messages and see them below in the
Preview Pane, I am releasing any viruses, trojans, etc., at that point. I
think when I first received my computer my Outlook Express opened in that
format. Folders on the left, messages on the right and the Preview Pane
open.
So, just clicking the message and looking at what it is in the Preview Pane
is causing me problems?
Just want to verify this and I find this new way, just seeing if I recognize
the mailer before I open the message, very strange at this point.
So, for my normal e-mail, he has hidden the preview pane. When I switch to
the msnews.microsoft newsgroups folder, like this one, the preview pane is
still open but it says MESSAGE HAS NOT BEEN DOWNLOADED - Outlook Express has
not downloaded this message, To Download the Message, Click here.

So, is my tech correct and I was opening myself up to bad things for using
that Preview Pane to view my mail for 6 years? Should I get rid of it in
my msnewsgroups, also? If so, how did he do that? I know when I had
the Preview Pane open for all my mail I never had to "Click Here" to see the
message, it would just be in the Preview Pane if I clicked on the message up
top.
thanks again,
kathryn

The Preview Pane is enabled/disabled via View, Layout. Mail and News
have their own settings, so it can be enabled in one and disabled in the
other. Which gets changed via View Layout depends on whether you are
currently viewing a mail or news folder.

The vast majority of viruses etc. require that you manually open an
attachment. Reading these in the Preview Pane will not activate the
virus.

Some use scripting/Java/ActiveX. If you read all messages in plain text
(Tools, Options, Read), these are not run. Or if you allow HTML, making
sure that OE runs in a security zone that disables scripting etc.
(Tools, Options, Security) will prevent them from running.

Some take advantage of bugs, such as buffer overruns. In some cases,
merely downloading a message can trigger this. Other cases require
viewing the message. Making sure that your Windows is up-to-date on
security fixes is your best defense. And making sure that your
anti-virus is up-to-date.

Bottom line, on an up-to-date and properly configured system, the
preview pane is a minimal risk.

--

Mike - http://pages.prodigy.net/michael_santovec/techhelp.htm


"kayjay" wrote in message
...
One more question.
My computer tech has closed my Preview Pane in Outlook Express. How
did
he do that? For six
years, I single-clicked the mail and looked below to the Preview Pane
to see
what it looked like, then deleted it or just read it in the Preview
Pane (I
had the pane quite large). Occasionally, for large e-mail, I would
double-click the message and open it up to a full page by itself.
Tech told me that when I click the messages and see them below in the
Preview Pane, I am releasing any viruses, trojans, etc., at that
point. I
think when I first received my computer my Outlook Express opened in
that
format. Folders on the left, messages on the right and the Preview
Pane
open.
So, just clicking the message and looking at what it is in the Preview
Pane
is causing me problems?
Just want to verify this and I find this new way, just seeing if I
recognize
the mailer before I open the message, very strange at this point.
So, for my normal e-mail, he has hidden the preview pane. When I
switch to
the msnews.microsoft newsgroups folder, like this one, the preview
pane is
still open but it says MESSAGE HAS NOT BEEN DOWNLOADED - Outlook
Express has
not downloaded this message, To Download the Message, Click here.

So, is my tech correct and I was opening myself up to bad things for
using
that Preview Pane to view my mail for 6 years? Should I get rid of
it in
my msnewsgroups, also? If so, how did he do that? I know when I
had
the Preview Pane open for all my mail I never had to "Click Here" to
see the
message, it would just be in the Preview Pane if I clicked on the
message up
top.
thanks again,
kathryn

answered already in windows.public.win98.gen_discussion
do not multipost

--
-
Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de
spybot http://security.kolla.de
AVG free antivirus http://www.grisoft.com
Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.activescan.com
Panda online AntiSpyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spyware/test/
Catalog of removal tools (1)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/
Catalog of removal tools (2)
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/n...aspx?CID=40387
Trouble Shooting guide to Windows http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts file
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before
use
Grateful thanks to the authors/webmasters
_
"kayjay" wrote in message
...
One more question.
My computer tech has closed my Preview Pane in Outlook Express. How did
he do that? For six
years, I single-clicked the mail and looked below to the Preview Pane to
see
what it looked like, then deleted it or just read it in the Preview Pane
(I
had the pane quite large). Occasionally, for large e-mail, I would
double-click the message and open it up to a full page by itself.
Tech told me that when I click the messages and see them below in the
Preview Pane, I am releasing any viruses, trojans, etc., at that point.
I
think when I first received my computer my Outlook Express opened in that
format. Folders on the left, messages on the right and the Preview Pane
open.
So, just clicking the message and looking at what it is in the Preview
Pane
is causing me problems?
Just want to verify this and I find this new way, just seeing if I
recognize
the mailer before I open the message, very strange at this point.
So, for my normal e-mail, he has hidden the preview pane. When I switch
to
the msnews.microsoft newsgroups folder, like this one, the preview pane is
still open but it says MESSAGE HAS NOT BEEN DOWNLOADED - Outlook Express
has
not downloaded this message, To Download the Message, Click here.

So, is my tech correct and I was opening myself up to bad things for using
that Preview Pane to view my mail for 6 years? Should I get rid of it
in
my msnewsgroups, also? If so, how did he do that? I know when I had
the Preview Pane open for all my mail I never had to "Click Here" to see
the
message, it would just be in the Preview Pane if I clicked on the message
up
top.
thanks again,
kathryn

Hi Kathryn,

A few years ago I fell victim to a virus delivered with a message through
the Preview Pane. I believe that (Microsoft's) security enhancements and
greater awareness of threats by anti-virus vendors make this much less
likely. Also, my ISP now filters messages that contain known viruses. The
Preview Pane is now normally closed, but this is to prevent spam senders
from verifying my address. This can be done by delivering one pixel from a
Web source when some messages are opened.

A button to toggle the Preview Pane can be added to the OE toolbar.
Right-click on the toolbar, choose Customize and Add the Preview button.

Delete suspect messages before opening the Preview Pane.

For newsgroup message options see...
OE Tools, Options, Read tab.

Someone who works more with security issues can add more definitive advice.
I haven't experienced problem using the Preview Pane since that day a few
years ago. Several anti-virus vendors were late to recognize the threat, but
did learn a lesson.

--
Tim K.
aka Kuay Tim
MS-MVP - Outlook Express
Lynnwood, WA
*
"kayjay" wrote in message
...
One more question.
My computer tech has closed my Preview Pane in Outlook Express. How did
he do that? For six
years, I single-clicked the mail and looked below to the Preview Pane to see
what it looked like, then deleted it or just read it in the Preview Pane (I
had the pane quite large). Occasionally, for large e-mail, I would
double-click the message and open it up to a full page by itself.
Tech told me that when I click the messages and see them below in the
Preview Pane, I am releasing any viruses, trojans, etc., at that point. I
think when I first received my computer my Outlook Express opened in that
format. Folders on the left, messages on the right and the Preview Pane
open.
So, just clicking the message and looking at what it is in the Preview Pane
is causing me problems?
Just want to verify this and I find this new way, just seeing if I recognize
the mailer before I open the message, very strange at this point.
So, for my normal e-mail, he has hidden the preview pane. When I switch to
the msnews.microsoft newsgroups folder, like this one, the preview pane is
still open but it says MESSAGE HAS NOT BEEN DOWNLOADED - Outlook Express has
not downloaded this message, To Download the Message, Click here.

So, is my tech correct and I was opening myself up to bad things for using
that Preview Pane to view my mail for 6 years? Should I get rid of it in
my msnewsgroups, also? If so, how did he do that? I know when I had
the Preview Pane open for all my mail I never had to "Click Here" to see the
message, it would just be in the Preview Pane if I clicked on the message up
top.
thanks again,
kathryn

"kayjay" wrote in message
...
One more question.
My computer tech has closed my Preview Pane in Outlook Express. How did
he do that? For six
years, I single-clicked the mail and looked below to the Preview Pane to
see
what it looked like, then deleted it or just read it in the Preview Pane
(I
had the pane quite large). Occasionally, for large e-mail, I would
double-click the message and open it up to a full page by itself.
Tech told me that when I click the messages and see them below in the
Preview Pane, I am releasing any viruses, trojans, etc., at that point.
I
think when I first received my computer my Outlook Express opened in that
format. Folders on the left, messages on the right and the Preview Pane
open.
So, just clicking the message and looking at what it is in the Preview
Pane
is causing me problems?
Just want to verify this and I find this new way, just seeing if I
recognize
the mailer before I open the message, very strange at this point.
So, for my normal e-mail, he has hidden the preview pane. When I switch
to
the msnews.microsoft newsgroups folder, like this one, the preview pane is
still open but it says MESSAGE HAS NOT BEEN DOWNLOADED - Outlook Express
has
not downloaded this message, To Download the Message, Click here.

So, is my tech correct and I was opening myself up to bad things for using
that Preview Pane to view my mail for 6 years? Should I get rid of it
in
my msnewsgroups, also? If so, how did he do that? I know when I had
the Preview Pane open for all my mail I never had to "Click Here" to see
the
message, it would just be in the Preview Pane if I clicked on the message
up
top.
thanks again,
kathryn

Try, StartWindows Update, take all that it offers.

--
Regards Steve.
MS-MVP. OE. [DTS]

Sorry, I forgot there was a group specifically for Outlook Express question.
So sorry,


"AlmostBob" wrote in message
...
answered already in windows.public.win98.gen_discussion
do not multipost

--
-
Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de
spybot http://security.kolla.de
AVG free antivirus http://www.grisoft.com
Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.activescan.com
Panda online AntiSpyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spyware/test/
Catalog of removal tools (1)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/
Catalog of removal tools (2)
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/n...aspx?CID=40387
Trouble Shooting guide to Windows http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts file
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before
use
Grateful thanks to the authors/webmasters
_
"kayjay" wrote in message
...
One more question.
My computer tech has closed my Preview Pane in Outlook Express. How
did
he do that? For six
years, I single-clicked the mail and looked below to the Preview Pane to
see
what it looked like, then deleted it or just read it in the Preview Pane
(I
had the pane quite large). Occasionally, for large e-mail, I would
double-click the message and open it up to a full page by itself.
Tech told me that when I click the messages and see them below in the
Preview Pane, I am releasing any viruses, trojans, etc., at that point.
I
think when I first received my computer my Outlook Express opened in
that
format. Folders on the left, messages on the right and the Preview
Pane
open.
So, just clicking the message and looking at what it is in the Preview
Pane
is causing me problems?
Just want to verify this and I find this new way, just seeing if I
recognize
the mailer before I open the message, very strange at this point.
So, for my normal e-mail, he has hidden the preview pane. When I
switch
to
the msnews.microsoft newsgroups folder, like this one, the preview pane
is
still open but it says MESSAGE HAS NOT BEEN DOWNLOADED - Outlook Express
has
not downloaded this message, To Download the Message, Click here.

So, is my tech correct and I was opening myself up to bad things for
using
that Preview Pane to view my mail for 6 years? Should I get rid of it
in
my msnewsgroups, also? If so, how did he do that? I know when I
had
the Preview Pane open for all my mail I never had to "Click Here" to see
the
message, it would just be in the Preview Pane if I clicked on the
message
up
top.
thanks again,
kathryn

asking the same question in multiple newsgroups is OK, and often much more
effective, just not by making separate posts, send the same message to all
required,desired,imagined groups the same way as an email to more than one
person, separate the group names by ';' semi-colons. everyone in each group
sees all the replies, for real difficult problems everyone can see what has
already been tried and whether it worked, (and store the solution for later
use) and you can find all the answers in whatever group you chose to look
in. Added bonus when you need a follow up, you dont have to find which group
the most recent answer was in


--
-
Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de
spybot http://security.kolla.de
AVG free antivirus http://www.grisoft.com
Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.activescan.com
Panda online AntiSpyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spyware/test/
Catalog of removal tools (1)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/
Catalog of removal tools (2)
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/n...aspx?CID=40387
Trouble Shooting guide to Windows http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts file
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages before
use
Grateful thanks to the authors/webmasters
_
"kayjay" wrote in message
...
Sorry, I forgot there was a group specifically for Outlook Express
question.
So sorry,


"AlmostBob" wrote in message
...
answered already in windows.public.win98.gen_discussion
do not multipost

--
-
Adaware http://www.lavasoft.de
spybot http://security.kolla.de
AVG free antivirus http://www.grisoft.com
Etrust/Vet/CA.online Antivirus scan
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/virusinfo/scan.aspx
Panda online AntiVirus scan http://www.activescan.com
Panda online AntiSpyware Scan
http://www.pandasoftware.com/virus_info/spyware/test/
Catalog of removal tools (1)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/download/utilities/
Catalog of removal tools (2)
http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/n...aspx?CID=40387
Trouble Shooting guide to Windows http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Unwanted Parasites with a Hosts file
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm
links provided as a courtesy, read all instructions on the pages
before
use
Grateful thanks to the authors/webmasters
_
"kayjay" wrote in message
...
One more question.
My computer tech has closed my Preview Pane in Outlook Express. How
did
he do that? For six
years, I single-clicked the mail and looked below to the Preview Pane
to
see
what it looked like, then deleted it or just read it in the Preview
Pane
(I
had the pane quite large). Occasionally, for large e-mail, I would
double-click the message and open it up to a full page by itself.
Tech told me that when I click the messages and see them below in the
Preview Pane, I am releasing any viruses, trojans, etc., at that
point.
I
think when I first received my computer my Outlook Express opened in
that
format. Folders on the left, messages on the right and the Preview
Pane
open.
So, just clicking the message and looking at what it is in the Preview
Pane
is causing me problems?
Just want to verify this and I find this new way, just seeing if I
recognize
the mailer before I open the message, very strange at this point.
So, for my normal e-mail, he has hidden the preview pane. When I
switch
to
the msnews.microsoft newsgroups folder, like this one, the preview
pane
is
still open but it says MESSAGE HAS NOT BEEN DOWNLOADED - Outlook
Express
has
not downloaded this message, To Download the Message, Click here.

So, is my tech correct and I was opening myself up to bad things for
using
that Preview Pane to view my mail for 6 years? Should I get rid of
it
in
my msnewsgroups, also? If so, how did he do that? I know when I
had
the Preview Pane open for all my mail I never had to "Click Here" to
see
the
message, it would just be in the Preview Pane if I clicked on the
message
up
top.
thanks again,
kathryn