Microsoft outlook express is one of the most widely used email client across all Microsoft Windows operating system (Windows Vista replaces outlook express with Microsoft Windows Live Mail). Microsoft outlook express also has a very tight integration with Microsoft Internet Explorer, so Microsoft Outlook express is one of the most favorite email client for attacks and integration with Microsoft Internet Explorer also make it more prone to black hat attacks. So what, we have to buy a costly email client or some security software? No just following some simple security measures you can make Microsoft Outlook express more secure and also save some good amount of money.

Turn off HTML Email: HTML emails are very much eye catching with there images and embedded flash. Sometimes just opening a HTML email can do a lot of damage on your computer system. Web bugs, bogus links, and a host of other nasty problems can do a great deal of damage to your computer and all these applications can be easily embedded into an HTML email. To disable HTML e-mail in Outlook Express, go to Tools | Options, select the Mail Sending Format tab, and select the Text option. To configure Outlook Express to read HTML e-mail as text, which strips away any malicious content, go to Tools | Options, select the Read tab, and select the Read All Messages In Plain Text option.

Disable JavaScript and Visual Basic Script: An attacker can use JavaScript and Visual Basic Script to get the cookie, browser history, format your hard drive or even can steal your personal information without asking any question to you. Microsoft Outlook express has a tight integration with Microsoft Internet Explorer so it takes a little more effort to disable JavaScript and Visual Basic Script.

• In Outlook Express, go to Tools | Options, and select the Security tab.

• Enable the Restricted Sites Zone (More Secure) option.

• Go to Start | Control Panel, and double-click the Internet Options applet.

• On the Security tab, click the Custom Level button.

• Under Scripting, select Disable under the Active Scripting heading.

Deselect the Preview Pane: Operating system think that opening an email or previewing an email both are the same activities. So it’s better to deselect the preview pane. For deselecting the preview pane go to View Layout, and deselect the Show Preview Pane option.

Block potentially malicious attachments: it’s better to disable potentially malicious attachments. To disable potentially malicious attachments, go to Tools | Options| select the Security tab, and select the Do Not Allow Attachments to Be Saved or Opened That Could Potentially Be a Virus check box under Virus Protection. If you enable this option, Outlook Express uses the Internet Explorer 6 Unsafe File list and the Confirm Open After Download setting in Folder Options to determine whether a file is safe. It blocks the download of any e-mail attachment with a file type reported as “unsafe.”

Outlook Express service pack 1 enables this option automatically.

Some virus program may want to send an email or replicate itself on the client computer so disable application email sending option. Go to tools|options|security (tab)| and enable “Warn Me When Other Applications Try to Send Mail As Me option”.

Outlook Express is a handy, easy-to-use e-mail client | it just needs a little help in the security department. You don’t need to dump it because of security integration flaws with Internet Explorer; you just need to add a little security and remember to never open an attachment from someone you don’t know.
Source TechRePublic

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