[RT] Re: Question about viruses

["Glen Wallace" <gcwallace@xxxxxxxx>]

Bill:

Most viruses are transmitted in file attachments, so no, viewing the e-mail in
the preview screen does not open and release the contaminated attachment.
There are "worms" and other nasties, however, that can be attached as
signature files and embedded in HTML code that can exploit Outlook Express
weaknesses and therefore affect you by simply viewing them in the preview
screen.  I think the Kak worm is a recent example.

Updating your Outlook Express version for Microsoft's periodic security
patches and an up-to-date anti-virus application will catch most of these
critters.

Hope this helps.


----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Daniel
To: realtraders@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2000 10:10 AM
Subject: [RT] Question about viruses

In Outlook Express there is a preview window that shows the contents of an
e-mail.  Is this the same as opening the e-mail and thus exposing your system
to potential infection or do you actually have to open the message for reading
to be at risk?

Thanks

Bill