Internet Marketing Basics

How to avoid virus attachments in Outlook Express

I guess nobody is safe from worm viruses these days, at least not if we use Outlook Express and Windows. We don’t even have to be infected ourselves to feel the pain of the really bad ones that auto send emails using various domain names, making them look like YOU sent them.

Worms like this are known as 'spoofers', and are passed on via attachments in emails. A golden rule is: Be extremely cautious opening any attachments that you are not expecting.

Personally, I never open any attachments unless I'm either expecting them, or I confirm with the sender first that they actually did send one. In fact, I've gone so far as to set up my Outlook Express to never open attachments unless I want to.

To do the same, set up Outlook Express like this:

1. Open Outlook Express
2. Click on tools
3. Click on options
4. Click on security
5. Check the box that says 'Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus'
6. Click apply
7. Click ok

Then if and when you're expecting an attachment, go back in and uncheck it until you’ve opened the attachment. Afterwards immediately go back in and re-check the box. This will help curb the spreading of email viruses.

I myself fell victim to a 'spoofer virus' a couple of years ago, and even ended up having to get a new domain because of it. Thankfully, I have my firewall and antivirus program totally turned ON and up to date constantly, so the virus itself couldn’t get to my computer, but it still managed to do a LOT of damage from being on somebody else’s machine.

So please, I urge you ALL to keep your antivirus up to date, and get the patches and updates you need for Windows etc. I know it can be a pain in the butt to keep updating, but it IS worth it. It can save a lot of grief and there’d be a lot less chance of spreading nasty things like this.

Anti-virus programs:

I use the free version of AVG, which is pretty good, and available here: http://www.grisoft.com/us/us_dwnl_free.php

Once you've downloaded and installed it, open the control center, go to task manager and set it to automatically update however often you like, also, set the task scheduler to allow scheduled scans every 24 hours.

Don't just count on one single anti-virus program though, as they don't all update their files at the same time. Remember, the SoBig virus from a few years ago managed to disable various anti-virus software before they'd had the chance to update.

I recommend you also use HouseCall, Trend Micro's free online virus scanner http://housecall.trendmicro.com and MacAfee's free online scan (this one once caught something for me that HouseCall didn’t) http://us.mcafee.com/root/mfs

If, after all this, you still end up getting a virus, worm or Trojan, here’s 2 great links for you:

There’s a great virus encyclopaedia search here:
http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/virusencyclo

A list of removal tools for various worms and viruses:
http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/tools.list.html

Of course, there's always the option of using various other email clients or even web mail, but that’s food for a whole different article ;)

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