Be advised of a new virus going around. It exploits a weakness in Microsoftâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s Windows operating system that could put hundreds of millions of PCs at risk of infection by spyware or viruses. The flaw, which allows hackers to infect computers using programs maliciously inserted into seemingly innocuous image files, was first discovered last week. But the potential for damaging attacks increased dramatically over the weekend after a group of computer hackers published the source code they used to exploit it. Unlike most attacks, which require victims to download or execute a suspect file, the new vulnerability makes it possible for users to infect their computers with spyware or a virus simply by viewing a web page, e-mail or instant message that contains a contaminated image.
To protect ourselves from this:
1. Please DO NOT go to any Web sites that you are not familiar with and/or with links sent by unknown people.
2. Delete all email from unknown or suspicious sources WITHOUT opening it, reading it, or even viewing it in the preview window.
3. Disable the preview pane in Outlook Express (if you are still using this outdated email program, like we are in my office
). Here are the steps necessary to disable it yourself.
The message preview pane in Outlook Express is really nice and useful, but it comes with the risk of catching a worm or virus by just previewing a message.
That's why it is best to disable the preview pane for security reasons in Outlook Express.
To disable the preview pane in Outlook Express:
To protect ourselves from this:
1. Please DO NOT go to any Web sites that you are not familiar with and/or with links sent by unknown people.
2. Delete all email from unknown or suspicious sources WITHOUT opening it, reading it, or even viewing it in the preview window.
3. Disable the preview pane in Outlook Express (if you are still using this outdated email program, like we are in my office
The message preview pane in Outlook Express is really nice and useful, but it comes with the risk of catching a worm or virus by just previewing a message.
That's why it is best to disable the preview pane for security reasons in Outlook Express.
To disable the preview pane in Outlook Express:
- Select View | Layout... from the menu in Outlook Express.
- Make sure Show preview pane is not checked.
- Click OK.
- You can also click Apply to put the new settings into effect without closing the configuration dialog.