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Turning off the preview pane isn't the only way to block such viruses and worms. And it's not the safest way.
  technofile
Al Fasoldt's reviews and commentaries, continuously available online since 1983

Turning off the preview pane in Outlook Express, step by step


May 15, 2002


By Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2002, Al Fasoldt
Copyright © 2002, The Post-Standard

   I frustrated a lot of Windows users when I goofed when trying to explain how to turn off the Outlook Express message preview pane, which displays entire messages without requiring you to open them separately. Thanks to a couple of helpful readers, here's a much better explanation. Next week I'll cover the same function in Outlook, the "other" mail program from Microsoft.
   When Outlook Express was originally designed, viruses and worms weren't the big problem they are today. Users probably wanted to turn off the preview pane so they could see a lot of mail all at once. But today the big problem is the script-based virus or worm that sneaks into Windows computers when mail is opened. (This is not related to the danger of attachments. Script viruses and worms usually hide in the actual letters themselves.)
   Turning off the preview pane isn't the only way to block such viruses and worms. And it's not the safest way. The top three ways of protecting your personal computer against infection are, in order of effectiveness:
   1. Use a non-Windows computer such as an Apple Macintosh.
   2. Use a script blocker in Windows. Script Sentry is my choice.
   3. Use Windows e-mail software that is designed to avoid scripts in mail, such as The Bat! (which, despite the crazy exclamation-mark name, has a lot of fans).
   If you can't (or don't want to) use option No. 1, would rather not use a free script blocker and don't want to change your e-mail software, you're asking for trouble. But at least you're choosing trouble voluntarily. With that in mind, here is how to reduce your risks by turning off the preview pane in Outlook Express. I'll be paraphrasing a document passed around the Internet. The original author isn't known.
   1. Make sure your folder list is visible on the left hand side of the Outlook window. If it is not, click on the "View" menu and click on the "Layout..." option. In the window that appears, put a check mark next to "Folder List" and then click "Apply" and "OK."
   2. If you can now see your folder list (which includes these storage folders -- Deleted Items, Drafts, Outbox, Inbox and any folders you have created under the Inbox), you are ready for the next step.
   3. Click on the Inbox folder in the folder list. If the preview pane (usually in the lower right area of your screen) is visible, click on the "View" menu option and then on the "Layout..." menu item. In the window that appears, remove the checkmark next to the "Show preview pane" option. Click "Apply" and "OK."
   Now that your preview pane is disabled, you will now need to double-click on an e-mail to have it open up in its own window. This gives you the chance to decide whether you want to open the mail in the first place.
   If any e-mail is suspect (or just plain junk mail), you can now delete it without opening it. Just click once on the e-mail to highlight it and hit the Delete (or "Del") key to delete it.