[hiphapa]

Is message previewing still as dangerous as it once was? Hotmail is trying to push the full version that has this feature (which I like). Just wanted to check since I haven't heard anything about this in a long time.

[mphenterprises]

Hello Hiphapa and welcome to PCWorld. :-)




First, since your concern is related directly to emails, I have moved this Discussion from the Windows Community into the Web Browsing & Email Community.

Now, personally, I do not use the Preview pane on any email server I use, Outlook, Outlook Express or any free email. However, I do not believe the preview view is at fault. I think what made the preview pane so accessible to scrutiny was the lack of email based security. I could be dead wrong and would welcome any alternate suggestions.

I do not use Hotmail but I believe if they use some form of security, such as McAfee, Norton, or AVG, I do not think you should have any problem viewing emails in the preview view. I think the problem may come into play if you forward your email into an email server such as Outlook or Outlook Express. Once you do that, you then have to rely on your computer's security. If you do not have security that protects your emails, you could be at risk when either A) viewing emails with the preview pane or B) downloading attachments.

I have five email accounts and all of them are forwarded into Outlook 2007. I have Zone Alarm Plus and AVG and each of them have some type of email security to protect me against malicious applications.

Bottom line, it all comes down to security. As long as you have email-based security, you should be fine....whether using free emails like Hotmail or forwarding your email into an email server such as Outlook.

[smax013]

mphenterprises said:

Bottom line, it all comes down to security. As long as you have email-based security, you should be fine....whether using free emails like Hotmail or forwarding your email into an email server such as Outlook.

I am going to be picky and make a correction to some terminology. Outlook is NOT an email server. It is an email client. It will allow you to access email on an email server. For most home use, that will be either a POP email server or an IMAP email server that your ISP is running. Services like Hotmail generally do NOT allow POP or IMAP email access unless you have a paid for email account. Now, since Outlook is a Micro$oft product, they have built into it an ability to access web-based Hotmail through Outlook. It is a lot like an IMAP email account. In the corporate world, many will run Exchange email servers that Outlook will then connect with. Other use Lotus Notes, with is not accessable by Outlook at all.



The point is that most ISPs do run some form of anti-virus software on their email servers. They also will run anti-spam filters, but how those filters work will vary from ISP to ISP...and some will allow you to turn it off (personally, I turn the anti-spam filters from my ISP off and rely on local stuff on my computer). MPH is correct that you should still be running anti-virus and anti-malware software on your computer no matter what your ISP may or may not be running on their email servers.



Personally, I DON'T use the preview modes. It used to be an issue that people would send HTML message with HTML/javascript/ActiveX embedded stuff that could be bad. I believe that most of those exploits have been closed, but I am not sure. As a result, I don't run the preview mode and I DON'T open messages from people that I don't recognize. I certainly don't open attachments from people that I don't recognize.