Hi Gang,

A better option than Outlook Express/Outlook’s attachment blocking feature, which many disable because it interferes with normal and sometimes frequent file transfers, is the Outpost firewall. It includes an Attachments Filter plug-in that renames attachments by appending a harmless extension to their filenames. This allows you to receive all the attachments but prevents you from running executables accidentally and becoming infected with new, rapidly spreading malware. The original extension remains part of the name so you don’t have to be concerned about knowing what type of file is involved. You can use the files after saving them and restoring their original names. The default configuration includes all the usual suspects: executables, screensavers, scripts, and so on, along with a slew of file types that many are unaware can be dangerous. You can add more extensions to monitor if you want. In addition to making an entry in its log, the plug-in also can be configured to report any attachments that are renamed in a pop-up window.

Part of my safe hex regimen is to always include a moniker in any e-mail I send that has an attachment. A custom signature states that the presence of the moniker guarantees that I actually sent the message and deliberately inserted any attachments, and it specifies their number. (Of course the avast! status lines are included. :slight_smile: ) It also includes a warning to never open an attachment in an e-mail from me if the moniker is missing. Using this technique results in a little extra work up front, but that is more than offset by eliminating the need for independent confirmations. If more people adopted a similar practice and encouraged others to do the same, the number of infections from malware that propagates through e-mail could be dramatically reduced.

Regards,
Hornus