Most viruses and worms exploit holes that have already been identified, fixed and published. If you keep Windows (Internet Explorer and Outlook Express) up to date using Microsoft Update and routinely scan your system using a virus scanner, you are usually well protected.

Still, Outlook Express may automatically execute scripts in emails you just read in the preview pane. If the message uses stationery, the result may be a nice animation. If the message was sent through a worm, it could compromise your computer's security or your privacy.

Fortunately, securing reading and previewing emails in Outlook Express is not difficult.

You can go the draconian way of making all mail show in plain text only or make sure it does not download remote content (like images) automatically. But even if you have enabled one of these security measures, it pays to protect the HTML display itself, too.

Outlook Express uses Internet Explorer to display emails that contain rich formatting, and Internet Explorer in turn uses a number of "security zones" to balance security -- when you visit an unknown page on the web -- with functionality -- when you open your account on an authenticated banking site, for example. For emails, the former is usually the better choice.

To make reading and previewing emails in Outlook Express more secure:

• ›› Step by Step Screenshot Walkthrough

• Select Tools | Options... from the menu in Outlook Express.
• Go to the Security tab.
• Make sure Restricted sites zone (More secure) is selected under Virus Protection \ Select the Internet Explorer security zone to use:.
• Click OK.

Now that Outlook Express uses the Restricted sites Internet Explorer security zone, let's make sure this zone really does not allow the execution of scripts:

• ›› Step by Step Screenshot Walkthrough

• Select Tools | Internet Options... from the menu in Internet Explorer.
• Go to the Security tab.
• Select Restricted sites under Select a Web content zone to specify its security settings.
• Make sure High is selected under Security level for this zone.
• Click OK.