Outlook preview pane/autopreview Virus question.

[Albion]

We were reciently hit by an e-mail virus. The person the virus originated from on our network says that she did not open an e-mail and I believe her (She's pretty knowledgable about knowing what to look out for in e-mail). So I can't figure out how she got it on her machine.

The question I have is this, is it possible to execute a script virus in e-mail through not only Preview Pane but Auto Preview in outlook?

Thanks
-Al

 

[smah]

Yes, this is possible if some of the os, ie, and outlook security patches have not been applied.

 

[golyg]

It is my belief that when the user has the preview pane enabled in Outlook, the email message is actually opening the email, so if the virus is embedded in the email, rather than an attachment, it could have been done this way.

I recommend closing the preview pane:
-Under "View", deselect "Preview Pane"

Hope this helps,

 

[Albion]

What I am more worried about is the AutoPreview (a Partial of the message body in blue below the Author and Subject.) Most of my guys do not use the preview pane for this reason but many of them like the AutoPreview.

-Al

 

[golyg]

I think Auto Preview and the Preview Pane are similar that they open the message....but I could be wrong.

If you are concerned, recommend that they do neither...

good luck