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Documentation Index
Email
Outlook: Configuring & Using
Outlook 2003
Introduction
Configuring
Address Expansion
Creating a Shortcut
Viewing your Inbox
Mail Format & Reply Options
Signatures
Delete / Purge Messages
Securing
Toolbar & Favorites
Creating & Searching Folders
Subscribing to Folders & Bboards
Address Books
Exporting an Address Book
Multiple Identities
Send/Receive Options
Sent Mail
Disconnected Mode
Backing Up or Archiving Outlook Data
FAQ Outlook
Accounts
Network, Phone & TV
Software
Email & Calendar
Secure Your Computer
Clusters & Printing
Web Services
Classroom & Event Support
Training & Education
Technical Support & Services
Campus Partners
Information Security Office (ISO)

Caching Issue

Unless certain security steps are adopted, existing Outlook email messages may be viewed by others, even though they do not know your password. We strongly urge you to establish a secure password for your computer (and screen saver) and / or remember to log out if you are leaving your computer unattended.

  • To set a password for your computer: Select Start > Control Panel > User Accounts > Change Account. Select your account and then select Change my password.
  • To configure your screen saver so that it also requires your password to refresh your desktop: Select Start > Control Panel > Display > Screen Saver. Select the checkbox to "On resume, password protect".

Disable AutoPreview

Computing Services recommends that you disable Outlook's AutoPreview feature. AutoPreview displays the first few lines of the actual message text in your Inbox window. Disabling this feature helps to protect your computer from opening a message that could infect your computer. Follow these steps:

  1. Select View > AutoPreview.
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  2. Your Inbox messages re-appear with only the subject line displayed.
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Blocked Extensions and Graphics

Outlook BLOCKS certain file attachments that have the potential to carry a virus to your computer. For more information and to work around this security feature, see the following:

  • Some file extensions that Outlook blocks are: exe, bat, cmd, com, hlp, inf, isp. For a complete list see
    http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP030850041033.aspx
  • Outlook DOES NOT block documents such as .xls, .doc, .ppt, and .txt files.
  • If you need to receive a message that contains a blocked file (or send one to an Outlook user) rename the blocked file to include a temporary file type that is not blocked. For example, rename "program.exe" to "program.exe_ok" and then attach the file to the e-mail message. You can include instructions in the message for the recipient to save the file with the correct name "program.exe".
  • Use a zip program to package your file(s) before you attach them to your e-mail message.
  • Andrew Webmail does not block any file extensions. Use Andrew Webmail to extract the attachment; but NEVER open any file attachment that you are NOT expecting.

To help protect you, Outlook is configured to block pictures and other Internet content until you determine that it is safe to view. For example, the following message would normally contain graphics; instead they are displayed with a placeholder until you right-click to view them.

Last Updated: 12/11/07