Frank (Re: Opening Email)

Thank you too Frank for your response. After reading ALL the responses above, I feel better about the whole thing now. I was thinking I might have been OK, but I wanted to hear it from people who know a lot more about this stuff than I do. I do scan inbound email per a setting in McAfee. I don't know enough to agree or disagree with you when you said ...."By the same token, email scanning by an anti-virus is a complete waste of time and resources.", but it's your opinion and I certainly can and do respect that.

Like I've stated in previous posts, I figure people here know more about it than I do. I value the thoughts, advice and info that you (Bruce and Charlie in this thread too) have provided.

Thanks again and best regards... Gunner

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"Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE" <franksaunders@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:%23oaFc4c0FHA.2652@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
"Gunner" <mwgrossREMOVE-ALL-THE-CAPS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eToBWpb0FHA.1252@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Looking for an answer that I'm sure can easily be answered by the
"knowledgeable people" who frequent this newsgroup...

I've read and heard that malicious things (viruses, etc.) can be
launched simply by viewing/opening the infected email.  It's been
said a thousand times that one should never open emails from anyone
they don't know or from a source they are unaware of... at least
that's what I do... and that is VERY GOOD advice.  I understand that
and can see how malicious payloads can be delivered that way.  With
that said, I have a question that I'm sure can be answered here by
the talented people who visit this newsgroup:

If one clicks on or highlights an email (WITHOUT OPENING IT) , then
right clicks and selects Properties, then Details tab,  and then
finally the Message Source... Button, can an infected email deliver
it's payload in any way?  Note:  This is not opening the email like
it would from within Outlook Express, but it does show the content of
the email in a separate window.

Many times if I'm not sure where a funny looking email came from, I
try to find out more info on the email by doing the steps I have shown
above. So far, it hasn't done anything that I'm aware of, but, with
that said, I sure would like to know the answer to my question.

Thanks for any and all forthcoming responses.

Best regards... Gunner
=============================================
"If you can read this, you can thank a teacher. . . but FAR MORE
IMPORTANTLY, if you live in the U.S. and are reading it in English,
you really should make it a point to thank a Vet."

That myth is based on security holes that have been patched long ago. With the default settings for the version of OE6 that you are using, there is zero security or privacy risk upon opening email, even with pkain text turned off.

The safest is, of course looking at the message source as you describe.

By the same token, email scanning by an anti-virus is a complete waste of time and resources.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only.  Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com./athome/security/protect/default.aspx
http://defendingyourmachine.blogspot.com/



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