Understanding Outlook and Internet Security


Security on the Internet has been an issue as Hackers take down sites all the time, steal information from companies and organizations, and generally create havoc, almost on a daily basis. Viruses and Worms halt e-mail around the world which does extensive harm to computers and networks. However, with most companies and organizations, security is a major issue. Company information is often sensitive and most companies guard their files like the government guards Fort Knox. Because there have been so many e-mail attachment viruses recently, Microsoft has taken an active roll in leading this threat to the security of our computers and e-mail.

Outlook automatically checks the file types of each attachment in the messages you send and receive. By default Outlook will check your attachment file types against the file types on the Level One blocked list: .ade, .adp, .app, .bas, .bat, .chm, .cmd, .com, .cpl, .crt, .csh, .exe, .fxp, .hlp, .hta, .inf, .ins, .isp, .js, .jse, .ksh, .lnk, .mda, .mdb, .mde, .mdt, .mdw, .mdz, .msc, .msi, .msp, .mst, .ops, .pcd, .pif, .prf, .prg, .reg, .scf, .scr, .sct, .shb, .shs, .url, .vb, .vbe, .vbs, .wsc, .wsf, .wsh, .xsl. If your file is on this list, Outlook will prevent you from saving, viewing, and executing the attachment on your system.

Level Two attachments can be adjusted to your security preferences. By default there aren't any Level Two file types, however for deployment, you can create a list of Level Two files types. Under the default installation of Outlook, Level Two file types cannot be opened directly from an item in an e-mail message. As an administrator, you can add or remove, demote an attachment file type from the Level One list by using the Outlook Security Form. Outlook also tries to protect you against viruses in scripts, ActiveX controls, and macro viruses in Office documents. By default, Outlook won't run scripts and deactivate ActiveX controls. Furthermore, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint have your security level set at High. This setting only lets you run signed macros from trusted sources. Unsigned macros are deactivated.

A digital ID protects the sender's identity. It contains a private key, which stays on the sender's computer, and a digital certificate that contains a public key. The certificate is sent with digitally signed messages and it contains the key to decipher messages from the sender. You can get a digital signature from here: http://office.microsoft.com/assistance/2000/certpage.aspx

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Show Me MicrosoftR Office OutlookR 2003
Show Me MicrosoftR Office OutlookR 2003
ISBN: N/A
EAN: N/A
Year: 2003
Pages: 293

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