This is a special feature page, it's intended for novice computer users though hopefully even those more experienced with the internet and PC's will find something useful!

Get to know your eMail client!
Most modern eMail clients (the client is the application you use to get and write your eMail) have plenty of built-in automation. An eMail virus can exploit this automation, so if you override some of the key automated tasks the chances are the virus won't stand a chance.

One of the most popular eMail clients is Microsoft Outlook Express and so that is the example I've used here. Most modern eMail clients have similar features so even if you don't use Outlook Express please read on, the layouts are different but the procedures are much the same.

Cut down the automation, allowing the application to send and receive messages without your say-so is a bad idea, you may not have a chance to review what's actually being sent. Stop 'sending mail on Startup & Shutdown'.

First select Tools and then Options. - just follow the picture below...

The next menu looks very complicated but don't worry, you only need to bother with one or two things here. Look at the picture below, there is a series of 'tabs' (don't panic if they move around as you click just keep your eye on 'General') - The General tab of the Options menu contains some dangerous automatic features. Below, figure 1 shows the main culprit, Send and receive messages on startup - though as you can see I've switched off nearly everything else too - it's not needed so I don't allow it!

If you stop the application from sending and receiving mail automatically, you'll need to do it yourself - DON'T PANIC - it's easy. The Picture below shows just two steps. First select Tools from the Outlook express menu then select 'Send and Receive' and make your choice from the sub menu. In this example you can see I have selected my famouswelsh.com account.

Back to the options menu for a moment..

...There's a few more things you can switch off that should help protect your system. Clicking the Send tab brings it to the front. The picture below is marked with figure 3, that's where all the action is...

Saving a copy of your sent messages is a good idea, sending messages immediately is not, this doesn't give you a chance to review what's being sent! Switching off the 'automatically put people I reply to in my address book' is usually a good idea too. For instance, I often have to write to people on just one or two occasions - so then what's the point of having them permanently listed in my address book? That's what many of these virus' are looking for, big fat address books!

Include message in reply? - well I just find it annoying so I always switch it off, likewise the 'automatically complete email addresses' when composing feature. The choice is yours.

Plain text or HTML?
Well, it is better for the Internet in general if you switch the html off. Text messages are smaller and so travel better - besides, there's not a lot to a pain text email, so there's really nowhere for a virus to hide (that sounds like the proverbial famous last words!) - you can attach anything to a plain text email, just as you can with a html the difference being the plain text doesn't have any fancy fonts or background pictures - just your message, which is the whole point isn't it?

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