News
Outlook Security Update Now Available
- By Scott Bekker
- June 08, 2000
Microsoft Corp. announced the immediate availability of the Outlook E-mail Security Update, a security enhancement released in the wake of the "I Love You" and similar worms. The update includes customization features for administrators based on feedback from customers, partners, and security experts.
The Outlook E-mail Security Update provides a significantly improved level of security for Outlook users by blocking access to potentially unsafe file types that virus writers target and use to transmit viruses as e-mail attachments. With the update, Outlook will also prompt users with a warning dialog box when an external program attempts to access their Outlook address book or send e-mail on their behalf. The update also enables the Restricted Zone as the default Outlook Security Zone setting.
In addition to these enhancements, new functionality has been added to the update since it was initially announced. The update now allows organizations to customize the new security features for the functionality they require without sacrificing security. By relying on server security features, IT administrators will be able to choose which file types can be accessed as attachments and how the warning dialog boxes are shown. Active Scripting will also be disabled by default within the Restricted Zone, as an additional security safeguard.
The update is available for Outlook 98 and Outlook 2000 SR-1 customers. - Isaac Slepner
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.