Is preview pane safe?

I'm sorry if this question's been asked (maybe even by me), but I can't remember or find the answer: Is it safe to click a message in the preview pane and read it? From the standpoint of e-mail-borne viruses, I mean. Sometimes I see an e-mail concerning a subject that's unfamiliar to me or from a sender I don't know, but the only way I can see what it's all about is to open it in the preview pane. Should I just delete it without finding out what it's about? I'm using Outlook Express 6. Thanks.

 

Turn Off the preview pane. It is easy to safely check an e-mail in outlook express without having the preview pane turned on.

Just right click the suspect e-mail> Properties>Details>Message Source

 

Does this mean that a preview actually classes as opening the email, Yargwel? and is it safe when images etc are blocked?

 

Thanks, Yargwel. I see what you mean. I believe I did not state my question(s) correctly. When I open OE, I don't know if I'm in preview pane or not. There is a list of messages, with the ones not read in boldface. When I single-click a message, the body shows up in the lower part of the screen. Does this constitute opening the message? When I double-click a message, it shows up in a separate window. Does this constitute opening a message? I belive my Avast anti-virus program scans incoming mail, but do youor anyone know if it scans my single-clicked or my double-clicked, or both? Thanks again.

 

Its any HTML in emails that make them good breeding grounds for malicious code.
Previewing any message in HTML format does require that the code be executed. Essentially, if you see it, the viewer (email client) will have had to render it to show it to you.

However, email scanning is a great preventative step. Another step you can take is to convert your messages to plain text, so that the code is displayed, and not executed.

Always use caution with links. Some viewers will render hyperlinks, even in text only modes. Some give the hyperlink's URL is a status bar or similar, but those can be phony domain names that will redirect you to a completely different URL.

 

Yes in certain cases (see Mada's post). And is it safe if images are blocked - again it depends on how the message is constructed ie plain text or HTML.

 

If you can read the message using any other method iN OE other than the one I described then yes - you've opened it. :crybaby