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Anti-virus Tools for Outlook

Best practice for preventing virus infection is to never open an attachment from someone you don't know. It's a good idea to scan attachments even from known senders, especially if it's not a file you asked to receive or the cover note is suspicious.

These tools are specifically designed to examine incoming e-mail for viruses. 

The Attachment Security update prevents Outlook users from launching files directly from e-mail messages. Outlook 98 and 2000 users should make sure that they have the latest updates affecting HTML mail.

Additional tools can be found on the following pages:

Anti-virus Tools for Attachment Security - tools specific to attachments, including easy access to the blocked attachment settings.

Anti-virus Tools for Exchange server - tools for use at the server level, for Exchange and other email servers.

For information on specific viruses, see Viruses Affecting Microsoft Outlook.

 
 

 More Information

Tools in the Spotlight

Email Sentinel Pro   Email Sentinel Pro is an prevention email anti-virus that blocks viruses from invading your computer by email. Version 2.7
Kaspersky Anti-Virus   Scans system files and Outlook e-mail messages and attachments for viruses. Version 7.
QMailFilter   It is an easy-to-use Microsoft Outlook add-on designed to provide an advanced intelligent protection against junk-mails, viruses, unsolicited emails. The program uses Bayesian filtering technology that identifies about 99% of incoming junk messages. QMailFilter seamlessly integrates into the MS Outlook, scanning all incoming emails. Emails identified as junk are moved to the Junk Email folder.

More Tools

avast! 4 Professional Edition   Anti-virus tool protects Outlook messages and the file system. Receives virus signature updates automatically.
AVG Anti-Virus System   Scans system files and Outlook e-mail messages and attachments for viruses. Can also append a signature to mark that an outgoing message has been scanned for viruses and found clean. Free edition available.
CA Internet Security Suite   Anti-spam and Anti-virus protection for individuals and small businesses.
Cloudmark SafetyBar   Cloudmark SafetyBar stops spam, fraud, phishing attacks and all email threats automatically. The included anti-fraud toolbar is a browser toolbar that provides you with a rating so you know if the page is "Good" or "Unsafe" based on feedback from the Cloudmark Community and evaluated by the Cloudmark Service. Free trial available. (Formerly SpamNet)
EZ Armor   Blocks .vbs, .exe and other executable files from being launched from inside Outlook or other e-mail programs. You can still save the attachment and launch it from the file system. Reduces the risk of a virus spreading via e-mail by monitoring all attempts by external programs to generate mail.
JustBeFriends   An alternative to Microsoft's Outlook E-mail Security Update, this tool prevents the spread of e-mail borne viruses by controlling the ability of other applications to access Outlook. Works with all versions of Outlook. Requires Windows NT or Windows 2000.
MailCleaner   Free software to detect and remove known viruses sent via e-mail messages. The virus list is automatically updated.
McAfee VirusScan   Includes scanning of e-mail messages.
Norton AntiVirus   Anti-virus scanning of e-mail messages included.
Panda Antivirus   Detects viruses in OLE embedded documents and compressed files, as well as normal attachments. Available in English and several other languages.
Reflex ScreenMail for Outlook   Removes active components, such as scripts, and closes known Internet Explorer vulnerabilities in HTML messages. Scans all attachments with any anti-virus tool available on the client. (Ships with the Reflex Sherlock anti-virus scanner.) Displays a special warning when executable files are found. Scans signed and encrypted messages.
Worm Detector   Monitors incoming messages for known and likely email worms and suspected spam. Outlook 2000 and 2002 only. On Outlook 2002, it unblocks certain types of files that Microsoft normally considers dangerous so that it can perform its analysis.
ZoneAlarm Pro   Monitor and screen potentially harmful attachments, including .exe files. See ZoneAlarm Pro MailSafe for more information. Also controls Internet access by programs, such as viruses with their own SMTP engines.

More Information

  • Content Control Tools
  • Protecting Microsoft Outlook against Viruses -- comprehensive list of patches and settings
  • Bayesian Spam Filters
  • XADM The Melissa Virus Incident White Paper Is Available
  • Exchange Server Antivirus Scanners Buyer's Guide (Windows 2000 magazine)
  • GFI Email Security Testing Zone -- free vulnerability tests
  • Protect Against E-mail-based Viruses (.NET Magazine)
  • XADM Calendar Items Disappear from User's Folders -- Do not use a file-level anti-virus program scan the Exchange 2000 M: drive.
  • Microsoft Anti-virus API:

  • Microsoft Introduces New Antispam, Antivirus Features In Exchange Server 2003
  • XGEN Microsoft's Position on Antivirus Solutions for Exchange 2000
  • XADM Autoforward Rules May Be Disabled When Using Antivirus API
  • XADM Event Logging in Exchange 2000 Server SP1 for Virus Scanning API 2.0
  • XADM MAPI Tasks Do Not Work with Virus API Anti-Virus Software Running on the Exchange Server Computer
  • Inside the Exchange Server Antivirus API (Jerry Cochran, Exchange & Outlook UPDATE)
  • Updated Jun 29 2009

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