Anti-Virus Tools for Outlook

Last reviewed on January 6, 2013

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

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.

Tools

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.

Cloudmark DesktopOne

DesktopOne works with your favorite email programs, such as Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Mozilla Thunderbird, and more, to protect your inbox from spam. Basic and Pro versions available.

Email Sentinel Pro

Email Sentinel Pro is an prevention email anti-virus that blocks viruses from invading your computer by email. Version 2.7

MailCleaner

Free software to detect and remove known viruses sent via e-mail messages. The virus list is automatically updated.

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.

Written by

Diane Poremsky
A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999 and involved in IT support since 1985, Diane is the author of several books and video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.