Outlook 2003 SP2

This service pack includes previously released service packs and fixes several undocumented bugs, including one affecting users with multiple SMTP accounts. SP2 adds anti-phishing functionality, displaying all junk email in plain text format and removing the ability to click on URLs in the junk email folder and on other suspicious messages. For complete details, see Issues that are fixed in Outlook 2003 by Office 2003 Service Pack 2 (906451).

After installing service pack 2, the build number shown in Help, About should be
Microsoft Office Outlook 2003 (11.6568.6568) SP2

Office 2003 Service Pack 2 (SP2)

Outlook Live users should read Description of Outlook Live 2003 Service Pack 2 (902848) and download the service pack using Office Updates, accessible from the Help, Check from Updates menu in Outlook.

New Features

When junk mail arrives and is moved to the Junk mail folder, HTML messages are viewed in plain text format and links are disabled (made unclickable).

If you drag these messages to the Inbox, they'll render as HTML once again. It also works in reverse - if you drag and HTML formatted message to the Junk E-mail folder, it will be displayed as plain text.

When an HTML message arrives that exhibits phishing characteristics but does not exhibit enough criteria to be classified as junk email, the message remains in the Inbox and the links are disabled. A note in the Infobar tells you to click to enable the hyperlinks.

What are phishing characteristics? A number of factors are considered, including (but not limited to) displaying a url in the email when the url used in the underlying link is different, as in this example:
<a href="http://www.slipstick.com">http://www.outlook-resources.com</a>. While some legitimate mail (including newsletters from Microsoft) do this, it's very common in spam from people trying to trick you into giving them your bank, eBay, or paypal logon information.

To permanently enable all links, go to Tools, Preferences, Junk Email options and remove the check from the option to disable links. I don't recommend disabling this option.

Problems

More Information