MS Makes E-mail Virus Patch
By MICHAEL J MARTINEZ
AP Business Writer
05/15/00
SEATTLE (AP) -- Charged with enabling easy access for computer
viruses like the Love Bug, Microsoft is altering its popular
Outlook e-mail software to prevent users from running any
"executable'' program attachments, good or bad.
As an additional safeguard, any time a computer program
attempts to access Outlook's address book or tries to send
e-mail via Outlook, users will receive a warning and will be
urged not to allow it.
The software "patch'' announced Monday for Microsoft Outlook
98 and Office 2000 will be available on a Microsoft Web site
starting next week.
...
"We've been taking a really hard look at the security issues with
regard to Outlook over the past few weeks,'' said Steven Sinofsky,
senior vice president for Microsoft Office, a package of software
programs that includes Outlook.
...
Legitimate programs that access Outlook, such as the synchronization
software for Palm organizers and other handheld devices, will also
be flagged, though users can simply click "Yes'' and allow the
transfer of information to take place.
Yeay!
Cheers,
James