Viewing the text of e-mails before you open them

[Whoever]

In Outlook Express, can somebody please explain what you have to do to be able to view the text of incoming e-mails before you open them. The screen splits in two. The upper half displays all your incoming messages and the lower half of the screen shows the text of whatever message you have highlighted in the top screen. Thanks.

[ChuckFickens]

click on the view menu > layout and put a tick in "show preview pane"

though I would suggest not switching it on as it's a security risk.

with it switched on you are unable to delete suspicious Emails without first opening them (yes just seeing it in the preview pane is opening them) and if there is any dubious scripts or such like in the email they will run and might do nasty things to your computer!

[Postdog]

Not use OE for a while, but as I recall, in the layout settings, you tick show preview pane.

[Puzzled001]

Message for CF, thanks for letting us know that the preview actually opens the email, I was under the impression it did not. I have now unclicked preview, thanks again

[Whoever]

No, I didn't realise that previewing an e-mail actually opened it, but I assumed that if you have all the proper virus protection software installed, no harm would be done? Isn't it the case that it's only if you click on any website links within the text of an e-mail that you start getting your computer into trouble?

[rojash]

"Isn't it the case that it's only if you click on any website links within the text of an e-mail that you start getting your computer into trouble?"

Nope. OE allows e-mailers to (eg) send you an e-mail which instead of containing pictures, just contains links to them. The pictures can be stored on a server on the web, and are downloaded automatically when you view the e-mail. It's possible to craft an e-mail in such a way that it downloads malicious code. Even those that only contain links to pictures allow the sender to record the fact that you've downloaded them. This is a great way for spammers to confirm that your e-mail address is real and active.