> 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
