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Turning On/Off Automatic Active Pages for OutLook/MSIE

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Step1 When you use Outlook or it's little sister Outlook Express the settings for security get drawn directly from the settings in Internet Explorer. Whether this is a good or bad thing -- this is the way it is. So to start this process right-click on the IE icon on the desktop and left-click on PROPERTIES.

Step2 Now you should see the Internet Properties Dialog Box. There are a bunch of things we can modify here but we are only on a mission to adjust a couple of things. Select the SECURITY tab on top, make sure the Internet globe is selected in the window, and left-click CUSTOM LEVEL. This will allow us to modify many settings.

Step3 In the Security Settings window scroll down to the SCRIPTING section. Check PROMPT in the Active Scripting section. You can check PROMPT on the other scripting options if you would like. This will eliminate any *.vbs files -- or scripting within web pages -- from automatically running without your permission and "hosing" up your computer...like the "Love Letter" virus and other fun stuff. Don't you want to choose before a worm crawls all over inside your computer?

Step4 You can slide up in the Security Settings to the ActiveX section and do the same thing if you want. Selecting PROMPT here will force you to choose whenever an ActiveX control is activated on your computer. This will make you have to confirm a lot more things browsing the Internet but it may save you from a virus at some time. If you are done left-click OK, and then OK again in the Internet Properties.

Step5 At this point you have disabled the automatic scripting and ActiveX functioning. You just have to confirm whether you want to "pull the trigger". Now, to see where Outlook Express links to these settings left-click on the icon wherever it is. It is usually down on the left next to your Start button.

Step6 From thes TOOLS menu select OPTIONS. This will bring up the Options Dialog Box. From here select the Security tab on top.

Step7 Here you can choose to use the main Internet Settings from IE or choose to use the Restricted Sites Zone from IE which is much more limited. This pretty much shuts off everything except the sites you tell it are OK. If you are done then left-click OK and you are in business. It pays to look around in the Security section of IE. There are a lot of settings there and you can pretty much configure it however you want. Just remember that the email client takes its settings from the browser when using the latest Microsoft stuff.