Topic: Outlook Express

[Skywalker]

I have upgraded my Windows XP to Service Pack 2 and I now find that if I click on a hyperlink in my email, nothing will happen. If I have my Internet Explorer open, it will go to the link.
Is there a way I can change a switch to have my brower open when I click on a link in an email body?
Thanks,
Luke
lukesnyder@carolina.rr.com
  :cry:

This is from the Google Answers forum:

Make sure IE is your default browser (if that is what you want)
Open IE and go to:
Tools / Internet Options / Programs /
Make sure there there is a check next to: "IE should check to make
sure it is the default browser".
Click Apply / OK / Close IE.
Reopen IE and choose "Yes" when it asks you if you'd like to make IE
your default browser.
Now try your email links again.

If that didn't help, try this:

Close IE.
Click Start / Run / type: regsvr32 urlmon.dll (there is a space
between the two) / click OK.
Open IE and go to:
Tools / Internet Options / Programs / Click on "Reset Web Settings"
Now try your email links again.

Another note on GA had the warning to be careful what you click on in an email, especially if you are using IE as your browser.  There are some exploits that entice users to click on links that go to web pages that can infect your computer with spyware, trojans, bots and other nasties.

If you want a more secure alternative browser, download and install Mozilla FireFox from http://www.mozilla.org.

[BillB]

You can't emphasize enough the danger of clicking on links in a email.  (and any links in this message could be malicious -- don't click on anything here!)

I occasionally have fun decomposing a phishing email. I know it's phishing because they're asking for account information at a site that I don't have an account, or information I know they don't need, or just because I'm suspicious.

For example, I just got an email asking me to update my eBay account info. It had an eBay and even a Trust-e logo on it and a link that read https://arribada.ebay.com/saw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?PlaceCCInfo. However, when I clicked on the link, it finally failed saying it couldn't connect to 82.165.244.14 and in fact, the full link was to http://82.165.244.14/82.165.244.14/hiena.info/aw-confirm/login.html.

The first link is a perfectly legitimate eBay registration page and if you paste it into your browser, will work as you expect. The second one is where you would end up if you clicked the link. By the time I clicked it, this link failed; probably because it's been shut down. Other phishing links I've followed have landed somewhere in China.

The rules are:
-- Don't open an email from someone you don't have a relationship with.
-- If they are requesting account information, be suspicious. Don't click an attached link, use your usual login procedure.
-- When you get to a login or account information page (especially anytime you're about to enter personal or financial information), check the browser's address bar to be sure the site starts https and the lock at the bottom of the browser window.
-- Login the first time with a ficticious name and password. If you get through, you're being scammed.
-- Check your financial statements promptly and challenge anything questionable.