In the eighteen months I have been writing this column, I have repeatedly asked readers to “practice safe HEX” by installing and frequently updating antivirus software, and installing the free “critical updates” offered by Microsoft. Antivirus software is readily available locally. Virtually all the stores that carry any computer products also stock antivirus software. The Sunday sale books almost always have the two antivirus market leaders, McAfee and Norton, on sale for as little as $5, after rebate. Other antivirus products are also available for internet download, some for free. In almost all builds of Windows since Windows 95, going online and clicking on the START button, and then clicking on the “Windows Update” link near the top of the column will take the user directly to an automated Microsoft webpage. Follow the on-screen instructions, and download the “critical update” custom compiled by Microsoft. The file should download, and automatically install itself. If the file size appears too large, clicking on the “+” on the left of the critical update will show the included files, and they can be selected, and downloaded individually or as selected groups. This will close most of the current security holes in Outlook, Outlook Express, and Internet Explorer. With the latest patches installed, these programs have some, but not complete immunity, from Klez and its relatives. The patches are not an adequate substitute for properly configured and updated antivirus software.

At home, no one in my family uses Outlook or Outlook Express as an email program. While the Outlook family of email programs are by far the most widely used email clients, they are not the only ones available. Outlook Express is probably the number one email program used, because it comes free with all modern versions of Windows, and is now also integral with Internet Explorer; download a new version of Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express comes with it, for free. Outlook, the full-featured big brother of Outlook Express, is often included in Microsoft Office, and is typically installed by default when MS Word and other Office utilities are installed. As is common, “biggest” is not necessarily best. In addition to not having the system access and security holes of the Outlook programs, most of the third party email software is often easier to use and more secure than Microsoft’s programs.

On my computer at home, I use Eudora Pro 5.1.1 (www.eudora.com). Eudora Pro, available for PCs (Windows 3.1 and CE to XP), MAC, and PalmOS, comes in three versions, and is compatible with almost all email protocols and systems. There is a free “light” version, feature rich enough for most users; a free full featured “adware” version, which uses small advertising windows to compensate the publisher; and the full feature-rich commercial version, available online or in local stores for $39.95. Many published side-by-side comparisons have rated Eudora Pro the best of the email clients. For those organizations that want to get away from the security risks of Outlook, a multi-site license is available for Eudora Pro.

Another very popular free email client is Pegasus. My oldest daughter uses Pegasus (www.pmail.com) on her desktop computer and her notebook. Pegasus Mail 4.02 was released on August 13, 2002, and is among the most current and compatible email programs available. Versions of Pegasus are available for all Microsoft operating systems, from MSDOS to Windows XP. In June, 2002, PCWorld magazine named Pegasus Mail 4.01 the “best e-mail" package” in their annual "World Class" awards. Here is what PCWorld magazine said: “Pegasus Mail 4: Powerful and intuitive mail-filtering rules, a new Outlook-style three-pane interface, and fewer worm threats than the big boys face make the free Pegasus our pick.” Excellent quality, and a “free” price make Pegasus an excellent choice to replace Outlook.

For those switching from Outlook to other email programs, there are several free utilities and websites that can convert almost any address book, mailbox, and contact list from its native format, to the Eudora, Pegasus, or other email program format (see www.emailman.com/conversion).

Pegasus and Eudora are just two of the many fine, and often free, email programs. The local Tucows site at tucows.exp.net/mail95.html lists three “freeware” email clients, other than Outlook Express, that have earned its highest five-cow rating, and several other top-rated email clients that are either shareware (try before you buy), or “adware” (advertiser supported). All of these alternative email programs are fully compatible with all of the local internet service providers, such as EONET (IH2000 and IJNTB) and EXP/DataRecall, as well as almost all of the national providers. Many of the third party email programs do not work with AOL.

Since both Outlook and Outlook Express are the explicit targets of many of the virus and worm authors, and some of the third-party email clients are more secure and functionally superior to Outlook programs, both home and organizational users should consider changing to one of the third-party programs. Even if not free, imagine how much can be saved, in both terms of time and dollars, with a more secure email program.

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