A conversation with a friend has reminded me of a question that I have 
had for a long time regarding email reading in Windows Mail (Vista term 
for Outlook Express).

(1) Warnings exist that say to never "open" an email  message from 
someone you don't know (and there is even a potential problem with those 
from people you do know).
(2) Email messages exist that contain active-x controls, which are said 
to be dangerous.

Now, I use Windows Mail to view my email.  It has a "preview pane" for 
looking at email, but  I am not sure of the difference between viewing 
the preview pane and "opening" an email - I have always considered them 
to be the same thing.  And, there is not much that I can do if they 
contain nasty active-x controls.  (Other than use anti-malware 
software.)  Looking at the Vista Help, I see that "opening" the mail 
means double-clicking on the mail and reading it in a different window.

Of course, I know enough not to open suspicious attachments, often 
sending such things to the bit-bucket even at the risk of losing an 
amusing joke or picture.

Is viewing an email in the Windows Mail preview pane the same as 
"opening" the email from a malware danger point of view, or is opening 
it actually more dangerous?

TIA

Dean Kukral 

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