["Followup-To:" header set to alt.os.linux.slackware.]
On Wed, 24 Dec 2003 19:25:30 +0500, N S Srikanth <nssrikanth@hotmail.com> wrote:
> When composing an e mail message with a picture
> in Outlook Express, I paste the picture inside the
> message area itself, I do not attach it to the mail
> so as to save my friends the anxiety of opening an
> attachment and getting infected (Friends running
> Win boxes).

I don't use Sylpheed or Kmail, so I can't help with that part of the
problem, but let me correct a gap in your understanding of email: there
is no danger in opening attachments per se. The danger comes when the
attachment includes malicious code designed to run on the same system
that it's run on (and, generally, malicious emails will find ways of
running themselves, with Outlook Express).

As long as there's no malicious code in the attachment (e.g it's a
picture), there's no danger of getting infected. If they're that
worried about it, they can always save the attachment to disc somewhere
and scan it for viruses before opening it.


--
Simon <simon@no-dns-yet.org.uk> **** GPG: F4A23C69
"We demand rigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertainty."
- Douglas Adams