Outlook Express settings are closely tied to Internet Explorer's settings. If you want to be somewhat secure, you have three options:

1. Make Outlook Express a restricted zone.
   
2. Change your Internet settings for Java and Active X.
   
3. Don't open attachments!

Restrict your security
This option is done within Outlook Express.

1. Go to the Tools menus
   
2. Select Options
   
3. Click on the Security tab
   
4. Under Security Zones, choose Restricted Sites Zone
   
5. Press OK

Windows identifies zones of security that you can define. Generally, Internet Explorer uses the Internet zone.

By telling Outlook Express to use the restricted zone you're keeping it from accessing any sites but the ones you say are safe. You don't have to say any are safe if you don't want to. Internet Explorer can still use the Internet Zone and access all sites.

Change Internet settings
Now you'll need to go into the restricted sites zone and make sure Java and Active X are disabled.

1. Go to the Tools menus
   
2. Select Options
   
3. Click on the Connection tab
   
4. Under Internet Connection Settings, press the Change button. This takes you to Windows Internet settings.
   
5. Click on the Security tab
   
6. Select the Restricted Sites icon
   
7. Under Security Level for This Zone, press the Custom Level button
   
8. Select Disable or Prompt for all Active X, Java, and Scripting options. You can disable everything if you like, but remember, if Internet Explorer uses the restricted zone, these settings will apply to it as well. However, if IE uses the Internet zone these settings won't affect it.
   
9. Press OK
   
10. Press Yes
    
11. Press OK
    
12. Press OK (Getting boring, eh?)
    

Congratulations. You've just successfully changed the security settings of Outlook Express. Hurray.

Don't open attachments
Just a reminder -- changing these security settings helps prevent malicious scripts, but it doesn't make you 100 percent secure! You can still get a virus or malicious program by opening attachments. So don't open them.