| Don't ever use Outlook Express, Internet
Explorer, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Office,
Microsoft Media Player, Real Audio, WinAmp
or QuickTime to open files that you don't fully trust. |
| Alleged File Type |
Programs that are Safe to Use |
| Text (*.txt) |
Notepad or WordPad |
| Documents (*.doc, *.wri, *.rtf, *.wps) |
Write, WordPad, and Microsoft Works. Don't use Word. |
| Spreadsheets |
Microsoft Works. Don't use Exell. |
| Zip (*.zip) |
Windows XP itself or WinZip SR-1 (Aug. 26,
2004 -- has important security-related changes.) |
| PDF (*pdf) |
The latest version of Adobe Reader is probably
safe. Earlier versions are not. |
| HTML (*.htm, *.html) |
1. Notepad, Write or WordPad: The message
will be more or less confusing
to read, but
you should be able to make
out the gist of
it.
2. The tiny "OffbyOne" [free] browser is the best tool for
this purpose. It's safe because it's a passive
browser. |
| Images (*.jpg, *.jpeg, *.gif, *.bmp, etc.) |
Use Microsoft Paint. |
| Video (*.mov, *.avi, *.wmv, *.wma, etc.) |
I don't know of any programs that are safe
for this purpose. |
| Executables (*.exe, *.pif, *.com, *.cmd, *.vbs, etc.) |
Are you serious? There are some "sandbox" programs that you could use, but that's
beyond the scope of this process. |
| Music (*.ra, *.mp3, *.wma, etc.) |
I don't know of any programs that are safe
for this purpose. You could download the
*.mp3 files to your portable MP3 Player and
play them safely there though. |
| Unknown or unfamiliar file types |
It's safe to open any file with Notepad,
WordPad. |
|