Updating Outlook Express

You can no longer download a standalone version of Outlook Express - it comes in the Internet Explorer package. So, to update to the latest version, you need to download and install Internet Explorer. Or you can obtain them off a magazine disc (the CDs that are attached to most computer magazines these days).

Once you have installed the latest version, you will need to go to the Windows Update page and download the latest security updates. You can do this in Windows XP by going to Help and Support on the Start menu.

If you encounter an error message "Outlook Express could not be started because MSOE.DLL could not be loaded", you have mixed files from different versions on your computer. If you haven't upgraded to the latest version, do so. The other solution is to remove all traces of Outlook Express from your computer and then reinstall. However, removing all traces is not an easy task.

Updating other email clients

Some email clients will show a message when an update is released. If yours doesn't, check with the maker's website from time to time and see what the latest version number/build is. If it is more recent than yours, download and install it. That way you won't leave yourself open to the malware that exploits unpatched vulnerabilities.