With the understanding that the display of the JPEG in a separate area below
the message is not the equivalent of opening the attachment, try the
following:

OE Tools | Options | Read | Read all messages in plain text.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

Kate wrote:
Sometimes I get emails with jpeg attachments and when I open them the
images are displayed below the text. This applies to attachments in
binary newsgroups, as well. I know that jpeg attachments can be
dodgy, so what I would like to know is, if the images appear below the
email or post, are the files actually opened, or is it that only by
double-clicking the file attachment and opening them that way could
they create a potential danger?

I use AVG Free (without email scanner) and thought that I could
right-click an email or post in OE before opening it and I would have
the option to Scan with AVG just to make sure, but this is not the
case, unfortunately. I can scan with AVG if I save emails or posts to
Desktop before opening it, but would any infection they may contain be
released by the "save as" action, please? It seems unlikely, but I
thought I would ask...

Thank you
Kate