hello everyone, not long after i formatted the HDD about 2 months ago, i started to receive every email WITH a "paper clip" attachment - showing in the paper-clip-column to the left of the senders name in Outlook Express 6. There is no actual attachment to the emails - just the "paper clip" attachment icon. I would roughly get 40 emails every day - mostly junk. someone told me years ago, that this means you have a virus/spyware, and that when i reply to any of those emails, the virus/spyware is passeed onto legit recipients. could this be true ? my PC is running normally. have full security - firewall, spyware/virus programs with real-time monitoring. do i need to be concerned about those email "paper clip" attachments ? thanks and a very Merry Christmas to all :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQuJnnQuPWM&mode=user&search= Rob, Central Coast NSW Australia

Robmoski Are you by any chance using AVG as your Anti-virus Software? If so open the E-mail Scanner - Configure Button - if you have Check Incoming Mail Checked then leave that Checked but remove the Check from Certify below it Lesley

WHOA ! thank you Lesley. yes, am running AVG. and i did what you suggested and VOILA ! the little paper clips are gone. i can now see what "Certify Mail" does - it adds that little message at the bottom of all incoming mail, and hence shows that AVG has verified that the email has been checked. no harm i spose in leaving "Certify Mail" box checked then. thanks again... Rob :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQuJnnQuPWM&mode=user&search= Rob, Central Coast NSW Australia

Robmoski To clarify... Check Incoming Mail - leave that Checked Certify - Uncheck You want AVG to Scan your Incoming Mail but you don't need the Certification which produces the PaperClip Lesley

yep, thanks again. cheers :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQuJnnQuPWM&mode=user&search= Rob, Central Coast NSW Australia