Unable to delete SPAM with a malware payload

10. July 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Outlook for Mac · Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
While using Outlook 2011 for Mac, I've recently received several SPAM messages with attached files containing Windows trojans or other malware.  Once these messages arrive in my inbox, I see a warning from Sophos Antivirus and Outlook freezes.  If I attempt to select the message, it highlights, but no action is possible.  If I right click and select "delete" the highlighting jumps to a random message while the SPAM message remains in the inbox.

While this is happening, the Sophos quarantine manager attempts to delete the threat, but Outlook keeps downloading new copies to the cache.  The only escape requires force-quitting Outlook.  If I then restart Outlook, the problem resumes.

If I access the Exchange server using Outlook Web Access, I am unable to delete the SPAM message, or any other message.  I just get an error stating that there's a server configuration problem.

The only way I can recover from this situation is to log on to a Windows 7 box, open Outlook 2010 and delete the message.  Outlook on Windows has no problem deleting the message.  I can then run Sophos antivirus to clear the cached malware attachment.

All the malware has been Windows oriented, so there's no threat to my Mac, but losing the use of Outlook while being unable to delete a SPAM message is more than a little disturbing.

There does not seem to be any preference I can set to keep Outlook from automatically downloading attachments.

I'm running OS X 10.6.8, Sophos 8.0.5c and up to date versions all the Office 2011 products.