Most viruses today seem to be coming through email. Outlook and Outlook express are especially susceptible to them.  The reason for this is something called Windows Scripting. It is a little program built into Windows that is supposed to help with macros and the like. It also allows email viruses to open up even though you haven't clicked on them. It is easy to get rid of though.  Follow these simple tips to remove the Windows Scripting Host.
  Click on the START button go up to SETTINGS and across to CONTROL PANELS. When the Control Panels window opens find ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS and double click on it. A window will open with three tabs across the top. Click on the WINDOWS SETUP tab. This will bring up the list of Windows components that are installed. Go down the list to accessories and click on it once to highlight it. In the lower part of the window is a button that says details, click on that. A new list will pop up showing the accessories installed. Scroll down until you find WINDOWS SCRIPTING HOST.  If there is a check mark next to it then remove the check mark by clicking on top of it. Hit the OK button at the bottom of that window and the previous window when it comes back. That's it all done.
     Remember this only keeps attachments from opening automatically, so do not try to open any suspicious attachments even if you know the person they came from. Most email viruses use the address book on the infected computer to send themselves to everybody in it. NEVER open any file that ends in .exe, and email whoever sent it right away to see if it was intentional.  Some viruses out nowadays can literally ruin your hard drive beyond repair so be carefull.