Outlook will NOT allow you to send attachements with a few suffix's. Such suffices are .exe (executable), bat (Batch file), vbs (visual basic) and a few others.
This is intentional, because a fool could then open 'Virus.exe' and infect his network; then this same fool would then blame Microsoft for allowing the virus to be installed.
The way around this, is to append another file type to the file name. So, a file named 'Application.exe' would be renamed 'Application.exe.jpg'. Now Outlook thinks the file is a picture.
The recipient simply removes the .jpg suffix; and off you go. And, never, ever, ever run an attached executable file from someone you do not know. If you have received an executable file from someone you do know, make sure that your friend REALLY did send it, and that it's not from a virus on your friend's machine. If it's not expected, chances are it's not good news.
If some fool (and I use the word 'fool' in the kindest way possible) sends you an email and asks you to forward it to your friend 'x' times so you can see a cartoon .... ask them this:
"You have intentionally given me some application written by someone you do not know, from a company or entity you have never heard of, with the message originating from someone you do not know; which will 'alledgedly' run some program you can not vouch for, on my machine (full of my personal information - tax, credit card accounts, address books) and you have freely given this program to all of your friends. Do you think this is a smart thing to do?"
We are using standard extensions... .doc and .xls
Have done several virus scans using both norton and pc-cillin.
No viruses noted.
I'd recommend against sending or receiving raw executables, period. Far better to send them zipped, possibly using the encryption option and a pre-agreed passcode. Even a trivial passcode, if it's preagreed-upon, can almost eliminate the danger of spoofing attacks by viruses. How likely is it that a virus is going to send itself zipped and encrypted with the password "sc"?