Is there any way to work around the Outlook security update?

Move the message with the attachment to a new folder within Outlook (right-click the message and select Move to folder). Then open Outlook Express and import messages from the new folder (File, Import, Outlook, and then highlight the folder you moved the email message into). Make sure you have a virus scanner running, just in case the attachment does contain a virus.

After you install the security update, you can't open executables directly from an email message (you have to save them to disk). If you still want to open attachments from the email message, you can patch file outllib.dll (Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice):

Before installing Microsoft Office 2000 Service Pack 2 (SP2), back up two files: outllib.dll (Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice) and outllibr.dll (Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice1033). Install SP2 and restore the two files you backed up. Unfortunately, you must use the SP1 files (outllib.dll Version 9.0.0.3821 and outllibr.dll Version 9.0.0.3821) instead of the files on the Office 2000 CD-ROM. Otherwise, you'll have problems with Outlook because of DLL incompatibilities.