not a full solution, but a big help, is to get one of the free "email checkers" that looks at your mail ON the server and allows you to delete without downloading any mail you don't like or trust. It works pretty fast, though for those who get a LOT of email, it can take extra time. It would not get a worm in mail from a friend, but it can at least be one form of "spam stopper"(....but DO get a good virus program...Norton stopped the Kakworm for me!)

I use one called "POP3 Scan Mailbox"...but there are several others...see the WWW's best freeware page at Son of Spy Freeware