Although e-mail attachment is popular and convenient for transmitting files and documents, it is the source of viruses as well. Be cautious to open your e-mail attachments, even they looks like being sent by some one you know.
Why e-mail attachments could be dangerous?
It is easy and popular. This trait turns e-mail into a kind of tool for hackers and malicious users.
Sending an e-mail is so easy that e-mail virus can infiltrate a large number of computers easily. Most of viruses even do not require the user to send an e-mail. They can scan and collect the e-mail addresses in the user's computer and send e-mails with viruses to all the e-mail addresses. These viruses take advantage of the weakness that a user will usually trust the e-mails sent from someone he/she knows and open the attachments.
E-mail programs or applications are trying to meet all users' requirements. Almost all kind of files and documents can be attached in an e-mail and sent. This feature also provides the attackers much freedom to select virus categories.
Some e-mail programs can automatically download the e-mail attachments. This could, however, expose the user's computer under the threats of any viruses in the e-mail attachments.
How to protect yourself and others in your contact list?
Be very careful for the e-mail attachments you did not ask for. Only looking like they were sent by your mother, nanny or boss doesn't mean they are. Many viruses can cheat and make the e-mail look like being sent by others. If you can, just contact the possible sender and ensure the e-mail is from him and virus free before you open the attachment. This also applies to those e-mails seemingly sent by your ISP or software vendors.
Before you open an attachment, save it on your hard disk and scan it with your antivirus software.
1. Update your antivirus to the latest version
2. Save the attachment to your hard disk
3. Manually scan the attachment with the antivirus software
4. If it is safe, you can open it now.
Disable the automatic download attachment option in your e-mail program.
