Can opening an e-mail harm my computer?

Jay-Jay_4

Hi,

I was just wondering if opening an email to read could unleash a virus or if you need to click on an attachment?

The reason is that I received an email from ZoneAlarm Security with the title 'Virus Alert Black Worm' and I haven't read it because I'm scared of my computer blowing up It's probably ok but I just wanted to be sure.

So, am I ok to read anything that looks dodgy as long as I don't click on anything in the actual e-mail or should I delete anything that I suspect without reading?


thank yoooooo

redux

Anything from Zone Alarm will be fine - they are warning you about something else.

You are right to avoid attachments or links in dodgy emails - they could install viruses, worms, or spyware.

Just reading should be ok, with a slight proviso. If it's an html format rather than plain text, some image files could act a bit like cookies and send home a message that it had been read, helping spammers identify real addresses from a string of made-up ones. This is why, nowadays, or on fully up-to-date versions anyway, Outlook Express blocks images being shown until you click a bar at the top. So don't do that for odd emails.

But I've still got the preview pane turned off from before they introduced that in XP SP2

penrhyn

I got that message from Zonealarm, turned out they were trying to sell their antivirus software on the back of the latest virus scare.
As a rule I usually delete anything where I'm suspicious of the sender, however I think its OK to view an email as long as you dont click on any links or open any attachments it contains.

rsykes2000

Opening emails can be dodgy - as an example, I get ones that try to exploit the JPG vulnerability (http://antivirus.about.com/od/securitytips/a/jpgflaw.htm) with an image contained in the email that opens when you view it. Ones from ZoneAlarm you would hope would be OK though. I assume you have an anti-virus running (and up-to-date !) and have all Windows Updates installed ? If so you *should* be OK.

intel

Jay-Jay Open it now so we can all have a larf

jason_hampson

I'm assuming your using POP3 e-mail (e.g. outlook). I think you can get applications that are triggered when opened. If your worried about security, why don't you use a web based e-mail like yahoo, gmail, hotmail etc.

intel

jason_hampson wrote:

I'm assuming your using POP3 e-mail (e.g. outlook). I think you can get applications that are triggered when opened. If your worried about security, why don't you use a web based e-mail like yahoo, gmail, hotmail etc.

Welcome new member :beer:


Or just see if your AV has marked the email as virus free or not
or get a spam blocker http://www.tucows.com/preview/424985
and add any email address you may find dodgy.

Al_Mac

I wouldn't open it, but only as I've never had an email from them.

Too scary:eek:

aerostar

For outlook Express to help protect your self even more go to

tools
options
read
tick the box that says Read all messages in plain text. Click APPLY

then choose the security tab

tick the box Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus.

Click apply Note the last will prevent any legitimate docs or pics etc from being saved or opened.

You will have to reverse the tick in the Do not allow attachments etc to save them.


May be a bit of a nuisance - but it is another security measure for you.

cwoodham

I use a program called MailWasher to check and delete all unwanted email on the servers before I download any email to my computer. That way you can get rid of any spam+attachments before it gets near your PC. The last freeware version (1.33) is available here:

http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page2.html

MailWasher 1.33 allows you to check a number of email addresses if you have more than one. I check four or five. More recent versions dont. Its one of the most useful utilities on my machine.

intel

Coffee Cup just pips mail washer to the post....

http://www.tucows.com/preview/416589 ... Mailwasher
http://www.tucows.com/preview/424985 ... Coffee Cup

Both darn good prog's tho.