:: Email viruses |
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Many of the most prolific viruses are email-aware: they distribute themselves automatically by email. |
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Typically, email-aware viruses depend on the user clicking on an attached document. This then runs a script that can forward infected documents to other people. The Netsky virus, for example, searches the computer for files that may contain email addresses (e.g EML or HTML files), and then uses the email program on your computer to send itself to those addresses. Some viruses, like Sobig-F, dont even need to use your email browser; they include their own 'SMTP engine' for sending mail. |
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Email viruses may compromise your computers security or steal data, but their most common effect is to create excessive email traffic and crash servers. |
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 Email attachments
Any attachment that you receive by email could carry a virus; launching such an attachment can infect your computer. |
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Even an attachment that appears to be a safe type of file, e.g. a file with a .txt extension, can pose a threat. That file may be a malicious VBS script with the real file type (.vbs) hidden from view. |
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:: Can I get a virus just by reading email? |
You don't have to open an attachment to become infected via email. Just viewing your mail is a risk. |
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Some viruses, such as Kakworm and Bubbleboy, can infect users as soon as they read email. They look like any other message but contain a hidden script that runs as soon as you open the email, or even look at it in the preview pane (as long as you are using Outlook and the right version of Internet Explorer). This script can change system settings and send the virus to other users via email. |
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Microsoft issue patches that eliminate this security weakness and others like it. To find out which patches you need, visit windowsupdate.microsoft.com. To keep informed about future patches, you can subscribe to the Microsoft Security mailing list by clicking here. |
