News37 mins ago
just a peep?
16 Answers
There's an email in my spam folder I'm not sure of - maybe it's spam, maybe it isn't. Now, I know not to open anything that may be attached unless I'm perfectly sure it's okay, but what about opening the email as such, is that also a no-no?
Answers
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If you were sure you wouldn't have posted ... you're not ...
in answer to that which you asked - so there is a doubt - delete it .... otherwise open it and pay the piper
it's how malware works ... the "g" word ... just a peep ...
and you're snagged.
If it's important they'll try again ...
and unless it's the antidote to whatever - you will survive this dilemma
in answer to that which you asked - so there is a doubt - delete it .... otherwise open it and pay the piper
it's how malware works ... the "g" word ... just a peep ...
and you're snagged.
If it's important they'll try again ...
and unless it's the antidote to whatever - you will survive this dilemma
no attitude ... really - but others read - there should be no misunderstanding.... and honestly - I'm not known for my tact
the trouble is - you don't know what's attached - it's not just the obvious open me attachment - one technique is the 1pix pic which lives on a remote server - as soon as you open (or preview) the mail - it logs a hit - and your address is added to the confirmed pile ... and then the spam really starts.
virus ans code protection is pretty good now - so the crims have to prey on the less certain - idiot ware of all types chips away at the should I
I hope the advice is still helpful - it's meant to be - but registry cleaners and the should I (or even worse - the when I) are pet hates.... they play on that other side of of logic
I use multiple accounts (as do quite a few of the others round here) and if it doesn't fit - it doesn't get opened ...
the trouble is - you don't know what's attached - it's not just the obvious open me attachment - one technique is the 1pix pic which lives on a remote server - as soon as you open (or preview) the mail - it logs a hit - and your address is added to the confirmed pile ... and then the spam really starts.
virus ans code protection is pretty good now - so the crims have to prey on the less certain - idiot ware of all types chips away at the should I
I hope the advice is still helpful - it's meant to be - but registry cleaners and the should I (or even worse - the when I) are pet hates.... they play on that other side of of logic
I use multiple accounts (as do quite a few of the others round here) and if it doesn't fit - it doesn't get opened ...
Hi ACtheTROLL, I'd be grumpy too if I had to start answering my questions at 7.53 in the morning, ha ha...
I have about ten email accounts :O ..but I still wanted to know the facts about exactly at what point you expose yourself to risk. Which you have now explained, and for the facts I am grateful. I have a resulting question, please have your lunch before replying to it ;) ...or don't reply at all, you're not under any obligation to dispel the darkness of my Middle Ages single-handedly you know ;) ...but you've done so more than once in the past and I was always grateful for it, it's just that equating somebody's asking a question with being gullible or an idiot is a sad thing and I shouldn't have to wear my "Please explain as you would to your granny" badge every time I ask a Tech question in order to be treated with kindness, should I. Nope.
So, here's what's not clear to me. Quote: ...as soon as you open (or preview) the mail - it logs a hit -
...okay, I know the dictionary meaning of the word preview but I'm not sure what you mean? Are you saying I 'preview' just by opening my spam folder?? Surely you have to open the folder? ...as there are often emails in there that (definitely) shouldn't be. Can't imagine that's what you mean, but then on the other hand you seem to be making a distinction between opening and previewing - so what do you mean?
And a final (extra!) question: If I open the folder and throw spam mail away (without opening them), does that confirm my email address?
Please explain as you would to a Swede ;-)
I have about ten email accounts :O ..but I still wanted to know the facts about exactly at what point you expose yourself to risk. Which you have now explained, and for the facts I am grateful. I have a resulting question, please have your lunch before replying to it ;) ...or don't reply at all, you're not under any obligation to dispel the darkness of my Middle Ages single-handedly you know ;) ...but you've done so more than once in the past and I was always grateful for it, it's just that equating somebody's asking a question with being gullible or an idiot is a sad thing and I shouldn't have to wear my "Please explain as you would to your granny" badge every time I ask a Tech question in order to be treated with kindness, should I. Nope.
So, here's what's not clear to me. Quote: ...as soon as you open (or preview) the mail - it logs a hit -
...okay, I know the dictionary meaning of the word preview but I'm not sure what you mean? Are you saying I 'preview' just by opening my spam folder?? Surely you have to open the folder? ...as there are often emails in there that (definitely) shouldn't be. Can't imagine that's what you mean, but then on the other hand you seem to be making a distinction between opening and previewing - so what do you mean?
And a final (extra!) question: If I open the folder and throw spam mail away (without opening them), does that confirm my email address?
Please explain as you would to a Swede ;-)
Oh....that's against Site Rules. REPORTED.
got chuffing indigestion now .... meatballs!
servers can be set up to log details on who accesses them
as useful on a local network as an Internet one
(it's how the bbc stop non mainland viewers - and how the crimms know you exist).
html can be programmed to dump your clipboard - so copy/paste a credit card number and then surf ... always immediately copy a single digit or space - to clear.
with web e-mail - (google etc) you don't have the option
if you can preview it ... you've opened it - so if you use outlook/express or any other reader which shows more than the subject line - ding!
on outlook/express
opening a (spam) folder will always open at least the first mail in preview IF you use it.
if you delete them 1 by 1 - you'll open them all.
____________________________________________
it's just that equating somebody's asking a question with being gullible or an idiot is a sad thing and I shouldn't have to wear my "Please explain as you would to your granny" badge every time I ask a Tech question in order to be treated with kindness, should I. Nope
asking a question isn't a crime
it was the temptation you put in the question that did it - just a peep? or just one won't hurt!
don't be gullible is also a warning not just an accusation - to the point ... but not name calling
idiotware - is just what it's called - needs an idiot to make it work - (log on and confirm!!!!)
servers can be set up to log details on who accesses them
as useful on a local network as an Internet one
(it's how the bbc stop non mainland viewers - and how the crimms know you exist).
html can be programmed to dump your clipboard - so copy/paste a credit card number and then surf ... always immediately copy a single digit or space - to clear.
with web e-mail - (google etc) you don't have the option
if you can preview it ... you've opened it - so if you use outlook/express or any other reader which shows more than the subject line - ding!
on outlook/express
opening a (spam) folder will always open at least the first mail in preview IF you use it.
if you delete them 1 by 1 - you'll open them all.
____________________________________________
it's just that equating somebody's asking a question with being gullible or an idiot is a sad thing and I shouldn't have to wear my "Please explain as you would to your granny" badge every time I ask a Tech question in order to be treated with kindness, should I. Nope
asking a question isn't a crime
it was the temptation you put in the question that did it - just a peep? or just one won't hurt!
don't be gullible is also a warning not just an accusation - to the point ... but not name calling
idiotware - is just what it's called - needs an idiot to make it work - (log on and confirm!!!!)
Oh I see - I've got Yahoo and didn't really stop to think that other email clients might be differently organised but I see now what you mean. Thanks for all your help (really), and... sorry 'bout the meatballs... Personally I prefer veggie ones but as a representative of the Land of Meatballs I suppose I have to assume some responsibility for'em... ;-)
See ya.
See ya.
I've not read everything here (just skimmed the answers), so sorry if I'm repeating someone:
The rule of not opening mail that you suspect to be spam (possible worm, etc.), really only applies to email clients like Outlook Express.
If there's a flaw in the code, then an email message could be carefully constructed to run code on the machine itself (i.e., a virus, or spread itself and be called a worm).
If you use web mail through your browser, then the code written to check your email is more more deeply nested in terms of abstracted code, and it's far less likely to allow some email message to run code as an exploit (especially since more of this code is written for a specific client, like Outlook).
So, if you're using web mail (which I think you are, with Yahoo), then just open the email and see if it is real. No harm should come to your computer.
Also, spam filters usually check the sender's mail address, and if it's in your address book already on Yahoo's systems, it'll automatically not be marked spam (since you've presumably had correspondence with them already). If this is the case with you and this sender, then it's more likely to be spam than not.
(Downloading and trying to open an attachment on your machine is a separate issue entirely.)
The rule of not opening mail that you suspect to be spam (possible worm, etc.), really only applies to email clients like Outlook Express.
If there's a flaw in the code, then an email message could be carefully constructed to run code on the machine itself (i.e., a virus, or spread itself and be called a worm).
If you use web mail through your browser, then the code written to check your email is more more deeply nested in terms of abstracted code, and it's far less likely to allow some email message to run code as an exploit (especially since more of this code is written for a specific client, like Outlook).
So, if you're using web mail (which I think you are, with Yahoo), then just open the email and see if it is real. No harm should come to your computer.
Also, spam filters usually check the sender's mail address, and if it's in your address book already on Yahoo's systems, it'll automatically not be marked spam (since you've presumably had correspondence with them already). If this is the case with you and this sender, then it's more likely to be spam than not.
(Downloading and trying to open an attachment on your machine is a separate issue entirely.)
Yes I can see why a possible worm (=virus?) wouldn't harm my computer, me using Yahoo, but I was thinking that it might mess my Yahoo up, sending email from "me" (not) to people in my address book, et cetera?
I really want to open that email... fo3nix are you saying the above scenario (a possible virus messing my Yahoo up) is highly unlikely or are you just saying it won't mess my computer up?
I really want to open that email... fo3nix are you saying the above scenario (a possible virus messing my Yahoo up) is highly unlikely or are you just saying it won't mess my computer up?
Web browsers only allow certain things to be executed; that's why it's damn near impossible to get a virus by browsing the web. The only way is to somehow get you to download something, which can then be executed out of the web browser environment.
It also won't mess your Yahoo stuff up; Yahoo know what they're doing when it comes to security (we hope!).
Open it, see what it is. If it's spam, report it as such. If not, then mark it as not spam (or whatever you do; I don't use Yahoo so don't know exactly), so that it goes into your inbox in future.
A virus is just a program that does something itself, without the user of the computer having to tell it to do so. It's perfectly possible to make good viruses, it's just that most aren't. A worm is the same thing, but also has some code in it to spread itself, often via email. A worm may also see if there's a floppy drive or USB stick attached to the machine, and try and copy itself there, etc.
It also won't mess your Yahoo stuff up; Yahoo know what they're doing when it comes to security (we hope!).
Open it, see what it is. If it's spam, report it as such. If not, then mark it as not spam (or whatever you do; I don't use Yahoo so don't know exactly), so that it goes into your inbox in future.
A virus is just a program that does something itself, without the user of the computer having to tell it to do so. It's perfectly possible to make good viruses, it's just that most aren't. A worm is the same thing, but also has some code in it to spread itself, often via email. A worm may also see if there's a floppy drive or USB stick attached to the machine, and try and copy itself there, etc.
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