Trojans, spy/malware, viruses

[Cockneycarl]

Can these be caught just by opening an email or just by opening an attachment in the email?

I've always opened all my emails except the usual ones selling me "Vigggra" etc..
and was always of the thinking that opening an email is safe but an attachment may contain bad things.

Am i right? Can these guys that make viruses can make ones that infect you as soon as you open your email?

I've never to my knowledge had a virus, i run scans not as frequent as i should and do all my bills and banking online and have never had a problem.

[Nibble]

NEVER open a link embedded within an email, also only look at emails within a preview pane of your email client, and if you don't recognise the sender of an email treat with caution!!!!


This is not an exhaustive list of do's & don'ts for avoiding trojans/spyware/malware & viruses, but it's a start - also make sure your virus scanner/spyware/malware software is fully upto date and correctly scheduled at a time when you are at the computer to correct any invasions/intrusion as they appear! (my virus scanner/malware & intrusion software runs 24/7 - so I'm usually on top of any problems!)

[ChuckFickens]

"only look at emails within a preview pane of your email client"

that is opening them, best security recommendations are to switch of preview panes otherwise you can't delete a suspicious email without opening it.

[sir.prize]

When the preview pane is on, every email you highlight is actually opened so that it can be displayed in the preview pane ... which means that all scripts in the email are also run, potentially disastrous.

[carlton23]

>>>>Best security recommendations are to switch of preview panes otherwise you can't delete a suspicious email without opening it. <<<<
Chuck, How do I view `preview` panes please?