How to Identify Virus Email Messages

It is often difficult to identify an infected virus email message. The way modern viruses and mass mailing internet worms function, messages can seem to arrive from friends or colleagues, but that are in reality infected messages that were automatically sent by the infected Computer.

Here are a few common things to watch in emails

1) E-mail messages from people you don't know (including and especially SPAM).

2) E-mail messages from friends or family that you were not expecting (especially if they contain attachments)

3) Attachments in an email with subject lines that seem inappropriate or strange, even if it’s from someone you know. For example, and email from your retired father who is holidaying in Fiji titled “Update on system report”.

4) You should NEVER EVER launch an attachment that ends with an .exe,.pif, .com, .bat, or .scr extension until you have scanned it with up-to-date virus scanner. Even files ending with .doc, and .xls (word and excel documents) can carry macro viruses and should be scanned. It does not matter if you completely 100% trust the person it came from. SCAN IT with a virus remover.

5) Never open SPAM emails. Junk email is too easy to copy and use to send a nasty virus. I'm not saying spammers send viruses, but virus email sending groups/creators do use spam-like messages to send their viruses, Trojans, and internet worms around.

6) If you're not 100% sure the email is legitimate, call the sender and ask before opening the attachment. If you're sure you've received an e-mail message with a virus, you should delete the email WITHOUT opening the email or the attachment. If it is important, it can always be resent.

Email has become the #1 method for viruses, worms and Trojan horses to spread. Take extra special care with your email, and you will not only protect yourself, but prevent yourself from accidentally becoming a spreader of virus loaded email messages.

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