Expert: Brian Benosky - 3/21/2009

Question
QUESTION: hi brian,
 i was checking my yahoo email today and i noticed something very odd.  i received two messages from two different people but with the same subject.  could this be a virus in disguise.  should i open it?  i'm expecting college material this time of the year, so i don't want to miss anything.  but it doesn't seem like the emails have anything to do with college...  thanks.

ANSWER: Hi Barry

If there are attachments in the mail, then it is likely there is a virus in the message.  If you notice spelling errors in the subject, that is another sign.  Are the people who sent the message known contacts?  It could also be the mail is spam.  Your virus scanner should be able to check the messages, but if not, you could forward them to me directly at numbersix6@yahoo.com.  I'll scan them and give you the thumbs up or down, depending.

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for the help, i ended up deleting it cause i saw that it may be from a college i wasn't planning on going.  but anyways, i was told by a friend that you can't get a virus from opening an email, only by opening the attachment, is this true?  and also, is there anyway to preview an email without ever opening it?  thanks again.

Answer
Hi Barry

You most certainly can get a virus from simply opening an email.  Even if it has no attachments.  For example, HTML viruses, or browser attacks.  They are aimed at folks who use web browsers or HTML-enabled email clients to read their mail. They use the scripting features of HTML or of the email client itself to execute code or to acquire sensitive information from the target computer.  An HTML virus does not require user intervention in order to be activated.  The fact is, it is actually extremely easy for virus writers to make a virus that is executed simply by opening one’s email client.  So how do you prevent this?  Disable HTML in your email client.  Most clients can easily toggle HTML on and off to view HTML from known recipients.  Also, use an antivirus scanner that protects your email client as well as the rest of your computer.  Even free scanners such as Avast can do this.  If you have any further questions, just let me know.  Cheers!

Brian