I keep getting these stupid e-mails-and I thought they were something else, so I didn’t think before I opened up the E-MAIL.
Immediately, I’m prompted to download or run something-I always click NO. And then delete the mail.
So, just asking-I’m safe, right?
(Oh, and one had the address of JNyquist-that right winger guy. Does that mean he’s sending out viruses?)
An attachment does not automatically mean virus. But you can’t get a virus without loading it. I never open an attachment from someone I don’t know. And only from those I do know after asking them. Some virii(?) love to use Outlook express so don’t trust any attachment no matter who from.
Sort of. There have been some exploits in both Outlook and Outlook Express whereby you can get a virus just through selecting an e-mail message, if you have the Preview Pane turned on. I believe the infamous Klez virus propagates this way.
I don’t run a virus program on my computer and never do unless IM having a problem, then I upload a free ver. to clean out my system, and I have never had a bug, my rule is I NEVER open any attachment no matter who it’s from it it’s that bloody important they can Fax are snail-mail me it. And I don’t even touch an Email from an address I don’t know and even If I do know them if there is an attachment it gets flushed and I’ll email my friend and tell them no attachments. Better safe then sorry my mother always told me lo
Ooh-ooh, me, me, me I know this one.
You can get a virus without opening an attached applet. They can put the code into something as simple as a .jpeg or a .gif. You should be fairly safe just opening mail from known addresses, but the “I love you” virus did manage to spread from host to host via buddy lists.
Just get Norton Anti-virus and you should be fine. This is one of those things that you stick to the name brands. I downloaded some freeware online and wound up with the Chernobyl virus (It came from Tucows, though it’s name escapes me.)
Just to be clear on this - a virus cannot be hidden in a non-executable file like a JPEG or GIF. What can happen is that the attachment is actually a much more dangerous VBS (VBScript file), but due to Window’s odd default of surpressing known file names, the file looks like a GIF. E.g. the virus would be named LOVE_LETTER.jpg.vbs - Windows hides the vbs, making it look like the file is LOVE_LETTER.jpg. Still OK as long as you don’t execute it.
I know, it should be “Windows’” or “Windows’s”. Also the viral payload could be in an EXE or COM file - the VBS was just an example (because that’s how the “Love Bug” virus was packaged)
But, I believe, when the message calls for said phony gif, the virus is launched and the user is none the wiser. So maybe my semantics were wrong, but they can be spread without the user giving the green flag.
Can you get a virus from something a web page executes? That is, suppose you go to a web page and it runs a Java program. Can the Java program install a virus? I’ve been getting spam that takes over my browser when I open the e-mail (and the e-mail can’t be deleted unless it’s open). I go to the message, click on it so I can delete it, and a new browser window opens up with whatever they’re selling, or their page opens up in the current window. Very annoying when I’m actually using the current window – like when I’m reading The Straight Dope!
In any case, can HTML directly or indirectly cause a virus to be put onto your system?
Yes.
So how do you not-open something that opens automatically? (I suppose java could be turned off in Preferences, but then some pages I DO want to read won’t work.)
Usually there’s a warning system on your browser before you download a file, or if it automatically tries to download. There are security options in IE (found in your Tools / Internet Options section) where you can specify what can send you warnings.
I don’t know what Netscape has, I imagine it’s similar.
As for Outlook’s bug, there is a fix for it on the Microsoft site, though most recent versions of them do not have that bug. (Tons of other bugs, but not that one)
By the way, it is bugs like this (automatically opening attachments without having to ask) that brought on the joke: “It’s not a bug. It’s a feature”.
Java Applets (the Java programs that run as part of web pages) run in a virtual “sandbox” which allows them only very limited access to your machine. For example, a Java Applet cannot modify your hard drive in any way, and cannot communicate with any computer on the network other than the web server from which is was downloaded. These rules do not apply to “signed” applets though.
Johnny L.A. I’m not sure exactly what you’re talking about with the e-mail, but if popup windows are a problem you should check this site out:
http://software.xfx.net/utilities/popupkiller/tsguide/index.html
I like to toss this in whenever I can. It’s the greatest thing since Kazaalite.