Comments for Can I really catch an email virus just by looking?

Comment from Aneta on 2006-07-22

2006-07-22T18:29:54Z

Leo,
I have a question related to contracting something just by opening an email. Is it true that you should not use the preview functionality because it opens an email and tells spammers you are a valid recipient?
Thanks

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A comment on: Can I really catch an email virus just by looking?

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Comment from Leo on 2005-03-28

2005-03-29T02:31:11Z

1) It's very easy to make a URL *look* like it's going to one place, when in fact it's going somewhere else. Case in point: all the eBay, Paypal and bank "account verification" phishing scams.

2) Absolutely. They all support a very powerful macro/scripting language that can be used. It's one of the reasons that current version of Office applications include various security measure that typically will disable, or at least ask, before opening a document that contains macros.

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Comment from Hayder on 2005-03-28

2005-03-29T02:25:00Z

okay, 1) so how's clicking on an url inside an email potentially destructive? Could that single "click" have been disguised as a "run" click which ensuingly activates a script or a virus of some sorts?

2) Can WORD/EXCEL/PPT files be infected with viruses?

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Comment from Leo on 2004-10-30

2004-10-31T06:02:31Z

In general in these situations I do nothing. Depending on how certain you are about knowing where the virus started, you might contact them and let them know they're infected, but viruses are so good at mucking up email headers that I no longer trust that information. Best advice: make sure you're protected, delete the viruses and go on.

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A comment on: Can I really catch an email virus just by looking?

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Comment from grimm on 2004-10-30

2004-10-30T20:32:19Z

Dear Leo,
I have today received two virus-bearing e-mails, whose address is nearly the same as a newsgroup I subscribe to. I have blocked it and found the router information. I seem to have the e-mail address here of the person who started the chain of events. What do I do now?

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A comment on: Can I really catch an email virus just by looking?

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