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| Think That Attachment is From Your Friend? SUMMARY: Be VERY careful about electronic mail attachments - even if the sender seems to be a friend or family member! You need to read this tip.
Did a friend or family member just send you an electronic mail attachment that you weren't expecting? Surely your co-worker checked the file out first? Of course your mom would not send you something that would harm your computer, right?
Nowadays, you MUST be safe. Why not ask your friend or family member in a friendly e-mail if they really meant to send you the attachment?
Why am I saying this? It's not to upset dear ma. But, thanks to the newest viruses that spread through email, many peoples' computers are becoming unwitting accomplices to the spread of rogue software. There are viruses that can affect peoples' machines, causing them to e-mail innocent looking attachments that are actually viruses to everyone in their address box. Worse yet, some of these viruses actually can make the e-mail look like it came from someone else!
That's right. For example, say you have a friend, Bob, who uses e-mail software that contains an address book. Let's say that your name is in Bob's address book, but so is that of a mutual friend, Bill. Unfortunately, there are viruses that cause e-mail to be sent to you that are made to look like the e-mail came from Bill!
A virus may have actually sent the attachment that SEEMS to be sent by your friend or family member.
When it comes to e-mail attachments, be safe. Scan EVERY attachment, no matter who sent it, and don't open an attachment unless you're sure it is safe and the sender meant to mail you the file.
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