I have Windows 98 and Outlook Express on a home PC. If I receive a message that is suspicious, how do I delete this without it getting into my system? If I click once on the message, it turns blue and I can read the message. I can now delete this. Will this suffice to keep it out of the system? If I double click it, the message appears in a box. I can delete this also, but would that allow the virus in?
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I don't think I did a very good job explaining. If a message comes to me, I click ONCE on it and the msg comes up. If I DOUBLE click on it (like when a paper clip appears) I can read the attachment. I GUESS MY MAIN QUESTION IS: IF I SINGLE CLICK THE MESSAGE, AM I DOWNLOADING IT INTO MY SYSTEM? IF NOT, WOULD I BE SAFE AND ESCAPE ANY VIRUS? DO 2 LEFT HAND CLICKS DOWNLOAD AND THEREBY MAKE ME VULNERABLE TO ANY VIRUS?
THANX, LLOYD
The only way the virus can run in your system is if you open the attachment. Just reading the email message will not propigate the virus. Here are some things to note:
It might be a virus if...."
You get a "must read, you'll love this" message from someone
you don't usually get mail from.
Subject matter isn't something you would usually exchange
with that person. (i.e. getting joke/love letters from a distant
colleague or your parole officer)
You have many copies of the same message in your "In Box".
The file has an extension of VBS, EXE, SCR it has the
potential to be a very destructive virus.
Guidelines:
1. Email can only propagate viruses through attachments.
2. Running those attachments is the only way to further propagate
the virus. You can safely read the email, just don't open the attachment !!
3. Daily virus scanning will not absolutely protect you, but it is the safest thing.
4. Viruses can be attached to just about anything including Word
and Excel documents.
Pay attention to the EXE, VBS and SCR files !!!!
The Moral ?? Use common sense and the above suggestions when
looking to open an attachment. If you're not sure of the sender or the content,
just delete the message, it can't be that funny or cool........
I hope this helps.
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by: RoninPosted on 2000-05-31 at 22:12:10ID: 2872654
What you need is a AntiVirus program.
For Example Norton AntiVirus, it can scan attachements.