If so, how probable is it?
2006-12-20 15:23:14 · 9 answers · asked by agnost22 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Security
Yes, it is definitely possible and has happened in the past. However, it depends very much on the e-mail client used.
If the e-mail client interprets HTML e-mail, a virus written in JavaScript can be embedded inside and use a vulnerability in the client to run automatically when the e-mail message containing it is viewed. This is how the JS/Kak.A virus spread using Outlook a few years ago.
The virus might not be contained in the body of the e-mail message but could be present in an attachment - and still run automatically when the message is viewed, again by using some vulnerability in the HTML interpreter of the e-mail client to launch the attachment.
Finally, the virus can be present in a specially crafter graphic file attachment - JPEG, WMF, MOV and a few other graphic formats have been used to exploit various popular viewers. Many e-mail clients would display the graphic attachment when displaying the e-mail message by invoking the default viewer for it. If this viewer is vulnerable, it can be exploited by a virus.
2006-12-21 08:24:52 · answer #1 · answered by Vesselin Bontchev 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probability can't be predicted (do you know the sender?, etc)
An important distinction in this matter is whether or not you have your email reader set to display HTML email or just plain text. The HTML, though most pleasing to the eye and allowing all kinds of features, can contain scripts, images with viruses or beacons, etc. If you only allow plain text, I think you can be virtually guaranteed not to get a virus by reading only the body of the email. If you open/launch an attachment, of course, all bets are off.
2006-12-20 15:39:26 · answer #2 · answered by Grant P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you usuing a local 3rd party e-mail program or a webmail viewer? if it's 3rd party (Like Outlook or outlook express) the e-mails are already ony oru PC, hence you're already infected if your own anti virus program has not caught the infected files or scripts. web based is much harder to contract from just viewing, because the mail is staying on the web server.
Many webmails also provide pre-scanning for your protection, also any attachments will not be on your PC to run when you view, so the run proceedure for infection often fails. You might find yourself picking ups oem spyware/adware if it is scripted tot he e-mail display, if so get yourself some anti spy.adware software.
Try Spybot - Search and Destroy, or AVG as free source alternatives.
2006-12-20 15:40:56 · answer #3 · answered by Dripping Sarcasm 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure thing! Probability is if someone sends you an email with a virus and you open it, you will get the virus! Most people pass viruses not even knowing they have infested PCs! Same with file sharing or p2p sites! People swear by them but dont understand that they are sharing files with total strangers! They scratch their bum in a couple weeks wonderin where they got it from! I clean PCs for a living! I have never made as much money in my life since the advent of p2p! You can even tell the people what infests their PC and they go on ignoring you. Couple months and theyre back in the shop again! 90 percent of internet users are totally internet illiterate!
2006-12-20 15:29:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, text's don't contain viruses.
If there is a virus it'll either be within the attachment file in the mail. So as long as scan the attachment before opening it, you are safe.
2006-12-20 15:37:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if the email contains some embeded attachments which include virus, and the attachments will be automatically opened.
Otherwise, it will be safe to open a email to view the email contents.
2006-12-20 15:30:46 · answer #6 · answered by rtm 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
sure - my companion and that i've got been aside for 3 months whilst i became working in france and that i wrote to him each few days - he even wrote back two times!! each birthday/christmas/valentines day we placed a letter in with the cardboard telling one yet another what we like approximately one yet another. i began doing thisin his taking part in cards and after a 365 days or so he began doing the comparable. His letters began off as 2 or 3 traces yet now he writes a perfect love letter. he has threatened to shoot me if ever his rubgy acquaintances locate out! No ask your self i admire him so!
2016-12-11 13:20:00 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes it can because when you open the mail it opens the connection from the persons computer to yours and if there was a virus in the email than i might be in yours. thats why you should only open emails that you know they are from
2006-12-20 15:26:37 · answer #8 · answered by jpeanut13 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably not, but if it happens it might be a script in the email message.
2006-12-20 15:26:12 · answer #9 · answered by simpsonsfreak 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋