Email Security
If you require further help, please email info@embossed.co.uk.
We cannot protect your computer again security issues or virus infection. However, we can offer the following advise. If you do have a specific problem that you think we may be able to help with, please let us know.
Help! I think I've got a virus!
How to stop viruses spreading.
How do viruses spread?
Viruses can be spread from one computer to another in a variety of ways, but the two we are concerned with here are:
- Script embedded in HTML format emails.
- Files attached to emails.
Who can give you a virus?
Anyone can send you a virus, your best friend, your bank manager, and yes, some spam emails.
How do you spot a virus?
Look out for anything unusual when you receive an email: For example -
Emails with no message, or a 'look at this!' message/subject, with an attachment that you might be tempted to run. If you are sent an attachment from a friend or colleague, make sure the message is actually addressed to you, and refers to the attachment. Examples:
1. Harry receives an email from Frank saying 'Hello Harry, how are the kids? Take a look at these photos of Mary's birthday party'. Frank's daughter is named Mary, so Harry is probably quite safe to read the email. SAFE!
2. Harry receives an email from Frank with no message, but a subject line 'Check out these hot pics!' and a file attachment. This is fairly suspicious - Harry don't look at that attachment! Ask Frank whether he meant to send it to you. If not, delete the email immediately, run a virus scan on your computer, and advise Frank to do the same.DO NOT REBOOT OR TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER until you have scanned your computer for viruses. NOT SAFE!
3. Harry receives a fairly boring email from Frank about work. The email looks completely normal, but when he reads the email, there is an error message about 'unsafe ActiveX controls', or an error message about running scripts. This is fairly suspicious! It might just be that the email has been copied from a web page that contained some script that has not been copied across properly. Go to www.antivirus.com and run housecall. If you need some quick advise phone thirzah on 07092 034 360 and ask if it's okay to forward on the email. DO NOT REBOOT OR TURN OFF YOUR COMPUTER until you think you know where the error message has come from. NOT SAFE!
How can you stop viruses spreading?
- Send emails in plain text format wherever possible. HTML format emails are good for providing formatting and layout, but for the majority of emails, plain text format is fine, and it stop malicious scripts running so easily. To check your default mail format in Outlook Express, go 'Tools' , 'Options', and under 'Send' make sure that the Mail Sending Format is Plain Text (see graphic below).
- Turn of Windows Scripting Host. Windows Scripting host is a really useful component that helps automate tasks in Windows. Unfortunately, it also helps to run malicious scripts. To check whether you have windows scripting host installed, under windows 98: Go 'Start' , 'Settings', 'Control Panel', 'add/remove programs', 'windows setup', select 'Accessories' and hit 'Details'. Scroll down and Windows Scripting Host is listed under Screen Savers. Turning off windows scripting host will stop some scripts running, and shouldn't have any impact on how your other programs run. Phone Thirzah if you would like more advice - 07092 034 360.
- Be Suspicious!
Read our help page on How to Spot a Virus in Outlook Express
Help! I think I've got a virus!
If you think you have already got a virus, try going to www.antivirus.com and use their free tool, 'housecall' to check your computer.
Until you have done this, do not:
1. Send any new emails
2. Reboot your computer
3 Make any new documents or files.
Once housecall has been run, your computer will either be given a clean bill of health, or you will be told the names of the viruses infecting your system. Look up the names of these viruses in the 'search' panel of the site, to get more information on what these viruses do and how to remove them.
Make a note of any infected files, included the date they were created. When you think you have got rid of the virus, try to work out where you first got the virus from - The dates on the infected files may help with this. Let whoever you think sent you the virus know what has happened. You should also notify anyone you have emailed since you were infected, to let them know that you may have sent them an infected email.
Contact us if you think we can be of assistance. While virus cleaning is not one of our standard services, we will help where ever we can!
