Health encompasses our lives, especially our digital lifestyles. Malware, or malicious software, refers to any virus, trojan, or harmful computer program that hackers use to infect your computer and access sensitive information. More often than not, malware comes in the form of emails as part of a concerted effort to gain personal information. And as people migrate to a digital lifestyle, there are some essential things you should know to protect yourself.
What Does Malware Look Like In An Email
Emails are professional modes of communication, and since they’re linked to accounts like Paypal, they become targets for hackers. Let’s understand how malware looks like in an email, so we keep ourselves on guard.
Malwares In Phishing Emails
Phishing refers to impersonation. Hackers often pretend to be a legitimate organization, so you catch the bait and introduce the malware into your computer.
- Be careful about the web address inside the email. It’s crucial that you check with any institution if their domain has changed.
- Be detail-sensitive when looking at emails or domains. The changes may be too subtle, but caution is better than cure.
Attachment Viruses
This form of malware is the most common type. Even if you trust your sender, you should take extra precautions before opening an attachment. Here are some of the extensions to look out for:
- .pif
- .exe
- .dll
- .xls
- .com
Your antivirus system can scan the downloaded file first before you open it to keep you protected.
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Virus In The Email Body
It is possible for malware to be embedded inside the email body. These can be in the form of links or a simple HTML code. Here are some things you should do to avoid it:
Tips For Better Email Security
Now that we know how to spot malware in our email, here are some practical tips to increase email security:
- Always be cautious when opening email attachments like PDF files, especially when they’re from unknown senders.
- Keep your systems like mail client and operating system updated.
- Do not give your email to non-secure websites since they may send an email embedded with a virus your way.
- If an antivirus program sends an email about your computer being infected, always check the information with your antivirus software before opening the mail.
- Learn to scan attachments for malware.
- Get a content preview in your chosen email service, so you have a summarized look at your email content without having to click on the actual email. This way, you’re sure about the subject matter of the email first.
- Always use antivirus software and keep it updated.
Conclusion
Almost all transactions are done online nowadays, making our personal information vulnerable to outside threats. We should treat our emails like our homes. We should take the necessary precautions to keep it protected. In this modern world, valuables and assets don’t have to be jewelry or cash. It can be in the form of emails and online credentials. Know more about personal safety.