The National Infrastructure Protection Center says that when it comes to securing computers from malicious code passed as an e-mail attachment, "Trust but verify" is an appropriate slogan. NIPC notes that virus developers often exploit curiosity and it is common to see viruses that are designed to proliferate by being associated with popular themes or ideas, such as news events or popular issues. By using email subject lines that capture attention and spark curiosity, the virus developer knows he increases the likelihood a recipient will click and get infected.
NIPC and its computer industry partners recommend consideration of the following steps to reduce the chance of computer virus infections:
Close the preview pane of your e-mail program. The preview pane is the feature that shows you the contents of an e-mail before you choose to open it. It is often displayed below the pane that displays a list of e-mails, their titles and time of receipt or transmission.
Disable the Java script and Active-X features of your web browser. Java and Active-X were designed to run more advanced features and to use services or make changes on the computer you are using. Unless these features are explicitly required, it is safer to deactivate them to prevent malicious scripts from infecting or compromising the computer or the network.
Equip your computer with an anti-virus program, maintain the most current version, and select the user options that give you the most protection. There are several different types, not just different brands. Some anti-virus programs search for specific file "signatures," others monitor a computer program’s activity and prohibit virus-like behavior. There are also cost-free scans from vendors via the Internet that can scan your hard drive and removable disks. Ensure that your anti-virus program will screen attached files.
Save attachments to a disk before opening. Do not open the attachment directly from the e-mail program. Save it to a disk, preferably a removable disk, and then scan the disk with an anti-virus program.
Do not open e-mail attachments from strangers, regardless of how enticing the subject line may be. In addition to e-mails containing damaging computer viruses, there has been malicious spam. The spam plays off human curiosity. It may be an e-mail message or a redirection to another web page. The action is often to solicit donations to organizations claiming to be charities, or barraging computers with pop-up advertising.
Be suspicious of any unexpected e-mail attachments from someone you do know. It may have been sent without that person’s knowledge from an infected machine. The Sircam virus continues to spread by automatically e-mailing itself between users who expect to communicate. Also, someone might have stolen a trusted person’s password and is pretending to be that trusted person.
Verify suspicious e-mail. In the event you receive e-mail from someone you know, that has a suspicious title or attachment, contact the sender or the program coordinator by telephone or send them a new e-mail asking them to verify that they did intend to send you that e-mail.
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