WallStreet
2nd Level Red Feather
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Can a virus be passed through a browser based e-mail like Hotmail or Yahoo? Probably an ignorant question but better safe than sorry.
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Question about Viruses
- Thread starter WallStreet
- Start date
kurchatovium
Wielder of 100 Feathers
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If the email has an attached file to it, it definitely can. If the email does not, it might be more difficult. The email might have a url in it which when clicked on brings you to a web site and that site might have a virus based on a Java script. Ultimately a virus is a program and that program must be executed for the virus to work. People writing these viruses nowadays are getting trickier and trickier on disguising the program that is the virus. I would get some antivirus software if you surf the net a lot. These viruses can be nasty and can cause you a lot of headaches.
Yes...
I've had the embarassment of people telling me that I sent something more than an e-mail a few years ago. Hotmail and Yahoo have anti-viral programs that you can use to scan attachments however. And of course there is always Norton, which has saved my computer more than once. 😎
I've had the embarassment of people telling me that I sent something more than an e-mail a few years ago. Hotmail and Yahoo have anti-viral programs that you can use to scan attachments however. And of course there is always Norton, which has saved my computer more than once. 😎
GuitarPeteTklr
TMF Regular
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- May 27, 2001
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In Addition To Anti-Virus Software Protection...
There are some KNOWN security vulnerabilities that have been, slowly but surely, being exposed, then overcome, in both Internet Explorer browser(s), Windows Socket winsock.* and winsock32.* file architecture and even Outlook and Outlook Express softwares.
These security holes were most notably exploited by the Nimda virus epidemic. That particular virus (I can't recall off the top of My head, which variant) exploited known security holes in Microsoft Windows IP (Internet Protocol) handling architecture to invoke a mass mailing worm in tandem with a destructive payload. Succeptibility was somewhat lower for 3rd party browser software users (i.e. Netscape), but the Windows socket architecture would still support (via cookies) the invocation and execution of a fairly transparent (readme.txt) or (readme.exe) file, which stealthily uploaded itself and "self extracted" its malicious payload. In summary, anti-virus software was simply NOT QUITE enough protection against a virus of such unprecendented stealth. All you had to do was visit ANY unwittingly "infected/host" Internet destination which were often "frequently visited" destinations in your libary of Site Links and SHAZAM! You were afflicted!
The good news for Windows users is that Microsoft realized the "folly of its ways" in designing that architecture and its vulnerabilities later learned to be associated and has been keeping a vigilant litany of bundled Windows Operating System/Internet Explorer patch updates/upgrades provided free of charge, but take considerable download time, from slower connections (such as dial-up) to the Internet, to address these vulnerabilities.
Sorry the answer had to be so technical, folks, but as a Technical Support Specialist, by trade, I didn't want to see anyone develop a false sense of security nor is My goal to spread wholesale paranoia here either. 😉
*GuitarPeteTklr shreds his way back into tickling oblivion, cursing the producers of virual PC vermin everywhere*
There are some KNOWN security vulnerabilities that have been, slowly but surely, being exposed, then overcome, in both Internet Explorer browser(s), Windows Socket winsock.* and winsock32.* file architecture and even Outlook and Outlook Express softwares.
These security holes were most notably exploited by the Nimda virus epidemic. That particular virus (I can't recall off the top of My head, which variant) exploited known security holes in Microsoft Windows IP (Internet Protocol) handling architecture to invoke a mass mailing worm in tandem with a destructive payload. Succeptibility was somewhat lower for 3rd party browser software users (i.e. Netscape), but the Windows socket architecture would still support (via cookies) the invocation and execution of a fairly transparent (readme.txt) or (readme.exe) file, which stealthily uploaded itself and "self extracted" its malicious payload. In summary, anti-virus software was simply NOT QUITE enough protection against a virus of such unprecendented stealth. All you had to do was visit ANY unwittingly "infected/host" Internet destination which were often "frequently visited" destinations in your libary of Site Links and SHAZAM! You were afflicted!
The good news for Windows users is that Microsoft realized the "folly of its ways" in designing that architecture and its vulnerabilities later learned to be associated and has been keeping a vigilant litany of bundled Windows Operating System/Internet Explorer patch updates/upgrades provided free of charge, but take considerable download time, from slower connections (such as dial-up) to the Internet, to address these vulnerabilities.
Sorry the answer had to be so technical, folks, but as a Technical Support Specialist, by trade, I didn't want to see anyone develop a false sense of security nor is My goal to spread wholesale paranoia here either. 😉
*GuitarPeteTklr shreds his way back into tickling oblivion, cursing the producers of virual PC vermin everywhere*
TicklingDuo
3rd Level Yellow Feather
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Viruses are very prominent in Yahoo Groups, even if they DO say that they have screeners. I've been checking out the files sections of all of the tickling groups and have had Norton warn me on several occassions. Caution should be exercised at all times. As others have already stated, these programers are getting smart in working around normal protections.
Ann
Ann
Here's the best way to not get a virus.
DON'T OPEN ANY ATTACHMENTS!
Most viruses (the exception being those ones that send the bad html or java code) need to be run in order to infect your system. If you don't open the attachment, it can't affect your computer.
And especially don't open any attachment that has a .bat or .exe extension on it. And don't EVER open one with a double extension, those are most certainly viruses.
I got 2 sent to me today. It was the Sircam virus, and my checker caught it immediately. They each had an attachment with file.doc.bat in them.
Don't worry about pictures though. They haven't found a way yet to slip a virus through a picture yet. But, if you are worried about it, first run the scanner on the website, download the program (save, don't open) and then scan it again with your virus scanner.
And remember: UPDATE YOUR VIRUS SCANNER!!!
DON'T OPEN ANY ATTACHMENTS!
Most viruses (the exception being those ones that send the bad html or java code) need to be run in order to infect your system. If you don't open the attachment, it can't affect your computer.
And especially don't open any attachment that has a .bat or .exe extension on it. And don't EVER open one with a double extension, those are most certainly viruses.
I got 2 sent to me today. It was the Sircam virus, and my checker caught it immediately. They each had an attachment with file.doc.bat in them.
Don't worry about pictures though. They haven't found a way yet to slip a virus through a picture yet. But, if you are worried about it, first run the scanner on the website, download the program (save, don't open) and then scan it again with your virus scanner.
And remember: UPDATE YOUR VIRUS SCANNER!!!
