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Who Are You If You Still Don't Know How To Dealt With Email Virus! – Semalt Safety Tips

Anybody who has an email address is exposed to the risk of virus infection but observing basic internet safety can greatly help to reduce this exposure. Due to the increase of cybercrime incidents, it's important to remain vigilant about internet safety. Not a single window of opportunity should be left to cyber criminals. Spreading viruses through email might not be among the most frequently used methods today, but there is still a possibility that it can be used to perpetrate an attack.

According to Frank Abagnale, the Semalt Customer Success Manager, it is extremely important to know how to act on a daily basis to avoid any viruses that may be spread through email.

Ways of Avoiding Virus Infection Through Email

1. Being informed on how viruses are delivered

The internet continues to grow and so does the virus and malware 'industry.' Often, cybercriminals use methods that either very recent or those that have long been forgotten to catch victims by surprise. To avoid being caught unaware, simply know the current delivery methods so that you know how to avoid them.

2. Don't give out your email to any website

There are so many malicious sites trying to trap people into viruses and other cyber crimes. To minimize the chances of exposing yourself and your device to virus infection, refrain from giving out your email address on sites that you don't know. And if you must give out the email address, make sure the website is encrypted.

3. Keep your computer's virus protection updated

Always check to ensure that your anti-virus is updated. You can set the software to auto-update so that there's not a single day that the anti-virus is out of date (which means more exposure to viruses).

4. Use a secure browser

Using well-maintained sites to access your email is a good idea. Not only do you enjoy a good browsing experience but also cover all potential loopholes for virus spreading. You can also customize your email security settings on that browser. Such settings would include restricting the browser from accessing sensitive material, the strictness of your email junk filter, etc.

5. Turn the email preview feature on

When this feature is turned on, you can get a glimpse of the content even without opening the email. Thus you can ascertain that the information contained in an email is safe before opening the email. Email services like Outlook provide this feature.

6. Observe the DONTs of suspicious emails

Suspicious emails are those emails from unknown sources, hoax emails (those asking for personal information), or those that contain a suspicious link or attachment.

For emails from unknown sources:
  • NEVER open the attachments or click any link contained in the email
  • NEVER download any attachment
  • If you've already downloaded an attachment, don't open it until it is scanned for viruses.

For a hoax email, don't even bother opening or replying it. You will just be wasting your time and increasing the chances of getting your computer infected with malware.

Some emails come with information that your computer is infected. Don't trust them instantly. Double check the status of your computer using your antivirus software before proceeding with the email. Such emails are usually intended to make you click a link or open an attachment indicated as the 'solution, ' but it's a Trojan in the real sense.

7. Clear your browsing history and cookies frequently

Cookies store your browsing information so that it is easy and fast to reload commonly-used web pages. However, these small bits of information can be used by malicious minds to access your email address. Clearing them off is the best way to minimize the risk of exposing your email to such criminals.

In matters of internet security, it is always best to use your best judgment when surrendering any information or when you receive an email. If there's something that makes you feel skeptical about a certain email, you better not open it or take great caution when opening it. Following internet safety guidelines might not be a sure way to avoid getting the virus through email, but it can reduce exposure to these viruses significantly.