DON'T OPEN an email from Post Express - malware

Today I got an email that went to my spam folder from Post Express saying it was undeliverable, but I did open it. Instead I googled "Post Express" and this is a link I found about this malware and the spam it's sending out. Just a head's up if you get this:

http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2011/02 ... ammed-out/

Opening an email won't infect your machine. Opening the attachment in the email will infect it. Most of those emails have a .zip or a .exe file attached. I don't care how curious you are about the undeliverable mail or the UPS package the can't be delivered or your financial account that's been locked due to suspicious transactions - Don't open the attachment!

.zip is a compressed package that can be set to execute the contents when opened. .exe is an executable program that can easily install a virus on your machine.

You don't need to worry if you open the email. That will only display the text and show you that there is an attachment. Never open the attachment in any email unless you know who it's from and why they sent it. There are viruses out there that send emails containing attachments to everyone in the user's contact list. They hope people will think "Oh, I trust Joe, he wouldn't send anything bad...". It's easy enough to send a response to the sender asking "what's in the attachment? Is it safe?"

To sum it up, opening the email doesn't hurt. Opening attachments can hurt.

Nobody that matters wrote: Opening an email won't infect your machine. Opening the attachment in the email will infect it. Most of those emails have a .zip or a .exe file attached. I don't care how curious you are about the undeliverable mail or the UPS package the can't be delivered or your financial account that's been locked due to suspicious transactions - Don't open the attachment!

.zip is a compressed package that can be set to execute the contents when opened. .exe is an executable program that can easily install a virus on your machine.

You don't need to worry if you open the email. That will only display the text and show you that there is an attachment. Never open the attachment in any email unless you know who it's from and why they sent it. There are viruses out there that send emails containing attachments to everyone in the user's contact list. They hope people will think "Oh, I trust Joe, he wouldn't send anything bad...". It's easy enough to send a response to the sender asking "what's in the attachment? Is it safe?"

To sum it up, opening the email doesn't hurt. Opening attachments can hurt.

I didn't know that. I thought it could infect your computer even if you just opened the email. Thanks for the info!!!!! I feel kinda stupid.

Sunshine Girl wrote: I didn't know that. I thought it could infect your computer even if you just opened the email. Thanks for the info!!!!! I feel kinda stupid.

No need for that... I can't count the number of people I've talked to that believe simply opening an email message can infect you - it's a very common misconception. I do some computer support and training as a side gig, and every one of my clients has sent me a virus alert similar to this one. My answer is always the same... delete the email and relax unless you open the attachment.

I bet there's quite a few reading these posts that want to tell me I'm wrong. I'll be happy to admit it if someone can post a credible story of one virus that infects from displaying the text of the message.