Practically everyone has en email address that they utilize on a regular basis. No matter the generation, young or old, email has become a pivotal aspect of our society in terms of how we communicate with family, friends, and in a business sense. As a result of this, millions of emails get sent out on a daily basis that range from simple salutations to intricate project proposals. However, there is one aspect of emailing that can be somewhat dangerous, and many people are unaware of the potential detrimental effects that this element can cause to their computer. The problem being referred to is transferable files that are attached to emails. The unfortunate fact of email, and the Internet in general is that there are malicious entities always working behind the scenes in an attempt to scam people and or infect their computers with executable viruses. Email is a large target for these entities because of the mass volume that flows through various services.

One of the most widely used ways for a potential hacker to gain access to a computer via a virus is by sending a file to someones email that is the virus in its dormant form, requesting that the person open the file and install it. The majority of the time, these emails are disguised as a reputable entity such as The Post Office or a favorite retailer stating that something is wrong, or that the potential victim has won something and needs to open the file to view a specific document. For the most part, it is simple to tell that these emails are fraudulent, however, people who are less experienced and slightly more naive take the bait and open the files. When the file is open, the user unknowingly installs the malicious software onto their machine and are usually completely unaware that it is running in the background.

There are many other types of viruses that can be transferred via an attached email file; As such, ensure you completely avoid opening email attachments unless they come from a 100% trusted contact.