Good afternoon,
Following the recent information we’ve sent out about various email based viruses I thought I’d pass on some information to help when dealing with email based threats
This is the first of semi-regular series of email designed to raise awareness about computer security. Please distribute to your staff accordingly
If you would like me to remove you from the mailing list or add anyone to it please let me know
This information is available at www.ibitsolutions.co.uk/Info/EmailSecurityNov09.htm
Remember no anti-virus package is 100% effective.
Just because you are running an anti-virus package doesn’t mean you can’t get a virus
Anti-virus protection is very much an “arms race”. New viruses come out and the anti-virus vendors build defences against them. There will always be that gap while the defences are being readied
Trust no-one! If you receive a program as an email attachment do not run it.
Sending programs in this way (even when “zipped” up) is really bad practise. No-one should be sending these types of files yet we’ve seen emails recently reporting to be from Vodafone, BT, UPS, Facebook, Ebay, Paypal. All with virus infected attachments!
If an email appears to be from a company you know but has a program attached it is more than likely to be a virus. Many viruses read the address book on the infected PC and then emails itself to everyone on the list. They try to catch you out as you trust the person who has sent the message
System updates never arrive via email
Some viruses try to make you think there is a problem with your PC and you need to install a “security update”. As your IT support we will NEVER send you a system update in this way
Be careful with your personal information. Especially any user names and passwords
A more common type of threat is the “phishing” email, in this case an email will arrive asking you login and correct something. When you click the link it takes you to a website that looks legitimate but is fact waiting for you to enter your security information or your bank details so they can steal them and go elsewhere
Recent examples of this are very good copies of the BT website and the National Lottery. ALL UK banks are targets for this
Website such as YouTube and Facebook are other easy targets
Don’t unsubscribe
Sometimes spam emails contain a link to click or ask you to reply that allows you unsubscribe from their “mailing list”. These are best ignored
Spammers randomly try lots of different email addresses and responding to these lets them know you exist which means you’ll get even more spam!
If you are unsure in any way, ask!
This is what we are here for. If have even the tiniest bit of doubt get it checked out
If you receive an apparently legitimate email from a company don’t ask them. We’ve seen instances with big companies where they actually know what they are being asked about and incorrectly advise that the email is fine. The PC then becomes infected shortly after!
Thanks for reading, if you have any questions please get in touch
