Email Virus Definition

An email virus is a type of computer virus that spreads through email. Once it successfully infects a system, it can disrupt operations, steal sensitive information, or even damage system files and software. Many email viruses spread by accessing the victim’s contact list and automatically sending copies of the malicious email to as many contacts as possible.

How Email Viruses Spread

Email viruses typically spread in two main ways:

• Infected attachments: The virus hides itself in a file attached to the email, like an executable program or a compressed archive. When opened, the file runs the malicious code and infects the device.
• Malicious links: The email contains a link to a malicious website that either automatically downloads malware or tricks the user into manually downloading it.

In the early email days, some platforms allowed scripts to run directly inside messages. This meant a device could be infected simply by opening the email. This is still hypothetically possible in rare, outdated environments, but modern email services block it by restricting how emails are rendered and adding protections such as sandboxing, sanitization, attachment scanning, and link protection.

Common Types of Email Viruses

• Macro virus: Spreads through infected documents for programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. Opening an infected file triggers tampered macros, which then perform malicious actions on the device.
• Cryptovirus: Encrypts important files and documents on a device and demands payment to restore access, making it a form of ransomware.
• Computer worm: Self-replicates and aggressively spreads across networks, often arriving as an email attachment. The ILOVEYOU worm is one of the best-known examples, having affected millions of computers worldwide.

Defending from Email Viruses

• Check the sender’s email address carefully for subtle misspellings or unusual domains.
• Watch out for threatening or urgent subject lines designed to scare you into acting quickly.
• Hover over links before clicking to see the real destination URL.
• Avoid opening unexpected attachments, especially from unknown senders.
• Use antivirus software to scan accidentally opened files.
• Keep the browser and email software updated to patch security flaws.
• Make sure spam filtering is enabled on the email account.
• Consider using a secondary email address for sign-ups and newsletters to reduce exposure.

Read More

• Here's Why You Still Need an Antivirus
• What Is an Email Attack?
• What Is a Stealth Virus?

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