e-mail virus

A virus that comes within an attached file in an e-mail message. When that file is opened, the virus does its damage. Macro viruses can come in Microsoft Word documents that are sent as e-mail attachments. The macro causes the damage when the document is opened providing macro processing has not been disabled within the Microsoft Word application.

Look at Your Extensions!
Files with .EXE or .VBS extensions are always suspect, because once the file name is clicked, the program is run, and it can do anything it wants within the computer. SHS files, a somewhat obscure file type, can also contain executable code. Another approach is to attach a Windows link file (.LNK), which is a shortcut, or pointer, to an executable file (.EXE) that is also attached. Since many have been warned not to click an .EXE attachment, the link file is a sneaky way of launching the .EXE file for unaware users. See dangerous extensions, e-mail bombing, virus, Klez, Worm.ExploreZip virus, BubbleBoy virus and SHS virus.

To trigger an e-mail virus, an individual must typically click on an e-mail attachment, but IM attacks can be transmitted and redistributed automatically in seconds and without the same level of end-user participation.

Companies must manage IM, study says by Swartz, Nikki / Information Management Journal

The impact of worm week was Mt even more keenly because it overlapped with unrelated global attacks by versions of SoBig, the fastest spreading e-mail virus ever.

Lessons from worm week: new Internet attacks require constant ... by Dyrli, Odvard Egil / District Administration

F, which earned distinction as the fastest spreading e-mail virus ever, apparently did not cause any file damage, but it did attach itself to address books and turn infected computers into "spare machines.

Attack of the worms: summer e-mail viruses clog university networks by University Business

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