Best way to protect one's self from E-mail Virus ?

[King_Kooba_Fantastique]

Is there a method to protect one's self from E-mail viruses ?. Or does it have to do with being very careful about which e-mails are opened ?.

I am aware of the dangers of receiving a virus by downloading something from an unknown source, however what's with e-mails received ?.

Thanks.
KKF.

[skai]

KKF I dont open any attachments from unknown sources ,I think your internet provider checks plain text,but dont take this as gospel I have been wrong before.skai

[NDC]

Well, as for Norton Anti-Virus, there is E-Mail protection for Outlook Express... You just need to set it up.

[bdunn]

If you get a SLIP account and use PINE or ELM then all of the mail stays on the mailserver and you don't have to worry about it.

[sharder8]

King --

Since most virus' are aimed at M$ products and specifically Outlook and OE, they are the major weakness in the armor. The way I work around this is to use a multi-layer protection system. You still have to be careful about opening attachments from people you do not know, but if you set it up properly, you shouldn't become infected.

The system I've set up on mine and my kids machines is:

Eudora Pro -- E-mail program, set to open any and all executables in a shell with warnings.

ZoneAlarm -- With Mail-Safe checked.

Norton AV -- What more can I say!

PC-cillin -- AV protection from Trend.

I've never had a virus get through this set-up and continue to up-date to stay free of a virus. Hopefully, I will continue to stay free, but I remain leering knowing there are those that will try to beat a multi-layer defense.

Harder

[Jeff7]

I use Eudora along with Norton AV. It is able to detect viruses as soon as the e-mail arrives at my computer; I don't even have to open it or do anything.

[Warthog]

In addition to any virus/firewall utility:

- brains
- don't open attachements that you don't know the contents of

Even from friends, you can get viruses.

Warthog

[RayH]

King_Kooba_Fantastique In the real world or in the virtual world, good security requires a bit of willingness to put up with a bit of inconvenience. Remember, if the virus doesn't reach your computer, it can't be infected!

As you have a Hotmail account, an easy solution to the problem is to read your e-mail off Microsoft's servers. I respond and create new e-mail via Outlook Express. This actually takes care of a problem with Hotmail. Hotmail likes to shutdown my Internet Explorer when I respond off the Hotmail site. But it works just fine with Outlook Express.

On ocassion, you'll not be able to send via desired Hotmail account from OE. In those cases, use copy and paste from OE to the Hotmail site or use alternate e-mail account.

To preview POP3 accounts from the mail server, you can use ICQ. ICQ, among other things, will allow you to see the headers and the first twenty lines of the e-mail. You can also delete things directly from the server.

But, if you have suspicious e-mail, you can always use Hotmail to retrieve the suspect POP3. Service it (read it, etc) from the Microsoft server.

Variation can be done with Yahoo e-mail, as Yahoo is a POP3 account. But some ISPs lock out third part SMTPs. So this might make Yahoo a bit more clumbsy.

There are viruses that don't require the e-mail be opened; just that it lands in your computer.

I keep online accounts at other services for various reasons. But it allows me to be able to save links that are sent to me via Hotmail. I just forward the e-mail there!

[hhh8785]

I have Norton AV, but that is my only software protection. I use a better deterrent. Common Sense. As long as you NEVER download ANYTHING attached to an email from an unknown source, you can't get it from the person sending it to you. Some viruses infect a persons computer and when they do that they automatically attach the virus to an email and send it to everyone in their address book along with a message. To avoid getting it from a person you know: since they don't know they are sending it, it will have a generic message inside the email. I never download anything in an email even from people I know, unless I recognize the email address and it has a personalized message with it. I would NEVER download a file even from my best friend if the email said something like "Here is a file I want you to look at. Seeya." If it isn't personalized, email them back and ask them if they sent you something, and ask what it is.

But not even common sense can be full-proof. There is always the chance something could slip through, so that is why I have my Norton AV. That is an emergency backup incase something does get past the front lines. It can deal with it. But you may want more than that. If you do, then good for you. I just don't feel that I need it. But everyone is different. If you still feel paranoid that you will get a virus, it never hurts to have extra protection http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[capybara]

my friend Bob has a simple solution: two
hard drives. a 2 or 3 gig throwaway for
opening email, and a 30 gig for more
permanent storage. if the 2 gig email opening
drive gets infected, he throws it away!
its a simple and bulletproof solutiom.

[King_Kooba_Fantastique]

Thanks a lot people !.
KKF.