Have you ever received an email from someone you didn’t know and felt hesitant about opening it? Or maybe you’ve received an email from someone you did know who included an attachment that feels a little like opening Pandora’s Box? With so much more emphasis on which dangerous websites you should never visit, we may not consider our personal email accounts the source of potential security issues. But email mistakes can easily happen if you aren’t aware of the risk — and when they do, they can lead to the biggest headache of all: viruses.
Knowing which common email mistakes to avoid is the best way to keep yourself protected. Tech Expert Ilan Nass, chief revenue officer of Taktical, and Karl Robinson, CEO and founder of Logicata, weigh in with their picks for three email mistakes that practically guarantee a virus.
Clicking Unknown Links In Emails
The most common email mistake that makes people vulnerable to viruses is clicking links within unsolicited emails, according to Nass.
“When you click a link in an email, it can secretly install malware on your device,” Nass says. “Links may claim to be for a legitimate reason like an invoice, account update, or package tracking, but they download malware that gives attackers access to your system.”
If you suspect a virus, Nass says the first step is to refrain from clicking any additional links. “Then run an updated antivirus scan and malware scan to detect and remove any viruses,” he adds. “You should also change your passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised. Exercising caution with email links is critical to avoid falling victim to viruses. If you do believe your device is infected, the immediate first step is to stop clicking links and run security scans before changing any passwords.”
Opening Unknown Email Attachments
Never, ever open an email attachment unless you are 100 percent positive you know the sender and the attachment’s content — it’s just not worth the risk.
“Opening email attachments without caution can lead to risks like viruses, data breaches, theft of personal information, and system failure,” Robinson says. “To protect your computer and network, verify the source of email attachments before opening them and have robust antivirus software installed.”
Not Creating Strong Passwords
By now you may already know how important it is to refrain from using your birthday or dog’s name in your password. This rule extends to your personal email account, as well.
“Using weak and easily guessable passwords makes it easier for hackers to access your email account,” Robinson says. “They can crack these passwords through brute-force attacks or by exploiting common patterns. Once in, they can spread viruses or access sensitive information.”
One additional tip: avoid leaving your email account logged in and unattended. “It makes you vulnerable to potential threats,” Robinson says. “When you leave your email open, anyone with access to your computer physically or remotely can download infected files into your system.”
Keep these three mistakes in mind and exercise caution with your email — and then take immediate steps to remedy the situation if you suspect you have a virus.
