At IU, how can I protect my computer from an email attachment infected with a virus?

Use antivirus software

The most important thing you can do to protect your computer from viruses is use antivirus software.

Note: The University Information Security Office (UISO) recommends that you run the latest version of Symantec/Norton AntiVirus software (available to IU students, faculty, and staff for free via IUware) for your operating system, being sure to upgrade safely (see In Windows, how do I safely upgrade to the latest Symantec Endpoint or AntiVirus software?), and that you update your virus definitions daily and scan your computer weekly. For instructions, see:

• Windows: In Symantec/Norton AntiVirus for Windows, how do I schedule automatic LiveUpdates and virus scans?
• Mac OS and OS X: In Norton AntiVirus for Mac OS or Mac OS X, how do I schedule automatic LiveUpdates and virus scans?

Handle attachments wisely

Email attachments are frequently the culprits in virus attacks, and simply saving an attachment to your computer will not remove a virus. To protect yourself from viruses transmitted through email attachments:

• Don't open any attachment you were not expecting, even if it comes from a trusted source, such as a family member, co-worker, or friend.
  
  
• If you do not know the sender of a message that includes an attachment, always delete the message without reading it.
  
  
• Do not open any attached file ending in .exe, .vbs, or .lnk.
  
  
• Never open an attachment unless you have verified that it is virus free. To open an attachment, first save it to your hard drive and then scan it with antivirus software, such as SAV/NAV. For instructions, see:
  
  
  • Using Symantec/Norton AntiVirus Corporate Edition in Windows, how do I immediately scan a file, folder, or drive for viruses?
  • Using Norton AntiVirus for Mac OS or Mac OS X, how do I immediately scan a file, folder, or drive for viruses?

Note: The most recent versions of Eudora (4.2 and later) will warn you before opening many kinds of attachments, but will not warn you before opening .vbs or .lnk files. For more on Eudora security risks, see the Eudora Email Security Advisory page.

Also see:

• What should I do if I receive a computer virus alert message via email?
• What is email fraud, and what should I do about it?
• Best practices for computer security
• What is security software?
• What should I do if my computer has a virus?