Warning: Don't Open E-mail Attachments!

Dangerous computer viruses and other malicious software are often spread through e-mail attachments, that are sent along with an e-mail message. These viruses can not only infect and damage your computer, but can infect your outgoing e-mail messages and damage someone else's computer as well.

You can prevent and avoid many of these viruses by following the following five steps:

1. NEVER open any e-mail, unless you know the sender. Unsolicited e-mail is called spam, and legitimate businesses don't send spam. Delete it immediately!

2. NEVER open any e-mail attachment unless you know the sender, and you were expecting it. Otherwise, delete it immediately!

3. If you need to send an e-mail attachment to someone, ALWAYS alert the recipient in advance, so they don't automatically assume it's a virus and delete it.

4. Use an e-mail program with built-in spam filters, such as Microsoft's Outlook Express or Mozilla's Thunderbird. In addition, free e-mail programs such as Yahoo Mail, Gmail and Hotmail all have effective spam filters.

5. Use superior anti-virus protection (AVG, Kapersky), and be sure to keep it updated.

NOTE: This article is also available in video version on my YouTube channel.