Can you get a Virus from Opening Emails on your Phone and Computer?

Can you get a Virus from Opening Emails on your Phone and Computer?

Can you get a virus from opening an email: Viruses can slow your productivity and can greatly reduce your efficiency.

A virus can find its way into your phone in various ways, but if you are wondering if your phone can get a virus by opening an email with it. Let’s dive right straight to answering your question in this article.

Viruses plague you with unwanted popups, threaten the security of your personal information, and/or attempt to gain unauthorized access to your computer, so it’s vital that you take aggressive steps to protect yourself.

Can You Get Virus From Opening An Email?

No. Replying to an email will not send a virus to your computer. Computer viruses are usually spread by the attachments that are sent via email messages or instant messages such as from Facebook.

That means you should not try to open an attachment in your email if you don’t know who sent it, and you are not expecting an attachment.

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Why Opening an Email Is Not Dangerous

Emails are basically in text or HTML document format (web pages). Just as opening a web page or a text file in your browser should be safe, clicking on an email message should not be dangerous.

Whether you are using Yahoo mail, Gmail, Outlook, Hotmail, Thunderbird, or any other desktop email client or web-based, opening an email should cause no troubles.

Some emails, however, may try to infect your device after you click on them. These emails may contain mischievous programs in the form of attachments. They may also have links to dangerous websites that are full of scams and malware.

You should only open attachments that you trust. Even if someone you know sends you a message with a file attachment that has an exe file or any other kind of program file, you should not open it. The files may be compromised.

Just like every other thing on the web, you should not bother to run any programs that suddenly tries to download something onto your device after you click a link.

Why Opening Emails Used to be Very Dangerous

Years ago, Microsoft Outlook experienced some serious security problems. The emails that were once only in plain text also contained HTML code. HTML codes just as the one web pages are written in.

Outlook had a problem: a vulnerability that let emails run JavaScript code, which in turn infects your computer. This vulnerability caused opening an email a potentially dangerous thing to do.

This vulnerability was fixed by developers. Now, modern email clients will not automatically display pictures in emails. Emails are not able to use JavaScript.

Just like operating systems, web browsers, and every other computer program, security holes are usually discovered and patched.

As long as the software you are using is updated, and this includes your mail client, browser plugin, browser, and operating system, you should be able to click on an email without the fear of viruses.

Email Safety Tips to Protect Your Device from Virus

Even though it is now safe to open and email, file attachments, and some email links can still be a threat. To stay safe, follow these tips and tricks:

1. Always have your web browser, mail client, and operating system updated

Software updates are very important. Don’t ignore it. Those bad guys regularly look for holes and try to exploit the holes. Software updates w3ork to close these holes and protect your device.

If your browser and email client are outdated, you could catch a virus. If you have java installed on your device, uninstall it, or disable it to protect your device.

2. Install and Antivirus software

For windows make sure to install anti-virus, antivirus software is essential as it serves as a layer of protection. Antivirus can help protect your device from mistakes and software bugs that lets malware run without your permission.

3. Try not to click on unsafe attachments

If you receive a PDF file in your e-mail as an attachment, it may be very safe to open, especially if you use an updated PDF reader.

However, if you receive an email that has an exe file or any other file that is potentially dangerous – even if you know the sender, do not run the attachment. Take caution with attachments you get in an email, as they are still a common source of viruses.

4. Be Wary of Links

Clicking links should be very safe just like loading websites on your browser. However, if you suspect the link looks like something that leads to a site full of malware and scams, you shouldn’t click on the link.

If you click any link, try not to download and run any files that are potentially dangerous. Also, be on the lookout for phishing – if you click any link in your email and it looks like it is from your bank and ends up in a website that looks like your bank’s website, it may not be your bank’s website, but that of a smart imposter.

Tips to Prevent Reoccurrence

The best advice to prevent the occurrence of a virus on your phone is always to be vigilant and careful when opening or downloading any attachments from unknown persons or if it seems suspicious to you.

It is best to keep your phone safe whenever you go online, be sure to use an antivirus on your phone. Mobile security apps are available on both Android and iOS phones, and you can install them anytime as an act of precaution.

At this point, if you have read to the end you should have your question answered. You cannot get a virus in your phone by just opening an email so you can go ahead to read and reply to your emails without the fear of getting a virus.

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