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Regular Email:
Generally, regular email that is sent or received through a regular email address (i.e. yourname@hotmail.com, or yourname@yahoo.com) is not secured or encrypted to protect the content. Therefore, any personal information you include in an email is at risk of being intercepted by unauthorized individuals. Do not send sensitive, personal or financial information unless it is encrypted on a secure website from a trusted source. Commonly, a website is encrypted if the web address contains "https://" and if a locked padlock symbol appears in the lower right corner of your browser.
Do not open email or email attachments from unknown sources as they could include a virus that, if opened, could damage your computer system. Scan email through your anti-virus software first.
Do not reply to any email that requests personal information.
Only do business with companies you trust. When in doubt, always contact the company by telephone and question the email request for personal information.
Fraudulent Use of Email:
Email Spoof Sites
Some emails are used to send false offers from companies posing to be legitimate. In the email, the company may request for your personal information to "update their records". In reality, this tricks users into downloading a virus or jumping to a fraudulent website requesting personal information. An unsuspecting individual is at risk of fraud, identity theft and computer infection. If you get an email or a page link requesting confirmation of personal details, do not input information - even if the page appears legitimate. No reputable company would request personal information via email and you should contact the company in question if you suspect the email is fraudulent.
Email 'Spam'
Email lists are often purchased by companies or individuals to send email ads for products and services. The unsolicited emails are defined as 'Spam,' and the sheer volume of spam can fill email files and add pop-up ads on your computer screen. You can purchase anti-spam software to filter unwanted email or spam from your incoming email list until you delete it.
Chain Letter Email
An email requesting that the recipient send the email to everyone they know is called a "chain letter email". Many companies who sell mailing lists also run chain letters and every person that responds or enters their email address becomes part of a mailing list. Often, unsuspecting individuals respond to the email because of appealing content, promised good luck or monetary gain. It’s best to delete chain letter email in the event that an attachment contains a computer virus. You can also install anti-spam programs to block unwanted email and solicitations.
Computer Viruses and Infections:
Virus
Often through email, file sharing and downloaded programs, computer viruses are sent as email attachments. A virus is a small program that piggybacks on email and program files. For example, a virus might attach itself to a program or a game. Each time the program is opened the virus runs and can infect other programs or damage your computer. Some viruses move around through email then replicate by automatically mailing to the victim’s entire email address book.
Worm
A worm virus is a small program that searches through networks to find security holes to replicate itself from machine to machine. Worms use up computer time, space and speed when replicating, with a malicious intent to slow or bring down entire servers to halt Internet use.
Trojan Horse
A Trojan Horse is another type of computer virus, which is simply a computer program that masks as another program. For example, you may download a simple computer game not suspecting any harm. But if the game contains a Trojan Horse and is opened, it can cause damage to your computer, from erasing files to changing your desktop. Trojan Horse programs can be attached to several types of applications ranging from screen savers to downloaded programs. To reduce your risk of computer infection, it’s important to run anti-virus software before programs are downloaded or opened.
Protect Yourself Against Viruses and Fraudulent Email:
Your best defence against computer viruses is education and discipline, as both help to reduce your risk of becoming a victim. Don’t open email from unknown sources and do install anti-spam software to reduce the number of potentially dangerous email.
Run a current updated anti-virus software program on your computer frequently. Virus software can scan your incoming and outgoing email and attachments for computer infections like worms, viruses, Trojan Horses and other malicious code that can affect your computer files and operation.
Never double-click on an email attachment that contains an executable file or files with the extensions "exe", "com" or "vbs" unless you can trust the source. If a file is infected with a virus and is opened, the virus can damage your hard drive, program files, and email files. Running anti-virus software usually helps to detect infections before any file is opened.
Install firewall software on your computer to help prevent unauthorized individuals or information from entering your computer system. This is especially important on computers that use a broadband connection to access the Internet (Cable modems or DSL). Since your Internet connection is on when your computer is on, the risk for malicious activity to your computer increases.
Read the privacy policy of the sites you visit. The privacy policies are designed to provide customers with details on how their information is kept private, how information is shared and why it’s collected. It’s a good practice to read the privacy policy of any company with which you conduct financial transactions. Most privacy policies also explain how you can request removal of your name from promotional mailing lists. Read HSBC’s Privacy Notice.
