Period Computer Viruses

[Keithj]

I've noticed a sudden increase in the number of bogus invoices, account statements and the like - all looking as if they could be genuine (but from firms I've never dealt with). From none over several months, I'm now receiving a dozen or so each day, to various different addresses including some that have hitherto not been spammed.

Most contain attachments that are either Word documents or Excel spreadsheets, with hostile macros which I'm sure would run and enrol my PC in a Botnet or worse. I've not tested that bit.

Time to check the anti-virus is working, and to be extra careful, methinks.

 

[Flyfisher]

I've had quite a few emails recently, apparently from BT, telling me that access to my account is about to expire and inviting me to click on a link to 'update my account'.

Hovering over the link shows it to be some Slovakian domain :lol:

Anti-virus software is unlikely to catch such emails (though they should catch any virus that attempts to download if you did click the link), so some will always get through.

DO NOT EVER respond to these sorts of emails! Even ones apparently from a bank or service that you do happen to use, because no reputable company would ever send out such emails.

Just delete them and forget them.

 

[Zebra]

Yes me too. More than usual lately, to an email address which never used to receive much spam.

 

[Penners]

Echoing what FF has said above (and his knowledge of such things is stratospheric compared with mine!), opening an email like this is rarely a problem. But clicking a link therein, or responding to the email is inviting a malware invasion.