Email question.

I could be wrong, but I think you should be able to open the email without consequence so long as you do not open any files that may be attached.
Ive opened many an unknown email without problems.

 

If you don't know who it is, delete it. How often does a complete stranger contact you via email for an important issue?

 

This is incorrect. Depending on the maliciousness intent of the sender, and whether your email client displays email in full html or not, just opening a dangerous email can start an auto-run javascript program to install something in the backgroud; often completely without your knowledge.

 

Meh, my computer is doing alright.

 

Hell, I don't even open emails from people I know if there's something fishy in the title.

 

Hell yes you can get it from just opening an email.

Glad you deleted it.

 

turn off auto-run!

 

It wasn't an important issue but I was glad when, a few years back, a person I found on a forum responded to my email query asking for his opinion on an audio interface, despite the fact that we were complete strangers. So, once in a blue moon, such a mail may not be malicious.

Yet, obviously, I won't say I disagree with the fact that a fishy looking email is best deleted unopened.

 

Second that theory. At 200+ per day during the work week I open maybe 70% knowing that a lot of my friends and coworkers send useless crap and bad jokes. When I see "FW" in the subject, it's usually gone.

 

+1

 

It was probably just spam, but if you have a good AV program, there's no reason not to open an email. Good antivirus programs scan emails as they're downloaded, so you're pretty safe. I'm a bit more careful about attachments though; if I don't know what they are or who they're from, I don't open them (they're usually just crap anyway).