Email question.

[Mike M.]

Got an email from someone and I have no clue as to who this person is. Always leary of opening these things up, because with all the scams (virus, identity theft) it could lead to trouble.

Any idea as to find out what's going on without opening it?

Pardon my ignorance....I've never been a computer person.

 

[MatticusMania]

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.

 

[MJ5150]

You can copy and paste the senders e-mail address in here for some info on the sender: Link Removed

-Mike

 

[Mike M.]

You can copy and paste the senders e-mail address in here for some info on the sender: Link Removed

-Mike

Later I'm going to check out what you've provided. I still don't have a clue who this person is.

Thanks guys.

 

[duff beer]

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

 

[Mike M.]

Hmmm. Not sure what to make of this. When I typed in the email address it came back BAD. But then part of it was (using my name for example); mike_@.

But when I typed in (again, using my name); mike@ without that lower line after the name it came back good.

I dunno.

 

[MJ5150]

My opinion? Delete the e-mail. It is not legit.

-Mike

 

[Mike M.]

My opinion? Delete the e-mail. It is not legit.

-Mike

I just deleted it. Thanks, bro!

 

[sloasdaylight]

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.

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.

 

[MatticusMania]

Meh, my computer is doing alright.

 

[Mike M.]

The name of that sender is still not ringing any bells. So it had to be something that wasn't good contained in that email.

It's history now!

 

[jmattbassplaya]

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

 

[Floyd Eye]

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

Glad you deleted it.

 

[yodedude2]

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.

turn off auto-run!

 

[champbassist]

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

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.

 

[6jase5]

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

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.

 

[fhm555]

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

+1

 

[MarkMgibson]

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).