Can I get a virus by reading my email messages? - c2014 - 2018 David Woodsmall

NOTE - THERE ARE NOW AT LEAST TWO MALWARE infections that you can get from
eMail withOUT clicking on anything:

<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2094982/Threat-new-virus-infected-emails-PC-DONT-open-attachments.html"><font color="#FFFFFF"><b>Threat from new virus-infected emails which take over your PC withOUT clicking on anything</b></font></a>

<font color="#FFFFFF">"A new class of cyber attack is threatening PCs - emails which infect PCs without the user having to open an attachment.

The user will not even be warned this is happening - the only message that appears is 'loading'.

The email automatically downloads malicious software into your computer from elsewhere the moment a user clicks to open it." - Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2094982/Threat-new-virus-infected-emails-PC-DONT-open-attachments.html#ixzz4AdoVlXw0

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook</font>


https://www.us-cert.gov/publications/virus-basics#email

"Can I get a virus by reading my email messages?
Most viruses, Trojan horses, and worms are activated when you open an attachment or click a link contained in an email message. If your email client allows scripting, then it is possible to get a virus by simply opening a message. It's best to limit what HTML is available in your email messages. The safest way to view email messages is in plain text."

WRONG (in my opinion):
http://www.howtogeek.com/135546/htg-explains-why-you-cant-get-infected-just-by-opening-an-email-and-when-you-can/

NOTE - THERE IS NOW AT LEAST ONE MALWARE that you can get from
eMail withOUT clicking on anything:

<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2094982/Threat-new-virus-infected-emails-PC-DONT-open-attachments.html"><b>Threat from new virus-infected emails which take over your PC withOUT clicking on anything</b></a>

A new class of cyber attack is threatening PCs - emails which infect PCs without the user having to open an attachment.

The user will not even be warned this is happening - the only message that appears is 'loading'.

The email automatically downloads malicious software into your computer from elsewhere the moment a user clicks to open it.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2094982/Threat-new-virus-infected-emails-PC-DONT-open-attachments.html#ixzz4AdoVlXw0
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook


"Emails are essentially text or HTML documents (web pages). Just like opening a text file or web page in your browser should be safe, opening an email message should also be safe. Whether you are using Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook, Thunderbird, or another web-based or desktop email client, opening an email – even a suspicious looking one – should be safe."

IF THE EMAIL CONTAINS HTML, THE HTML CAN LOAD A CONTAMINATED PICTURE OR BAD OTHER CODE.
IT IS SAFEST TO READ EMAILS AS TEXT ONLY (but it is not 

I also use NoScript to prevent HTML or other scripts from running without my permission.
NoScript can be rather verbose (demanding a response), but it you go to deactive the NoScript web browser add-on, NoScript gives you another option to still use NoScript but not be bothered by so many questions (I have not tried this option). - David Woodsmall

http://www.woodsmall.com/security.htm#NOSCRIPT

MY MAIN WEB PAGE IS:
http://www.woodsmall.com/   c1987-2018