Is it dangerous to just read this sketchy scammer’s email or do I need to click on the link to get in trouble?

Are you worried about opening suspicious emails? You are not alone. Many people do not understand the risks associated with spam and phishing emails.

This includes “Bill” from Groton, Connecticut, who wrote to us and asked: “My friends and I are unclear if we could get in trouble for clicking on a spam or hack email… as long as we don’t Let’s open it.” INSIDE the letter… in other words… can we EVER get in trouble just by reading any letter??? Thank you if you can address this to your viewers… I think a lot of people don’t understand this.”

That’s a great question, Bill. Now let’s dive deeper into this topic and clear up some common misconceptions.

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Common Misconceptions

Opening emails can instantly infect your device: One common myth is that simply opening an email can automatically infect your device with malware. In fact, modern email systems (like Gmail, Outlook, etc.) usually prevent this from happening. The real danger comes from interacting with the email content, such as clicking on malicious links or downloading malicious attachments.

Plain text emails are always safe: While plain text emails are generally safer than HTML emails, they can still pose a risk if they contain malicious links. Phishing attacks can appear in text emails, luring you to dangerous websites.

Emails from known contacts are always safe: Even if an email appears to be from someone you know, that doesn’t always mean it’s safe. Attackers can spoof email addresses or hack accounts, so always be wary of unexpected or unusual messages from known contacts, especially those containing links or attachments.

Spam filters catch all malicious emails: Spam filters are very effective, but not perfect. Some advanced phishing and malicious emails can bypass these filters and end up in your inbox. That’s why it’s important to remain vigilant, even with emails that appear to have passed your email service’s security checks.

Email preview is always safe: Most modern email clients use a “preview” panel for quick reading. While the risk of malware infection via previews is greatly reduced in modern systems, built-in trackers or other forms of data collection can still trigger, confirming your activity to the spammer. Always disable automatic image loading or other active content features in your email client settings to minimize the risk of infection.

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What to watch out for

As mentioned, simply opening an email is usually not enough to cause harm. However, there are a few important points to consider:

1) Built-in trackers: Some kind of spam or phishing e-mail contain trackers that can notify the sender when an email has been opened. This can confirm to the spammer that your email address is active, potentially leading to more spam.

2) Malicious links and attachments: The real danger lies in clicking on links or downloading attachments in an email. This could lead to you being directed to malicious websites or downloading malware onto your device.

3) Emails in HTML format: Email messages containing HTML content can sometimes execute scripts when opened. Although modern email clients are protected against this, the potential risk still exists.

4) Phishing attempts: Even if you don’t click on anything, phishing emails can look very convincing and may force you to provide personal information if you respond.

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How to protect yourself from suspicious emails

If you’re worried about receiving sketchy emails, there are a few steps you can take to stay safe and reduce your risk of encountering malware or becoming a victim of scams. Follow these guidelines to protect yourself:

1) Do not click links or download attachments: Never click on links or download files from emails you don’t trust. Scammers often use this tactic to direct you to malicious websites or install malware on your device. The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your personal information is to install antivirus software on all of your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe. Get my picks for the best antivirus protection winners of 2024 for your Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices..

2) Use a reliable email client: Choose an email service provider that prioritizes security features such as spam filtering and two-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to your account. Read more about secure and private email here..

3) Enable email filtering: Turn on spam filters to reduce the number of unwanted or potentially harmful emails that end up in your inbox. This reduces the likelihood of phishing attempts. Most email platforms these days automatically filter out what they consider “junk” into their own folder. If you notice that the amount of spam entering your inbox is increasing, you may want to consider Spam filter. There are free options for different email providers. For Gmail try Postman. For Outlook and Windows Mail try Spam bullywhich costs $29.95 per year.

4) Keep your software updated: Regularly update your email client and operating system to stay protected from the latest security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.

5) Consider data removal services: Use data deletion services to make your personal information less accessible to potential scammers. This reduces the risk of becoming a target in the first place.

While no service promises to remove all of your data from the Internet, having a removal service is useful if you want to continually monitor and automate the process of removing your information from hundreds of sites continuously over a long period of time. Check out my top data removal services here..

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Kurt’s key takeaways

While opening spam messages is usually harmless, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Be vigilant, trust your intuition and, when in doubt, delete suspicious emails without opening them.

What’s the most convincing spam message you’ve ever received and how did you recognize it was fake? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com/Contacts.

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