Dangerous files: Messages from spammers have become quite common in recent years. Although most of these messages are harmless and contain advertisements, there are cases that also pose some dangers. Specifically, when this message has a malware file attached. Usually these messages take the form of an innocent, useful and serious file or the form of a terrible opportunity.
It's good to know how we can fall victim to these seemingly innocent files.
A very common target is ZIP and RAR files . This is because they usually give ZIP files misleading names, which provoke the recipient to open them. This year we have already seen files that, when created, seem to be set to go to the system folder. Specifically, they can go to the Windows startup folder, thus creating a problem during the next reboot. Therefore, regular updates to WinRaR are recommended.
Microsoft Office files are also definitely targeted . Word and Excel files make it easy to send such malware to office workers, bank employees, etc. They are misleading because they resemble messages coming from, for example, senior executives and appear urgent and very serious.
PDF . files can be quite deceptive They are not the most common and this makes them even more dangerous because they are not at the first thought of the recipient. Hackers usually hide PDF documents with links for electronic theft. Essentially, they send potential victims to another page, where they ask for their personal information.
Less common are ISO files and IMG files. Hackers use a disk image to deliver malware to victims' computers, such as the Tesla Trojan, which specializes in stealing credentials.
In any case, it's good to know how to protect yourself. Don't open suspicious emails from unknown addresses. When you don't know why a message is in your inbox, you probably don't need it. If you are forced to open it, carefully check the sender's address and the name of the attachment. Don't allow macros to run in documents that arrive via email unless you are sure. If you don't know why you are being asked to follow a link, simply ignore it. Use a reliable security solution that will alert you to dangerous files, block them, and warn you if you attempt to go to a suspicious website.
