What is Email Virus?

Virus stands for Vital Information Resources under Siege. Virus is defined as a malicious program that spreads over the system. The virus needs an initiating host such as a pendrive. Once the host is connected to the system it gets spread over. It affects the system and gets all the confidential information. Viruses are self-replicating and not detectable. There are different types of Viruses such as file viruses, polymorphic viruses, macro viruses, memory resident viruses, boot sector viruses, etc.

What is an Email Virus?

An email virus is defined as an email that consists hidden malicious program that affects the system. The malicious program inside the email gets activated once the user opens the malicious attachments with emails or when clicking on infected links. Email viruses are also used in order to bring the server down by continuously sending multiple spam emails. These spam emails are designed by hackers in such a way that they are difficult to detect by the users. The email virus not only affects the victim’s system but all the systems in the address book of the victims.

Email virus consists of executable files that have extensions such as .exe, .pdf, .dot, .com, .xls, .scr

How Does Email Virus Harm?

• Steal the personal data present in the system or device.
• Crash the system.
• Execute attacks such as ransomware .
• Marks the system of the victim as a botnet .
• Create continuous unwanted pop-ups.

Types of Email Virus

An email virus is spread across multiple systems through some common methods such as:

1. Spam Emails

The most common method for the spread of email viruses is spam emails. These emails are prepared in such a way that they look as of they are legitimate and useful emails. The email consists of links for redirections and the victim cannot resist clicking them. The subjects that are prepared are useful and attractive. For example, subjects regarding interview calls offers on purchases, etc. Once the user clicks on malicious links provided within the email the malicious program gets installed in the system.

2. Hoax Mails

Hoax Mail Virus are emails that consist of warnings and alert-related content. The main aim of Hoax mail is to panic the victims. The email is attached with security precautions for viruses and hacks. They advise installing the attachments for providing security and once the attachments are installed the malicious program gets access to the systems.

3. Whaling/Business Email Compromise

Whaling is an email virus for organizational institutions. whaling is majorly used for scam. The email looks like a genuine email and is sent to the person who looks for transactions in the organization. The draft consists of sending the specified amount of money for some mentioned reasons. whaling commonly takes place with big organizations.

4. Ransomware

Ransomware encrypts the victim’s data and then demands payment to get it decrypted. It is typically distributed through emails. Attacks using ransomware typically have a financial motivation, and in contrast to other forms of attacks, the victim of a ransomware assault is typically informed of an exploit and provided instructions on how to recover from the attack.

5. Phishing

Phishing is the practise of tricking victims into divulging sensitive information such as logon data or other information so that criminals can use it or sell it for their own evil objectives. A socially crafted message and an authentic-looking sender are the typical components of a phishing attempt.

How to Stop Email Virus?

• Antivirus software is the best preventive measure for email viruses. Installation of trusted and updated antivirus software on the system is important.
• Check for the sender, email content and then open the attachments.
• Regularly update the operating system, web browsers, and mail clients.
• Do not click directly on the links available in the mail.
• Check whether the sender of the email is legitimate.
• By using spam filter on your email so that fake emails do not find their way into your inbox. some email service providers for example Gmail already have capability to filter spam emails and send them in spam folder.

FAQs on Email Virus

Q.1: Give real-time examples of Email viruses.

Answer:

Melissa realized in 1999 and Mydoom released in 2004 are real-time examples of an email viruses.

Q.2: How to detect email viruses?

Answer:

To detect email viruses make use of antivirus software, Heuristic analysis, sandbox detection, etc.

Q.3: How the email virus can affect victims’ systems?

Answer:

Email viruses can affect the victim’s system by phishing emails, and embedding links in the mail and through various attachments.

Q.4: Name the extensions that executable files in email viruses contain.

Answer:

Executable files in email viruses consist of extensions such as .exe, .bat, .com, .xls, .xlt, .pdf, etc.