ly need you to view the email in the preview pane to begin infection. Other times you do not need to click on a link in the email or an attachment. Sometimes there is no message in the text section of the email. Direct your email program not to automatically open email attachments or display messages and pictures. This reduces the possibility of spammers verifying your email address and infectors automatically installing themselves. Use anti-virus software with all incoming and outgoing email.
Infectors are increasingly targeting personal information. Spammers and infector authors are teaming up for a very profitable and illegal enterprise. With a phishing scam, the victim voluntarily and knowingly gives the money or property to the criminal but would not have done so if the criminal did not make a false representation or misrepresentation.
Install and use more than one anti-virus software and anti-spyware software regularly. You shouldn't use these programs at the same time as it can negatively affect your computer's performance. Be sure to install updates regularly. Let the programs complement each other. Chances are if the infector or malware signature is not too prevalent or the company concentrates on one particular aspect, one company may already have included the infector signature whereas another company may not have done so yet.