The Zombie Computer

Rule # 1 for e-mail safety:

Website links inside of e-mails are DANGEROUS!

No doubt you are aware of the dangers of on-line security. It is easy to believe that your computer anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are doing a great job protecting your computer. They may do a fantastic job but they just protect your computer. There are other ways to run into trouble on-line. Security, ID theft, and fraud are common but one of the biggest causes of ID theft are those simple
e-mails you probably receive everyday.

USE EXTREME CAUTION when opening e-mails with attachments or links; EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN SENT TO YOU FROM SOMEONE YOU KNOW.

E-mail can be dangerous even when they are sent from people you know! Here's Why.

Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people who use e-mail to send out computer viruses that have the capability to program other people’s computers to automatically send out e-mails to anyone listed in that computer's e-mail “Address Book”. The owner of the computer has no idea that their computer has been programmed in this way. These computers are known as "Zombie Computers". E-mails from these computers can contain viruses OR links to “Phishing” websites.

Phishing is an e-mail trick sent out by Internet crooks where the intent is to coax the e-mail recipient to go to a phony website and disclose their personal information. The Internet crooks take the personal information and either sell it to someone or use it for their own purposes. Bottom Line: They are trying to obtain your personal identification to ultimately commit a fraudulent act upon your account.

Chances are good that the person from whom you are familiar with has no idea that their computer is infected with a virus that caused you to receive an e-mail from them that did not seem typical. 

Zombie computers are very common. The best thing you can do to protect your computer from invasion is to keep your anti-virus and anti-spyware software up-to-date.