One of the most common means by which computer viruses and worms spread is through
e-mail attachments. If opened, these attachments can give hackers complete control of your machine, initiate an attack on another machine, or start sending out copies of itself to e-mail addresses it finds on your hard drive - or all of the above. Malevolent software of this type has been known to cripple personal machines, e-mail servers and networks at universities multiple times.
UNCW's e-mail system removes attachments with the following file extensions (which can be potential viruses):
.bat |
.js |
.pif |
.vbe |
.wsh |
.cmd |
.jse |
.scr |
.vbs |
.exe |
.com |
.jvs |
.shs |
.wsf |
.csr |
.mdb |
Any attachment with the above extensions will be deleted and replaced with a .txt attachment stating that the original attachment was blocked.
If you need to receive an attachment that has a blocked file extension, contact the sender and have them rename the file (or zip the file) before sending so that the UNCW e-mail system doesn't delete it.
A few e-mail attachment guidelines
- Don't open unexpected attachments
- Don't open attachments from strangers
- Don't open unusual attachments
- Don't open attachments from strange looking messages
Information Technology Systems Division maintains the right to block any messages and/or attachments to preserve the integrity of UNCW's e-mail system .
