File Attachments Spammers Use to Infiltrate Your Inbox

Because more and more people have already become aware of spam mails sent as plain text such as the 419 spam mail, spammers now use different tactics to pass through spam email blockers and antivirus anti spam softwares. Some of these spam messages are so cleverly structured free anti spam programs may not be able to block them.

So how do spammers manage to get through free email spam blockers, fre anti-virus software and free spam blocker softwares? They send spam through email attachments. The following are four types of attachment spam you may receive in your inbox. Read through and you might just realize the last attachment you opened today actually came from a spammer:

1. Photo and Image files. Image spam is effective in circumventing free spam filter because image spams may be considered merely as images by email client softwares. This perhaps explains why you may still receive emails with images that sell watch replicas and online pharmacy products regardless of your spam email blockers. How to get rid of this type of spam? Do not read email messages with images that come from people you do not know.

2. PDF files. Another type of spam that many email anti spam programs may not be able to filter is Pdf spam. Make sure that you check out who your mail sender is when you receive PDF files especially if you are the type who always receive PDF files in your mailbox. PDF spam is a spam threat that is considered as a development out of image spams.

3. Excel Files. Business people who often use excel program are most at risk of opening spam emails with excel files. With the advent of spammers using excel files as attachment, security experts also say that spammers may also inevitably use powerpoint and word documents as spam attachments. Understanding and combating spam messages that use excel files and other attachments can be read at the GFI software white paper on "Attachment spam-the latest trend".

4. Zip files. Zip files are usually used when downloading and sharing files in the internet. People also use zip files to make it easier and faster to send bulky data over email. Unfortunately, spammers are also using zip files to make it similarly easier and faster to spam mailboxes. According to SC magazine, spam mails that contain zip files usually use the following or a variety of these words: Invoice and document; alert, invitation and notice. Watch out for these words especially when opening emails with zip files that come from unknown sources.