{"id":1621,"date":"2011-02-01T09:16:57","date_gmt":"2011-02-01T17:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.cosaint.net\/?p=1621"},"modified":"2023-02-14T06:24:32","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T06:24:32","slug":"even-if-you-expect-an-email-attachment-its-not-always-safe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.empowerelearning.com\/blog\/even-if-you-expect-an-email-attachment-its-not-always-safe\/","title":{"rendered":"Even If You Expect An Email Attachment, It’s Not Always Safe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The FBI recently issued a warning about malware included in email attachments responding to online job postings. They quote the case of a US business that lost more than $150,000 after an employee opened an attachment that had been sent in response to a job posting. Malware embedded in the attachment, a variant of the ZeuS\/Zbot Trojan, then allowed the attacker to obtain the credentials of the person who was authorized to conduct online banking financial transactions within the company.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Simon Herring of Ubersecure<\/a> writes:<\/p>\n

The targets of these attacks are companies that have recently posted on job search sites. So what’s the connection? If you’ve posted a job opening, then it’s only logical that someone at the targeted business is expecting a resume or curriculum vitae (CV). They are, after all, trying to fill a vacant position. This means an email with an attached resume isn’t really “unsolicited email”, making it more likely to be opened by the recipient.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Over the past year or so, more and more attention has been placed on malware installation through social networks, shortened URLs, and other vectors. But email attachments continue to be a threat. So, it’s probably time to remind your staff that<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. malware is still being passed around in email attachments;<\/li>\n
  2. email scanners don’t always detect malware; and<\/li>\n
  3. email attachments you might not consider to be ‘unsolicited’ might still be infected.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    References:<\/b><\/p>\n