putting emails in folder to scan

reneeandjerry,
A bit more information might help the volunteers here assist you better.

What email client are you using? (Outlook, Outlook Express?)

What operating system (XP, Vista?)

Did you make a folder yet? You could call it "Email Check" or something similar.

Is your anti-virus configured to scan emails?

Even if you scan attachments in emails, you will not be protected if someone tells you to click on a link to a video, picture, etc. Once you click on the link you could be taken to a webpage that contains malware, or tricks you into downloading malware. Usually, at that point, your anti-virus would alert you.  However, AV's don't catch everything, so the ideal situation is to not go to a bad site to begin with.

I would suggest looking into these free programs:

Perhaps someone can help you set up the free version of MailWasher. <--There are some screenshots and a video on the vendor's page. If you like it, you might want to upgrade to the paid version later on. MailWasher will let you read your email on the server so you do not have to download it to your computer unless you really want to. It will also let you know if the email contains any attachments that you may or may not want to download. MailWasher will not scan for viruses, though. It simply gives you a preview of email before it gets to your computer, so you can have the option of downloading it to your computer or deleting it from the server.

Web Of Trust , uses colored alerts to warn about risky websites warns you about risky websites that try to scam visitors, deliver malware or send spam. Protect your computer against online threats by using WOT as your front-line layer of protection when browsing or searching in unfamiliar territory. WOT's color-coded icons show you ratings for 21 million websites, helping you avoid the dangerous sites:

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There is a Web Of Trust version for Firefox as well.

I'm using internet exp to get to google home page.  I don't know much about computers and am kinda confused.  some friends send me emails that say I need to download things.  I'm afraid of that.  I was told that I can make a folder somewhere on computer and just have that folder scanned before I open them.  Not sure how or where.  i have windows vista.  thanks again.

You are using Google webmail? "Gmail"?

Are the things you are asked to download attached to the email messages (attachments) or do your friends give you a link to click on (using Internet Explorer) where you can download things?

 I suggest keeping that  folder on the Desktop.

In order to do that:

1. Right-click a blank area on the desktop > point to New, and then click Folder.

2. Type a name for the new folder (such as Download Checker) and then press ENTER.

3. The new folder you created appears on the Desktop. 

4. Now when you download something you can direct the download to go to that folder. Watch to make sure that is where it is being downloaded to.

5. With most Anti-Virus programs,  you would right-click on the folder > Scan for Viruses.  It will do a short scan, and you're done.

thank you for your reply.  I kinda understand.  there isn't a link in emails, just with google mail,  the email is blank, but has 'download' on bottom which I think something needs to be downloaded to come thru.  If I click download, I could get a virus, right?  so, I'd have to send the whole email to the folder?  I think I understand how to make a folder on desktop, but not sure how to get emails in there, and also, will mcafee be able to catch if it's not downloaded, but just in email form? sorry I'm so dumb. 

You're not dumb. It just takes some practice. All of us were beginners and had to learn this at one time. The longer you hang around these forums, the more you will learn.

As long as you are only using Gmail online, you do not need to install the MailWasher program that I mentioned above.


If I click download, I could get a virus, right?
It depends on what is in the item that you download.

A couple of questions:

1. In your Inbox where your incoming messages are listed, are there little paperclips next to them (That means there is an attachment that can be downloaded.)?

2. Gmail by default has the ability to disable scripting and block images until a user takes some action to display them.
When you go to your Settings in Gmail > External content:
Which one of these is checked?
   
   O  Always display external content (such as images) sent by trusted senders

   O  Ask before displaying external content

If "Ask before..." is checked, that is why your messages are blank and Gmail is asking you to display/View them.

Info here: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=145919

After you tell Gmail to display them, if there are any pictures/attachments that you want to save on your computer:

1.  Click on Download under the filename (for example, my picture.jpg).

2. Your computer will ask you if you want to Save it.

3. Select to Save it. Browse to your Email checker folder and tell your computer to save it there.

4. When the download is finished, right-click on your new folder and have McAfee do a virus scan if that is listed in your right-click menu. However, most likely McAfee will alert you as soon as the download starts if it notices anything nasty being downloaded, so the bad file(s) may not even make it to your folder for you to scan manually.

Does that answer your questions?

* The person who told you to move suspicious emails to a folder may not have known that you are using Gmail (online). If you don't want to keep anything from Gmail on your home computer, you can manage it online within Gmail.