Yahoo Chat Email Is Causing Trojans
Yahoo's chat function lets you communicate with your friends in real time. You can convert your chat session into an email by clicking the appropriate icon in the chat window. Unfortunately, chat and email programs help spread the malicious code known as Trojan horses; simple precautions such as running anti-malware utilities on your computer can get rid of Trojans and stop them from coming back.
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Yahoo Chat Email
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Yahoo offers both a stand-alone chat function that you download and install on your computer and a browser-based chat that you can use without installing Yahoo's software. This lets you open a chat session from your Yahoo email page by hovering your mouse pointer over the "Compose Message" button and selecting "IM" from the drop-down menu. If you want to convert your chat session to an email, you can do so by clicking the envelope icon, one of three icons at the top of the chat window. You can send files via chat or as email attachments. Unfortunately, these can harbor malicious code such as Trojan horses.
What is a Trojan?
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Trojan horses are pieces of malicious software that can compromise the security and functionality of your computer. They are called Trojans because they are dangerous files disguised as safe ones, such as games, documents, images or computer utilities. Trojans are not caused by chat or email programs; programmers create them. Chat and email programs can be used to spread Trojans, however, making it appear as if the program has somehow caused the Trojan to appear.
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How Trojans Can Spread
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Any program that allows the transfer of files or links, such as Yahoo's email or chat programs, can inadvertently spread malicious code. Infected files can be sent accidentally between friends, as Trojans can be bundled with genuine software. Your computer can also be infected if you follow a link to an "attack page" -- a website containing malware that automatically downloads onto your computer. A friend could accidentally send you such a link via Yahoo, as ordinary websites can be hacked and turned into attack sites. Criminals who want to infect many computers with Trojans or other malware may use a bot -- a program that poses as a human being. The bot can post files or links on chat or via email, making it look as if they come from a person.
Dealing With Trojans
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The best approach is to prevent Trojans from infecting your computer in the first place. Install anti-malware software and keep it up to date. Don't download files or follow links from Yahoo users you don't know. Use a browser that can detect attack sites; outdated browsers such as Internet Explorer 6 leave your computer vulnerable to infections.
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