Common Email Attachment File Extensions

Common Email Attachment File Extensions By Matthew Elton Copyright 2007 Matthew Elton Before opening any email attachment, examine it’s file extension. The file extension is a period followed by a two, three, or four letter acronym which goes after the file name. The file extension will tell you what type of file the attachment is. Common email attachment file extensions: .doc – A Microsoft Word document. .exe – A Windows program. When attached to emails, .exe files are usually viruses. Do not open them unless you know who the sender is and you know what the attached file is. .pif – An image file that can double as a hidden program. When attached to emails, pif files are usually viruses. Do not open them unless you know who the sender is and you know what the attached file is. .pps – A Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation. Some Powerpoints can contain macro viruses. Do not open word documents attached to emails unless you know and trust the sender. .scr – A Windows Screen Saver. When attached to emails, .scr files are usually viruses. Do not open them unless you know who the sender is and you know what the attached file is. .bat – A type of DOS program. .bat viruses are rare, but you should still use caution if you encounter a .bat email attachment. .com – A type of DOS program. .com viruses are rare, but you should still use caution if you encounter a .bat email attachment. .asp – An internet script, probably not a virus. .vbs – A Visual Basic script, probably not a virus. .xls – A Microsoft Excel document. Some Exceldocuments can contain macro viruses. Do not open word documents attached to emails unless you know and trust the sender.

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Transcript of Common Email Attachment File Extensions

Page 1: Common Email Attachment File Extensions

Common Email Attachment File ExtensionsBy Matthew Elton

Before opening any email attachment, examine it’s file extension. The file extension is a period followed by a two, three, or four letter acronym which goes after the file name. The file extension will tell you what type of file the attachment is.

Common email attachment file extensions: .doc – A Microsoft Word document. .exe – A Windows program. When attached

to emails, .exe files are usually viruses. Do not open them unless you know who the sender is and you know what the attached file is.

.pif – An image file that can double as a hidden program. When attached to emails, pif files are usually viruses. Do not open them unless you know who the sender is and you know what the attached file is.

.pps – A Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation. Some Powerpoints can contain macro viruses. Do not open word documents attached to emails unless you know and trust the sender.

.scr – A Windows Screen Saver. When attached to emails, .scr files are usually viruses. Do not open them unless you know who the sender is and you know what the attached file is.

.bat – A type of DOS program. .bat viruses are rare, but you should still use caution if you encounter a .bat email attachment.

.com – A type of DOS program. .com viruses are rare, but you should still use caution if you encounter a .bat email attachment.

.asp – An internet script, probably not a virus. .vbs – A Visual Basic script, probably not a virus. .xls – A Microsoft Excel document. Some Exceldocuments can contain macro

viruses. Do not open word documents attached to emails unless you know and trust the sender.

.zip – A compressed folder. Compressed folders can be downloaded and opened fairly safely, even if they contain viruses. Usually, any viruses inside the folder will not infect your computer unless you extract the contents of the folder or open the files inside the folder. If you receive a .zip folder attached to an email, don’t open it unless you know the sender. If you know the sender, open the .zip folder, and if you recognize the contents of the folder, then extract the files.