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quick question, fake fedex email..

fisherking

fisherking

macrumors G4
Original poster
Jul 16, 2010
11,374
5,702
ny somewhere
ok, i usually know better.

i am expecting a package that's a week late.
so i wake up this morning, there's a fedex email telling me i have a package that has to be picked up, it was addressed incorrectly.

there's a zip file attached.

i download it, unzip it...it's a ".exe". so i change it to ".doc", and OPEN it.. all code...i even try it again (with text wrangler). unreadable.

i call fedex, and they tell me to delete it. i google this, and...it's a virus.

am i in danger (from the virus, not my own stupidity)? :confused:
 
.exe files are not supported on os x, so as long as you downloaded it on os x, your fine.
 
fisherking said:
i call fedex, and they tell me to delete it. i google this, and...it's a virus.

am i in danger (from the virus, not my own stupidity)? :confused:
Click to expand...
As already stated, no Windows app (.exe) can run in Mac OS X. That includes malware. Macs are not immune to malware, but no true viruses exist in the wild that can run on Mac OS X, and there never have been any since it was released over 10 years ago. You cannot infect your Mac simply by visiting a website, unzipping a file, opening an email attachment or joining a network. The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which cannot infect your Mac unless you actively install them, and they can be easily avoided with some basic education, common sense and care in what software you install. Also, Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Lion have anti-malware protection built in, further reducing the need for 3rd party antivirus apps.
 
Here's some things that you can look out for when dealing with phishing attempts.

Was the email directed to you by name or "FedEx Customer" Official correspondences from companies like FedEx contact you by name.
The details of the issue/tracking number will be written in the email not an attachment.
Are there numerous spelling/grammar errors?

If you're still not sure, contact FedEx directly not by the link in the email
 
maflynn said:
Here's some things that you can look out for when dealing with phishing attempts.

Was the email directed to you by name or "FedEx Customer" Official correspondences from companies like FedEx contact you by name.
The details of the issue/tracking number will be written in the email not an attachment.
Are there numerous spelling/grammar errors?

If you're still not sure, contact FedEx directly not by the link in the email
Click to expand...

sadly, i know all this stuff, and am always advising others about such behavior.
but...waiting for a package that's important, and a week late, so i got excited, and jumped right in.

THAT won't happen again...
 
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