Answer to Question #199338 in Computer Networks for Bushra jawed

Question

Alice sends a Happy Birthday greeting card to Bob email id. Bob need to click on the attachment to see the card. What should you do if the greeting mails come to your id? And list down the four big risk if Bob click on link

Answer 1

In case the mail comes to my ID the first step will be to notify Alice about the incident via a different medium if possible. I would also notify the Mail server administrator about the incident so that they can check on the mail delivery configuration on the server.

Risks if Bob clicks on the link

1) Downloading computer virus - The attachment could contain malware which could be downloaded to Bob's computer

2) Ransomware - Email attachments can be used to distribute and initiate ransomware. Clicking on a link can download ransomware program code and execute it on the computer.

3) Phishing attack - The link could contain malicious information that could ask Bob to log in or enter sensitive information such as login which could be collected by attacker and later be used for malicious intentions

3) Exposing his device to hackers - Hackers can use a link that would enable a user to execute a certain file on their computer that had already been placed in their computer. This can cause the computer to perform actions such as open vulnerable ports, leading to a successful attack. E.g Browser Exploit Kit