NWE: Help: Email: Attachments

Let's be blunt: email attachments stink. However, our system does a pretty good job of letting you process them.

Unlike the "easy to use" email readers from a company who shall go nameless, the NWE's mail readers won't download and execute attachments automatically, placing you at risk from macro virii and trojan horses.

But it's still wise to be careful--hence the measured tone of the first step below. Generally speaking, here's how to deal with an attachment:

Make sure the file comes from someone you know. If you get an attached file from someone you do not know--or if someone you do know sends an attachment you are not expecting --don't open it immediately. Read the message enclosed first!
If any part of the attachment headers are missing--for example, if there is no subject, sender, or date--tell your instructor or the help staff.
If the attachment seems legit, note the file type, and save it to disk. See the help for exmh or Pine if you don't know how. Make a note of the file name for the next step. (Note also the encoding if one is listed. Sometimes files sent in email are encoded as base64, uucode, or binhex--if that's the case you'll need to decode the file before it can be used.)
If you have the proper application (like WordPerfect for word processor documents, or xv for images), open the application, then open up the file you saved to disk and read, print, or modify it as needed.

Here's another set of ideas from a web security expert.

Count the number of 'ifs' in these steps, and you may realize why we say attachments stink. For example, let's say your brother scans a picture of his football team and mails it to you as a BMP (Windows Bitmap). That's cool if you have a Windows computer--but you have a Macintosh, or a Unix computer (like at the NWE)? It's awful hard to deal with the attachment in that case.

What's the final skinny?

Don't email attached files to anyone unless you make sure they can deal with it (send them an email and ask about file format first).
Put stuff on the Web instead. Why email pictures to Ma and Pa when it's just as easy--if not easier--to make a Web page?
Don't open attached files emailed to you unless you are certain of the legitimacy of their source.
Please don't email attached files to your class list--it bloats the size of class list archives.

Exmh and Pine both handle attachments fairly well. Consult the documentation for those programs for more information about attachment handling.

All UF students, faculty, and staff can use McAfee antivirus software. Find out more at the SODA shoppe. And of course, frequent backups will insure the integrity of your data.