Can Opening An Email Be Dangerous?
People ask some common questions when it comes to the act of merely opening an email such as “Can you get a computer virus from opening an email?” and “Can you get a virus from opening an email but not the attachment?”
While it’s generally safe to open a plain text email, the risk comes in when you interact with a message. For instance, reading the text in an email is normally fine but clicking a link or opening an attachment in the message is what can introduce harm.
One thing to keep in mind when opening an email from an unknown sender is that this can signal to the sender that you have an active account which may lead to more future messages.
💡 Tip: With Clean Email, you don’t have to open any email to view its contents. That’s right! You can simply check out a preview of the message and then take an action such as block, unsubscribe, or delete with a quick click or tap.
It’s especially convenient when using the Screener tool, which filters messages from new senders and holds them outside your inbox for your review.
Can You Get Hacked by Opening an Email Attachment?
Cyber-attackers can use PDF documents and miscellaneous files that appear to be legitimate in an attempt to get you to download and open them. These can look like invoices, statements, and offers that get your attention.
Unfortunately, PDFs and email attachments can contain:
- Malicious code that can execute damaging commands.
- Hyperlinks (within the document) that direct you to unsafe websites.
- Hidden objects that can’t always be detected by antivirus software.
Additionally, PDF readers can contain vulnerabilities especially if they aren’t kept up to date. Attackers can use these weaknesses to gain access to your device when you open the file.
The most important thing to keep in mind is to not open an email attachment from an unknown or suspicious source.
📌 Related: List of The Most Spammers in 2025.
Be Proactive with Platform-Specific Protections
Because hackers, attackers, and scammers are constantly finding new ways to intrude our inboxes, it’s crucial to stay on top of things. Check out the privacy, security, and safety features offered on your preferred platform and in your current email app.
Clean Email Privacy and More
A robust mailbox management app, Clean Email, prioritizes your privacy and gives you tools to enhance overall email safety. It's available on Android, iOS, Mac, and as a web app, so you can manage your inbox securely from any device.
Along with the message previews mentioned earlier, look at these additional features that can help you keep your inbox safe:
✅ Screener: Review emails from unknown senders in one spot before they land in your inbox. Then, Allow or Block the senders’ messages. Once a sender is allowed or blocked, future messages are automatically handled according to your choice—helping you prevent mailbox clutter and reduce unwanted email.
✅ Cleaning Suggestions: Get recommendations for handling groups of emails based on your previous actions. These suggestions let you delete, archive, or unsubscribe in bulk.
✅ Privacy Monitor: See if your email address has been involved in any data breaches or security incidents so that you can take action.
✅ Auto Clean: Set up rules to automatically manage messages as they arrive or clean them up as they accumulate in your inbox. Do things like move, archive, or delete emails based on certain senders, message size, date, or another condition.
Clean Email does not sell your data, is fully compliant with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), and provides advanced features that sync across your devices.
Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail Security Tools
Whether you use Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo Mail on your computer or mobile device, you should review and take advantage of the security features offered by these widely-used email providers.
All three services provide spam email filters and phishing protections, with options to report these types of messages, along with encrypted data and two-step verification or two-factor authentication.
Additionally, each service offers enhanced security tools:
- Gmail: Google Advanced Protection Program, Google Security Checkup, and suspicious activity alerts.
- Outlook: Microsoft Defender, Safe Links, and digital signatures.
- Yahoo Mail: SafeSearch, Reply-to-Alerts, and app passwords (for third-party app access).
Although these email providers try to increase security with the messages you receive, malicious messages can still fall through the cracks. So, it’s important to be diligent and cautious when you receive a suspicious email.
Mobile Device Email Safety
While most people use antivirus software on their computers, there are others that believe mobile devices are less vulnerable by default. That may be true to an extent, but when it comes to using email on your Android or iOS device, there are similar dangers as on your laptop or PC.
Luckily, mobile devices offer security settings as do most email apps you use on them like those mentioned above.
For example, on Android, users have Google’s AI-powered protections to filter malware, phishing, and spam emails before they reach your inbox. And on iPhone, you can turn on Protect Email Activity which hides your IP address and email activity from senders.
Both platforms provide data encryption, authentication methods, and policies for Google Play and the App Store to minimize or eliminate the risk of downloading malicious apps. But again, you should always be aware of suspicious items including emails, attachments, and apps on any device.
Tips for Safe Email Practice
Along with the above preemptive actions, also consider the following tips for keeping your mailbox secure and reducing the risk of your account being hacked:
- Keep your device and email app up to date.
- Use two-factor authentication when available.
- Do not click links or open attachments from unknown or suspicious sources.
- Do not download or install applications from untrusted sources.
- Do not disable antivirus or security software if prompted.
- Check out Clean Email!
Not only does Clean Email’s robust feature set enhance your safety, but can assist you in maintaining a clutter-free mailbox and stopping spam from taking over. Want to remove all automated messages or those from “no reply”? Simply head to the corresponding Smart Folder and mass delete those emails!
Wrap-Up
Now that you’ve learned more about email dangers, you can not only keep yourself safe, but help your loved ones too. When a friend or family member asks, “Can your computer become infected with a virus via email?” you’ll have the answer along with what to watch out for and ways to be proactive.
And remember, Clean Email is an ideal supplementary tool that can assist with privacy and safety as well as effortless organization and management of your mailbox.
