"Computer Viruses: Things to Know" E-mail does not contain viruses, but attached files might.

A file downloaded from the Internet or attached to e-mail can not infect your computer with a virus until that file is run or executed.

Viruses usually destroy your system slowly and quietly. Their effects are not usually evident until some destruction of data has already occurred.

Computer viruses are programs that only affect computers via transfer of data; they are not something people can "catch" or transfer. (This may seem obvious, but some people are actually afraid they will catch a computer virus!)

Macintosh computers are less likely to get infected with a virus simply because there are fewer viruses created for Macs.