First, if you do not know who the sender is, do not open the attachment, and delete it completely. If someone normally sends a MS Word document, but today you receive a .zip or .exe file, call the sender for confirmation that they sent it in that format. Third and finally, before opening the attachment, right-click on the attachment and save it to disk. Then run an anti-virus software program on the attachment folder before opening it. By taking the time to follow the above precautions, you can help avoid future problems that may be virus-related.
Attachments ending in .txt , .rtf or .jpg are relatively safe.
Less-safe attachments end in .htm , .html , .doc and .xls . These types of files may contain scripts or macros. In summary, don't trust any extension or file type that you don't recognize. Before opening such a file, double-check the safety of the attachment by asking the sender. Finally, save the file to disk and inspect that specific file with the latest anti-virus tool.