In a university environment, email attachments containing viruses are a constant threat. By adopting a few simple practices, however, you can greatly reduce your likelihood of having to deal with a computer virus infection. One such practice entails avoiding the sorts of files that can contain viruses.
Email viruses can distribute their payload by using an attached executable file.
Other attachments may contain program script that can run when the attachment is opened. Asking people who send you files to format them as .RTF or .TXT text documents can help eliminate macro virus infections. This effectively strips them of any potentially harmful scripts or macros. Another safety issue can be addressed by updating your email clients. There are now patches to eliminate most security problems associated with Microsoft Outlook, historically the most vulnerable email client.