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Author Topic: stupid virus question  (Read 701 times)

vaskidmark

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stupid virus question
« on: June 19, 2013, 07:31:56 AM »
What harm might there be in opening a .docx file?

Some scammer wrote to me wondering if I might be able to handle their "making a charitable contribution to a worthy non-profit in my area".

So far I've written back telling them I need their bank's routing number, the acount number the funds will be coming from, and a slew of personal ID stuff about the account holder.

This morning they have sent me a .docx attachment, intimating that the data I asked for would be inside.

So really what I want to know is how I might download and open that in a way that does not expose my system to the crap I'm sure they have koaded it up with.

Remember that I barely know how to use a keyboard, so please write instructions for someone who finds "anything about computers for dummies" to be above their head.

Thanks.

stay safe.
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cordex

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Re: stupid virus question
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2013, 07:58:46 AM »
Do you have a Gmail account?  Upload it to Google Docs or drive or whatever they are calling it.
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TechMan

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Re: stupid virus question
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2013, 08:02:30 AM »
^^^^^ This +1

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makattak

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Re: stupid virus question
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2013, 08:21:05 AM »
I didn't read the post, but I'm quite certain there's no vaccine for the stupid virus. It's an epidemic.



Edit: I used theirs instead of there's! I CAUGHT IT TOO! RUN!
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ArfinGreebly

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Re: stupid virus question
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2013, 12:57:03 PM »

Alternatively you can open it with either Open Office or Libre Office.

Both of them warn you of any scripting and allow you to disable it before viewing the document.

And then there are the various document viewers on Android devices (I have Polaris Office on my tablet) which offer the same protections.

What I would absolutely NOT do would be to open a random .docx file with MS Word.

 :facepalm:
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Hawkmoon

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Re: stupid virus question
« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2013, 01:07:49 PM »
Tell them you are using Word 2003 and can't open a .docx file. Ask them to send it as a .txt file or a .pdf.

Do NOT open the .docx file.
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Harold Tuttle

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Re: stupid virus question
« Reply #6 on: June 19, 2013, 04:57:38 PM »
open it on an ipad from a dropbox at the local bestbuy
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