Ref attachments

[Nervous SLF]

Our lawn mowing man sends his monthly invoice as an attachment with his e-mail stating that he has sent his invoice.
When I open his e-mail using Windows Mail the attachment never shows so of course I am unable to open it. However if I
go direct to the e-mail section on the ISP ( as though I was using an Internet cafe to access them ) lo and behold there
is the attachment and I can open it.
I am 100% sure that I haven't altered any settings and anyway all other attachments arrive as normal. Oh yes and
the others he sends invoices to have no problems.

[BOAC]

Why can't I view an attachment in Windows Mail? (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-vista/why-cant-i-view-an-attachment-in-windows-mail)

[Nervous SLF]

BOAC, Thanks for the link which I have looked at. My setting is on "do not allow attachments to be saved or opened etc".
Probably safer if I leave it like that until I expect the mowing invoice and then change it for a couple of hours. Thanks again.

[BOAC]

As you wish - it is generally 'ok' to open attachments if you follow a few simple rules:

1) You do have a good AV programme, regularly updated?

2) Are you expecting it?

3) Does it 'sound' plausible?

4) BEWARE "here is a mobile photo for you click the attachment to view" stuff - I always check with supposed sender first.

I have no doubt others will add warnings/caveats, but these are the basics. NB Any attachment can carry 'infectious' code.

[Avtrician]

Opening an attachment via web mail is the same as opening it in Windows/any mailprog.

The attachment is still opened on you computer.