Christmas e-cards: How to avoid malware attacks

E-cards are incredibly popular and, often free, but many e-cards may also contain spyware, spam and viruses.

Security experts have observed that scammers have already demonstrated that they are smart enough to create phony e-cards websites that look like legitimate e-card companies such as Hallmark.

Experts felt that opening such cards could unleash a Trojan horse on computers.

According to the "2012 Holiday Shopping Study" commissioned by McAfee, 40 pc of Indians use personal computers for online shopping during the 2012 holiday season.

"For millions of consumers who plan to go online this holiday season to shop for the best deals, finalize travel plans and update their social channels, it's important that they enjoy those activities safely by checking their security protection on their computers and mobile devices first," said Venkatsubrahmanyam Krishnapur, Vice President- Engineering- Consumer and Small Businesses, McAfee.

"To keep their personal and financial information secure, it's also important to be wary of offers that are too good to be true, not click on links or open attachments from people they don't know or companies' emails or sites that look suspect, and go directly to

websites by typing their name in web address bar."

Here are some tips to avoid malware attacks

#Never open an attachment

#Never accept terms of service to open a card without reading them fully

#Only use website of a company that you know