Can I get a virus simply by opening an email?

[Colin]

I just got an email from someone with the email ltrojan@mi.rr.com can I get a virus if I open this email, even if I do not click on any attachments that it may contain?

[Cristina]

Your okay as long as you didn't click anything on the email they send you.Make sure you delete the E-mail.

[LOL]

Probably not, but you never know with malware/virus writers these days. There needs to be some sort of download initiated (voluntary or not) for you to catch a virus, and I don't know how just opening an email could do that. You might want to just delete it without opening just to be on the safe side.

[Sarina]

There are some emails that have a spam code in them that know when you open them that you are an active user. They hope you will click the link they place on the spam email so they can update a virus or get access into your account. This is happening on Facebook, Twitter and any social network forum.