If virus checker deletes my inbox will this delete my local folders as well?
My virus checker says it has found a threat and wants to delete my Thunderbird Inbox. I have messages stored in my local folders and my sent messages folder that I do not want to lose. I was also hoping that I could go through the inbox and move any messages I want to keep into local folders before letting the virus checker do the delete.
If the inbox gets deleted will the local folders and sent messages folder survive? Or will I have to find some way of backing these up first?
All Replies (3)
Tell your anti-virus software not to mess with Thunderbird files. Exclude the entire profile folder from being scanned by your anti-virus software.
christ1 said
Tell your anti-virus software not to mess with Thunderbird files. Exclude the entire profile folder from being scanned by your anti-virus software.
It's a solution but not the one I want to use. E-mail is probably the most common way that viruses are spread so I don't want to tell my virus checker to ignore my e-mail.
E-mail is probably the most common way that viruses are spread
No, malware is far more common today than viruses. And I'd say the browser, or more specifically, vulnerable plugins like Flash or Java, are the most common attack vectors today when visiting an infected site. And due to the extensive use of ad banners loaded from external sources, virtually any site can be infected.
In any case, Thunderbird has Javascript disabled for mail, and doesn't carry out or open attachments. So unless you're silly enough to deliberately open or run attachments in emails from questionable sources, nothing bad will happen. And even if you'd save an attachment to disk, you do not need to worry, as the Real Time Scan of your anti-virus software is still turned on. It will scan all the files and attachments upon access and would alert you if there is any infection.
If you want to let your anti-virus software to delete your Inbox, just go ahead and have fun. But don't complain afterwards, you have been warned.
For more information check this article. http://kb.mozillazine.org/Thunderbird_:_FAQs_:_Anti-virus_Software