Attachment Blocking
Since certain types of email attachments pose a significant risk to HSC users, those email messages,
along with their attachments, are automatically blocked by the GroupWise system.
Why Block These Attachments?
Email attachments are the most common method for computer viruses to spread. Virus infections can cause
serious problems both for the computer user and the HSC email system:
Data is damaged or destroyed
Computers are disabled
Sensitive information is exposed to unauthorized people
Computers are used for illegal purposes, such as sending spam or attacking other computers
Once they infect a computer, viruses often send out a tremendous volume of email messages,
overwhelming the computers that perform message transport and delivery and bringing email
service for everyone to a halt
Expensive staff time is spent cleaning and rebuilding infected computers instead of other support work they be could doing
The HSC must act to protect its email communications channels because email attachments are the most common method for computer viruses
to spread, they offer a target to address the problem of virus infections
Examples of Blocked Attachments
Common attachments that are blocked have extensions such as .exe, .cmd, .bat, .vbs, or .zip. These are just some examples and are not
the only attachments blocked by the email system
