TECHS User Support Services


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 attacments 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