Question Does Thunderbird download spam emails on the computer?

[IceLion36]

Hi everyone,
I'd like to know if Thunderbird downloads the contents of the spam folder to my computer. If so, can an email downloaded from Thunderbird infect my Windows PC just because it's fetched from the server?

Are there any settings that need to be changed to improve security?

Thank you so much

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Hi everyone,
I'd like to know if Thunderbird downloads the contents of the spam folder to my computer. If so, can an email downloaded from Thunderbird infect my Windows PC just because it's fetched from the server?

Are there any settings that need to be changed to improve security?

Thank you so much

Some security products such as Bitdefender install an extension on Thunderbird to protect against spam.

 

[Victor M]

can an email downloaded from Thunderbird infect my Windows PC just because it's fetched from the server?

Common sense says no. You have to click on something in the spam mail to do any harm. Of course that depends on how you define 'infected' . If you say just because a piece of malware is sitting in my computer's folder somewhere but not active, hasn't been run, and you still call that an infection, then yeah you're infected.

But sometimes you have to look at it that way. For instance when I am building my offline golden image, and if I had to had to go online to verify something; I would save the image first, then go online, verify that thing works; then image back, and continue to work on my Offline golden image.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

You can also disable "allow remote content"

 

[Jonny Quest]

Some security products such as Bitdefender install an extension on Thunderbird to protect against spam.

Which at times, can be glitchy, IIRC. Avast Free can also scan Thunderbird emails (minus the Spam toolbar?).



Edit: here is a link to some of the Thunderbird woes from the forum. You can tick the Sort By option as well.

 

[Victor M]

Or you can just leave your mail on the server and use web mail.

 

[Dave Russo]

On a similar (guestion) I have Outlook as my main e-mail client,used to be yahoo mail now linked, I get so much spam latley ,after reading how it supposed to have better filter, up to last 3 weeks I guess the joke is on me, and yes I have been blocking, anyone have some insite on Outlook? sorry

IceLion36 that I went off your topic

 

[Dave Russo]

Or you can just leave your mail on the server and use web mail.

Never heard of web mail , I checked and saw a sign in is needed, have you made a account? And maybe elaborate about it? Thanks

 

[Divine_Barakah]

Or you can just leave your mail on the server and use web mail.

Personally, I need offline access.

 

[Jonny Quest]

Never heard of web mail check and saw a sign in is needed, have you made a account? And maybe elaborate about it? Thanks

I agree, I was wondering the same thing in more specific terms, the link and options.

 

[simmerskool]

Never heard of web mail , I checked and saw a sign in is needed, have you made a account? And maybe elaborate about it? Thanks

webmail most common eg gmail, read it on browser leave email on gmail, but I do not use gmail, I hear posteo.de in Germany is good.

 

[Divine_Barakah]

webmail most common eg gmail, read it on browser leave email on gmail, but I do not use gmail, I hear posteo.de in Germany is good.

Yea heard good things about Posteo. I have considered migrating to it, but ended up choosing Startmail.

 

[lokamoka820]

I'd like to know if Thunderbird downloads the contents of the spam folder to my computer. If so, can an email downloaded from Thunderbird infect my Windows PC just because it's fetched from the server?

• Yes – by default, Thunderbird will download the full contents of the Spam folder to your local profile, just like it does for any other folder you have subscribed to.
• A message that’s merely stored on disk does not execute anything on its own, so the mere act of downloading a spam‑mail does not automatically infect your Windows PC. Infection only becomes possible if you (or a vulnerable plug‑in) later open a malicious attachment, run a script, or allow remote content to be rendered.

Are there any settings that need to be changed to improve security?

• Set Spam to “download headers only” (or keep it server‑side only).
• Block remote content in Preferences → Privacy & Security.
• Disable automatic attachment preview.
• Ensure phishing warnings are on.
• Keep Thunderbird and Windows fully patched.

 

[Brownie2019]

webmail most common eg gmail, read it on browser leave email on gmail, but I do not use gmail, I hear posteo.de in Germany is good.

On posteo.de you must pay 1€ per month for an mail account. Web.de or gmx.de is free.

 

[Sampei.Nihira]

Hi everyone,
I'd like to know if Thunderbird downloads the contents of the spam folder to my computer. If so, can an email downloaded from Thunderbird infect my Windows PC just because it's fetched from the server?

Are there any settings that need to be changed to improve security?

Thank you so much

GitHub - HorlogeSkynet/thunderbird-user.js: Thunderbird privacy, security and anti-fingerprinting: a comprehensive user.js template for configuration and hardening

I also changed the default sandbox level.

 

[simmerskool]

On posteo.de you must pay 1€ per month for an mail account. Web.de or gmx.de is free.

correct I pay some € for posteo -- is Starbucks in Germany, how many € is a cup of coffee??