In Gmail, whenever an email with an attachment is opened, a preview of the attachment will be shown in a box below the message, even if the actual attachment is never opened. If the attached file is harmful or malicious (despite Gmail’s scanning of the attachment), can the fact that the preview is viewed harm or have any negative effect on the viewer’s computer and/or email account?
By the way, disabling the view external images setting doesn’t apply to attachments, so that’s irrelevant.
If the attached file is harmful or malicious (despite Gmail's scanning of the attachment), can the fact that the preview is viewed harm or have any negative effect on the viewer's computer and/or email account?I am almost 100% sure it dont, but you may ask in Gmail forum
Posted 2013
HTG Explains: Why You Can’t Get Infected Just By Opening an Email (and When You Can)
www.howtogeek.com/135546/htg-explains-why-you-cant-get-infected-just-by-opening-an-email-and-when-you-can/
Yes, a preview can also infect a system.
Preview means the attachment needs to be opened in order to create a preview.
So if there is malicious code in it, it can infect a system.
Question is if that HTG article was written before Gmail started previewing the attachments even without clicking on them.