A Comprehensive Guide to “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” Spam Mails

Email spam is a common threat to internet users. One such troubling spam email is the “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” message, which has become a significant concern due to its malicious nature. This article will guide you through what this email is, how it operates, and how to protect yourself from its potential harm.

Understanding the “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” Spam Mail

The “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” spam email is categorized as malspam, a type of email that contains malicious attachments or links. It deceives recipients into believing that their email account will be deactivated unless they ‘update’ it.

The trick of this spam email lies in its attachment, which masquerades as a document containing undelivered emails. This Microsoft Word document, however, is infected with the Agent Tesla RAT (Remote Access Trojan), a dangerous malware that can steal sensitive information from the infected device.

How the “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” Spam Mail Works

The deceptive email typically arrives with a subject like “EMAIL INTERFACE UPGRADE AVOID CLOSURE OF YOUR EMAIL.” It claims that the recipient’s email account will be deactivated on a specified date due to ignored updates. The recipient is urged to update their account to prevent this from happening.

When the attached document is opened, the user is asked to press the “Enable Editing” button, which then activates its malicious macro commands. These commands initiate the download and installation process of the Agent Tesla malware.

Potential Consequences of the “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” Spam Mail

Trusting an email like “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” can lead to severe consequences. These can include system infections, significant privacy issues, financial losses, and even identity theft. If you suspect that your device is already infected with the Agent Tesla RAT (or other malware), it is crucial to run a full system scan using reliable anti-virus software and eliminate all detected threats.

Characteristics of the “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” Malspam

The “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” malspam is characterized by the following features:

• Name: “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” malspam
• Threat Type: Trojan, password-stealing virus, banking malware, spyware
• False Claim: Email account will be deactivated unless updated
• Attachment: Undelivered Mails.doc (filename may vary)
• Payload: Agent Tesla
• Symptoms: Trojans are designed to infiltrate the victim’s computer stealthily and remain silent, making symptoms unclear on an infected machine
• Distribution Methods: Infected email attachments, malicious online advertisements, social engineering, software ‘cracks’
• Damage: Stolen passwords and banking information, identity theft, the victim’s computer added to a botnet

You can check the full list of detections on VirusTotal.

 

Infection Methods of Spam Campaigns

Spam campaigns like the “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” email predominantly infect computers through malicious attachments or links leading to harmful websites. These attachments and links can come in various formats, including documents (Microsoft Office, Microsoft OneNote, PDF, etc.), archives (ZIP, RAR, etc.), executables (.exe, .run, etc.), JavaScript, and more.

When such a file is executed or opened, the infection process begins. For instance, Microsoft documents infect devices by executing malicious macros, while harmful OneNote files require users to click on embedded files or links.

Preventing Malware Installation

To avoid installing malware, it’s crucial to exercise caution with incoming emails and messages. Do not open attachments or links in dubious or irrelevant emails, as they can be infectious. Also, using Microsoft Office versions released after 2010 is recommended, as they have the “Protected View” mode, which prevents automatic macro command execution.

Malware is also commonly spread through unreliable download sources (e.g., freeware sites, P2P sharing networks, etc.), illegal program activation tools (“cracks”), fake updates, online scams, and malvertising. Therefore, it’s advisable to download only from official or verified sources and update software using legitimate tools.

 

Identifying the “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” Spam Email

Here is an example of the text presented in the “Your E-mail Will Be Closed” spam email:

Subject: EMAIL INTERFACE UPGRADE AVOID CLOSURE OF YOUR EMAIL.

CLOSURE OF EMAIL 

We informed you that your E-mail will be closed ON 25/6/2022 because you have been ignoring all our upgrade messages sent to you.

If you wish to continue using your Email update now to continue using our service.

Click here to update

Notice: Ignoring this message will cause your E-mail to be terminated without your permission. MOVE MAIL TO INBOX IF SEEN IN SPAM/JUNK.

Thanks ,

Sincerely  
- Mail Protector 2023

And here is a screenshot of the malicious attachment distributed via this spam campaign (“Undelivered Mails.doc”):

 

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Understanding Different Types of Malicious Emails

There are various types of malicious emails that internet users should be aware of:

Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are commonly used by cybercriminals to trick users into giving away their sensitive private information, such as login information for various online services, email accounts, or online banking information. Cybercriminals often use popular service logos (e.g., Microsoft, DHL, Amazon, Netflix) and create a sense of urgency to trick users into clicking on a link. The link then redirects victims to a fake website, where they are asked to enter their password, credit card details, or other information.

 

Emails with Malicious Attachments

Cybercriminals often use email spam with malicious attachments to infect users’ computers with malware. These attachments usually carry trojans that are capable of stealing passwords, banking information, and other sensitive information.

 

Sextortion Emails

Sextortion emails claim that a cybercriminal has access to the victim’s webcam and has a video recording of the victim. To get rid of the video, victims are asked to pay a ransom. However, these claims are usually false, and such emails should be ignored and deleted.

 

How to Recognize a Malicious Email

While cybercriminals try to make their lure emails look trustworthy, here are some things that you should look for when trying to spot a phishing email:

1. Check the sender’s (“from”) email address: Make sure the email address is legitimate. For example, an email from Microsoft should have an @microsoft.com address, not something suspicious like @m1crosoft.com or @microsfot.com.
2. Look for generic greetings: Emails that start with “Dear user” or “Dear valued customer” could be phishing attempts. Most companies will call you by your name.
3. Check the links in the email: Hover your mouse over the link in the email. If the link appears suspicious, don’t click it.
4. Be wary of email attachments: Legitimate companies usually ask you to log in to their website and view any documents there. If you receive an email with an attachment, it’s a good idea to scan it with an antivirus application.

To minimize the risk of opening phishing and malicious emails, consider using Combo Cleaner Antivirus for macOS.

What to Do If You Fall for an Email Scam

If you fell for an email scam, here are some steps you should take:

1. Change your password: If you clicked on a link in a phishing email and entered your password, change it as soon as possible.
2. Contact your bank: If you entered your credit card information, contact your bank immediately.
3. Contact the authorities: If you see signs of identity theft, contact the Federal Trade Commission.
4. Scan your computer: If you opened a malicious attachment, scan your computer with a reputable antivirus application.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why did I receive this email?

Spam mail is not personal. Cybercriminals send it in massive operations, so thousands of users receive identical emails.

I have read a spam email but didn’t open the attachment, is my computer infected?

Devices are infected when malicious attachments or links are opened. Merely reading an email will not initiate any system infection processes.

I have downloaded and opened a file attached to a spam email, is my computer infected?

Whether your device was infected might depend on the opened file’s format. Once opened, executables (.exe, .run, etc.) cause infections almost without fail. While documents (.doc, .xls, .one, .pdf, etc.) may need additional user interaction (e.g., enabling macros, clicking embedded files/links, etc.) to start downloading/installing malware.