Go Ahead - Look At That Email...Just Don't Touch

HTG Explains: Why You Can%u2019t Get Infected Just By Opening an Email (and When You Can) - How-To Geek. Modern Email clients make it safe to look at an email containing a virus or malware. In order to get infected, you have to open a link in the email, or an attachment to the email. Since merely viewing the Email is safe, go ahead and look. Just don't click on a link or attachment unless you know the person sending it, and, even then, make sure the person sent it. Spoofing another person you know is a common way hackers get you to open malware. Be careful out there, but be smart.