Why are mail attachments dangerous?

Question

Email

Are these some kind of virus scripts or entire virus programs?

Answer 1

Attackers are on the alert, and email attachments are still a way to infiltrate closed networks. Do not forget about encoders)
You need to protect against viruses / trojans, even at the mail gateway, locally on the machine and it would be nice to prohibit the launch of individual extensions with a policy)
What they just didn’t send me, from Java scripts to full-fledged encryptors that tightly encrypt EVERYTHING they get to, including open balls. Virus programs are no longer sent, but here are hidden scripts hidden under zip - please.

Answer 2

This is both, and the third, and one hundred and fifty-eighth. There is only one rule regarding email attachments and you need to know it as "Our Father" - attachments that you did not expect to see - do not open! Investments in respect of which there is even the slightest doubt - do not open! The oldest but still the most working way to make the user run the file :D

Answer 3

They are dangerous only by the total illiteracy of the user.