Blocking Email Attachments

 

One of the ways that Davidson protects our email system and individual mailboxes from malicious software is by blocking attachments that are commonly used to transmit viruses or malicious software.

Below are some of the common questions regarding blocked attachments within the Davidson email system:

What file types will be blocked?

Executable files including, .ace, .ani, .app, .docm, .exe, .jar, .reg, .scr, .vbe, and .vbs will be blocked. For a full list, please visit section on blocked file types.

How do I know an attachment has been blocked?

The Davidson user that is sending or receiving a blocked attachment receives an email notification that an attachment has been blocked.

What do I do if an attachment is being blocked?

In cases where a file is being blocked, we recommend that you leverage Google Drive to share these file types.  Google Drive allows users to easily share files with both users within and outside the Davidson community.

For help with sharing, please visit our KB article on Google Drive sharing.

Can you send a blocked file by replacing the file extension with an unblocked file extension?

No, the scanning software can detect the blocked filetypes, even when the file is renamed.

 

Blocked only if they contain blocked file types (see below)

Extension

Description

.7z

Archive File (7-Zip)

.ace

Archive File (WinAce)

.arc

Archive File (Several)

.gzip

Archive File (Gnu Zip)

.rar

Archive File (Roshal Archive, WinRAR and others)

.sit

Archive File (Stuffit)

.tar

Archive File (Unix Archive)

.tgz

Archive File (Unix Archive)

.zip

Archive File (ZIP)

 

Blocked File Types

 

Extension

Description

.ade

Access Project Extension (Microsoft)

.adp

Access Project (Microsoft)

.ani

Microsoft Animated Mouse Cursors

.app

Executable Application

.asp

Active Server Page

.bas

BASIC Source Code

.bat

Batch Processing

.cer

Security file provided by a third party Certificate Authority

.chm

Compiled HTML Help

.cmd

DOS CP/M Command File, Command File for Windows NT

.com

Executable File

.cpl

Windows Control Panel Extension (Microsoft)

.crt

Security Certificate

.csh

csh Script

.da

 

.der

Digital certificate file

.dll

Dynamic Link Library

.docm

Microsoft Word Open XML Macro-Enabled Document

.dos

 

.exe

Executable File

.fxp

FoxPro Compiled Source (Microsoft)

.gadget

Windows Vista gadget

.hlp

Windows Help File

.hta

Hypertext Application

.inf

Information or Setup File

.isp

IIS Internet Service Provider Settings (Microsoft)

.its

Internet Document Set, Internet Translation

.jar

Java Archive

.js

JavaScript Source Code

.jse

JScript Encoded Script File

.ksh

UNIX Shell Script

.lnk

Windows Shortcut File

.mad

Access Module Shortcut (Microsoft)

.maf

Access (Microsoft)

.mag

Access Diagram Shortcut (Microsoft)

.mam

Access Macro Shortcut (Microsoft)

.maq

Access Query Shortcut (Microsoft)

.mar

Access Report Shortcut (Microsoft)

.mas

Access Stored Procedures (Microsoft)

.mat

Access Table Shortcut (Microsoft)

.mau

Media Attachment Unit

.mav

Access View Shortcut (Microsoft)

.maw

Access Data Access Page (Microsoft)

.mdb

Access Application (Microsoft), MDB Access Database (Microsoft)

.mde

Access MDE Database File (Microsoft)

.mdt

Access Add-in Data (Microsoft)

.mdw

Access Workgroup Information (Microsoft)

.mdz

Access Wizard Template (Microsoft)

.msc

Microsoft Management Console Snap-in Control File (Microsoft)

.msh

Microsoft Shell

.msh1

Microsoft Shell

.msh1xml

Microsoft Shell

.msh2

Microsoft Shell

.msh2xml

Microsoft Shell

.msi

Windows Installer File (Microsoft)

.msp

Windows Installer Update

.obj

Wavefront 3D Object File

.ops

Office Profile Settings File

.os2

 

.pcd

Visual Test (Microsoft)

.pif

Windows Program Information File (Microsoft)

.plg

Developer Studio Build Log

.prf

Windows System File

.prg

Program File

.ps1

Windows PowerShell

.ps1xml

Windows PowerShell Display Configuration File

.ps2

Windows PowerShell

.ps2xml

Windows PowerShell Display Configuration File

.psc1

Windows PowerShell

.psc2

Windows PowerShell

.pst

MS Exchange Address Book File, Outlook Personal Folder File

.reg

Registration Information/Key for W95/98, Registry Data File

.scf

Windows Explorer Command

.scr

Windows Screen Saver

.sct

Windows Script Component, Foxpro Screen (Microsoft)

.shb

Windows Shortcut into a Document

.shs

Shell Scrap Object File

.tmp

Temporary File/Folder

.url

Internet Location

.vb

VBScript File or Any Visual Basic Source

.vbe

VBScript Encoded Script File

.vbs

VBScript Script File, Visual Basic for Applications Script

.vsmacros

Visual Studio .NET Binary-based Macro Project (Microsoft)

.vsw

Visio Workspace File (Microsoft)

.vxd

Virtual Device Driver

.w16

 

.ws

Windows Script File

.wsc

Windows Script Component

.wsf

Windows Script File

.wsh

Windows Script Host Settings File

.xnk

Exchange Public Folder Shortcut

 

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