Where’s the love?

The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse is warning against Valentine’s Day e-cards that infect your computer with malicious software, or malware, when you open them.

The cards usually claim to be from a friend or secret admirer. Sometimes the fraudulent cards use the name of someone you know. Cards also may appear to be from legitimate e-card companies.

But the link on the e-mail will lead you to a site where the malware is installed in your computer, the consumer advocacy group says. Hackers then could get unlimited access to your computer and steal your password or do some other sort of damage.

So, this Valentine’s Day don’t click on unsolicited e-mail cards. Ignore e-mails requests for personal information. Don’t use the link in the unsolicited e-card, but go directly to the official site instead.

And to be truly safe: If you get an e-card from someone you know, e-mail them to double check that they sent it to you, the group advises.

That doesn’t sound very spontaneous or romantic. But you will be glad you did if you’re the target of a scam.