Computer gurus

[sailaway78]

Looking for any help/advice. Apparently my email has been hacked, and everyone in my address book is getting spam email, showing as an email from me. I have changed my user name and password, notified everyone in my address book of the new name. Is there anything else I can do, or anything I can do to stop this. At least the spam being sent doesn't contain a virus. It refers to a canadian drug company, peddling viagra, cialis, etc. And from an Italian parachute co. So, go ahead with the wise cracks, and one liners. Should be some good ones from this board. But any help would be appreciated.

 

[Tim R.]

Looking for any help/advice. Apparently my email has been hacked, and everyone in my address book is getting spam email, showing as an email from me. I have changed my user name and password, notified everyone in my address book of the new name. Is there anything else I can do, or anything I can do to stop this. At least the spam being sent doesn't contain a virus. It refers to a canadian drug company, peddling viagra, cialis, etc. And from an Italian parachute co. So, go ahead with the wise cracks, and one liners. Should be some good ones from this board. But any help would be appreciated.

Seek professional help. If you do not know what to do then you will be better off getting someone who does. Believe me, it will be cheaper in the long run.

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

Looking for any help/advice. Apparently my email has been hacked, and everyone in my address book is getting spam email, showing as an email from me. I have changed my user name and password, notified everyone in my address book of the new name. Is there anything else I can do, or anything I can do to stop this. At least the spam being sent doesn't contain a virus. It refers to a canadian drug company, peddling viagra, cialis, etc. And from an Italian parachute co. So, go ahead with the wise cracks, and one liners. Should be some good ones from this board. But any help would be appreciated.

Well, if it lasts more than 4 hours...

 

[MrUnix]

Without specifics it's hard to diagnose. To begin with, you need to get a copy of the offending e-mail, complete with headers, so you can determine it's origin. Might just be someone in China spoofing your return address

Cheers,
Brad

 

[wonkodsane]

Is it web-based email or is it an email client like Outlook?

If the former, it is likely that your machine is compromised, not your account.

The latter, it is probably your account.

Check your sent folder, can you see the emails in there?

If you can see them, then it is unlikely that you're being spoofed. If you can't, it either means you're being spoofed or that the person who has subverted your account is deleting items from the sent folder after they send them.

Best bet is to log in from a different machine and reset your password.

As for cleaning a compromised machine, you are not going to have a good time of it.

Using Windows? Try Windows Defender free from Microsoft.

You'll also want to make sure the Windows Malicious Software Tool, also free from Microsoft is installed on your machine and your machine is up to date on its software updates from Microsoft Update.

Doing that and making sure your cookies, temp files, and internet history are cleared is important.

You may also want to consider using a different browser (like firefox or chrome) if you are currently using Internet Explorer.

Short answer, clean your machine, update your machine, use a different machine to change your passwords, and give us a little more info.

 

[RAD]

Phil
So what your trying to tell us is that your going to do some skydiving with a hard on

I couldn't resist ........anyway I agree with others and get a pro.....Why don't they have Internet Police for this crap

 

[wonkodsane]

Oh, and Microsoft Security Essentials. Also a freebie.

 

[AbbySedge]

It wasn't me.

 

[justsomeguy]

Or me. Wonkodsane's advice is good stuff.

 

[RichH]

most of these internet mail account 'hackings' can easily be found by simply adding a fictitious email account to your 'address list': such as "aaaaaaa@your.net" When the aaaaaa@ your.net later appears as "undeliverable" you know your email account has been hacked. Then simply go through your address list, remove any names/addresses that have been inserted and that you dont know and then change your email account password to a very deeply complicated password ... and then apologize to all the rest of the names in your 'address list'.

 

[Benny17441]

Innovative delivery service!!!

 

[Bill Roosa]

If using Outlook here is your chance to remove the target from your chest. There are lots of totally free email clients that are much more secure than outlook. The simpler the better.

 

[sailaway78]

4 Hours

If it lasted for four hours, I'd be calling the newspapers and TV stations.

 

[PrincessoftheLake]

If it lasted for four hours, I'd be calling the newspapers and TV stations.

Well, put me on your call list too

 

[justsomeguy]

Well, put me on your call list too

 

[Bilbo]

Looking for any help/advice. Apparently my email has been hacked, and everyone in my address book is getting spam email, showing as an email from me. I have changed my user name and password, notified everyone in my address book of the new name. Is there anything else I can do, or anything I can do to stop this. At least the spam being sent doesn't contain a virus. It refers to a canadian drug company, peddling viagra, cialis, etc. And from an Italian parachute co. So, go ahead with the wise cracks, and one liners. Should be some good ones from this board. But any help would be appreciated.

1) Change you account password.
2) Change your address list. Include your own email and move all of your valued contacts to some other list. somewhere else.
3) send out a notification/apology to your contacts.
4) Don't visit the web sites as they may be infected with multiple viruses.

Is your email on yahoo.com ??

 

[Water Runner]

Aside from what anyone else has said.
Don't use the same password for multiple accounts.
Never download anything without making sure its a secure file and not infected.
Install an accredited antivirus program like Avast (has been in the top 10 antivirus' programs for the last few years) And its free!.

Keep an eye out for funny computer glitches that could point to an infection.

 

[Bilbo]

I also use some freeware while browsing. One is called adblock plus. The other is Web of Trust (WOT) which advises me of possible virus infected sites similar to the McAfee Site Adviser. IF you go on Facebook, don't waste time on apps and games.

Keep an eye out for funny computer glitches that could point to an infection.

Well said. If your computer is running slow or seems to be accessing the internet when it's idle and your browser is closed. Remember that some viruses install when you turn your computer on and if the virus scanner catches and removes it, it may reinstall. That being written this issue most likely isn't a virus but a hacked password.

 

[justsomeguy]

It's happened to me, when I _thought_ I was signing in to a secured Hotmail page. Note whether there's an "http" or an "https" (the S is for secure) in the address bar. Lucky for me it was a secondary account I use for certain web-surfing, and had only one contact for the bastards to spam.

 

[finding41]

I get about 3 scams a week trying the old Pishing scheme. (usually something saying I've been hacked or I have posted something in the wrong spot.) I advertise allot via Kijiji for my business. I have been tricked in the past and they got my pay-pal, hotmail, Kijiji (Ebay) accounts all in one day. There's no end to the fraud out there. I even have a bogus certified cheque for $3500 at home that was sent to me for a rental unit that I only charge $650 for. ( They are using fake Pay-Pal sites too. Don't click on the link.) (They just made a mistake and wanted me to send the remainder back to them.) Sure. I told them I cashed it at a cheque cashing place and left the country.
Good luck.
Finding