dodgy emails

[richard]

not specific to this site but may i use the site to warn others that quite a few people off my email contacts have been sent an email purporting to be from me . i have not sent it !! it apparently is a make money quickly type thing - i havent seen it . DONT OPEN IT i am sure would be good advice . it purports to come from me but the subject matter is blank

how can someone get hold of my address file ? buggers 

[AndrewG]

how can someone get hold of my address file ? buggers 

I'm sorry to say the only way I can see that happening is if your machine has been hacked.  It's time to do a very thorough virus and security check as it's likely there's someone else than you running your PC.

[richard]

thanks i thought i had excellent security too !

[Barry]

There are school children that send you a file which looks interesting.  If you open it they will gain complete access to your computer and see exactly what you are doing on the screen.
They can open your CD drive and do all sorts of tricks and much worse.
Almost impossible to get rid of.

Don't open anything unless you know what it is and expect to receive it.
Do not under any circumstances open an unknown zip file.  Certain death.........

[richard]

strange thing is i never got a dodgy email i know not to open anything without a subject eitherl

[Jonathan Poll]

There are school children that send you a file which looks interesting.  If you open it they will gain complete access to your computer and see exactly what you are doing on the screen.
They can open your CD drive and do all sorts of tricks and much worse.
Almost impossible to get rid of.

Don't open anything unless you know what it is and expect to receive it.
Do not under any circumstances open an unknown zip file.  Certain death.........

School children? Damn, I thought he would'nt find out

Sometimes if you open a dodgly email from someone else, it makes you send it. And then whoeveer opens your email and so on.

JP

[richard]

but as i say i didnt get it ! weird

[Big Al]

Before I went Linux I received several rather bland emails from chums carrying a virus. Very stealthy. Takes over your address list and then uses you as a Trojan horse. Go Linux and much of this nonsense, which is Microsoft based, goes with it. It is also far better programming even though I do not understand it.

[Kabine]

Many do not realize that its easy to set up your outgoing mail address as anything you like. You can therefore have a mail address appear in your inbox that looks like it is from you. You do not need to own the domain to do this. The IP address of the sender can be checked to prove you have not or have sent it to yourself.

Regards

Marc

[richard]

hopefully to end this topic  never heard another word from anyone else about it . so 4 contacts from my address book had an email trying to sell some money making scheme - it purported to come from me . i hadnt seen it , and still haven't , anyway i dont believe it has caused further problems . i do hope i am correct

[Big Al]

If it is ongoing stick your own address, or better your own different address, into your address list and then you will spam yourself and know there is a problem. aNOTHER THING THAT CAN WORK IS TO MAKE THE FIIRST NAME ON THE LIST A DUD. sOMETIMES THAT STOPS THE PROGRAM AS THAT ADDRESS GETS BOUNCED IMMEDIATELY.