Alberta_Rose

Today I was horrified to find that everybody on my hotmail contacts list had received a spam email from my address. I had my own contact on that list otherwise I might not have discovered this until somebody complained.

I hope that nothing bad was sent. It seems to be a silly advertising thing, but it went to everybody including all friends, family and business contacts. I have had a couple of replies already, one asking if I sent it, and one (angry one) telling me to remove them from my mailing list!

I am mortified that this would happen. If anyone on here got one I apologise sincerely. Is there anyway to find out what happened and prevent it happening again? Should I close my account? Change my email address? I'm really quite upset about it!

I guess some of my contacts may block me now!

Judy in Calgary

Sorry to hear this has happened to you. One feels violated, at least I do when invasive things like that take place.

I wonder if your computer has a virus. Do you have virus checking software, e.g., Norton or McAfee?

If you do decide to change to another web-based e-mail service, I personally like Gmail, which is an arm of Google.
x

Coffeepot

Sorry to hear that Morwenna
It is upsetting, hope you get it sorted soon,

daft batty

Sounds like a virus

Cut and paste the subject header of the email into google along with "email" or "virus" and go to Trend, or AVG etc and see if its listed as a virus. If it is it will tell you what to do.

Maybe you coudl post the subject here too, so we can watch out for it.

It's worth commenting here that if anyone sends an email to several friends then please use the BCC method, this protects privacy as well helping prevent virus emails being propagated.

I hope you get it fixed

PS
I have several email accounts. I use the hotmail one when I fill in anything online, so most of the junk mail goes there. I have two gmail accounts. One for real emails, letters, formal stuff etc. and one just for one particular friend who sends me around 10 emails a day with various attachments. He knows to use the other address for anything formal.
I find gmail has a much better spam filter than the hotmail one.

montreal mike

Could I suggest you send a short message ASAP to all in your address book describing what happened as you have done on this thread. If not, there is a chance some will get this spam email and be annoyed or puzzled but simply will not bother to let you know.

MB-Realtor

The spam itself may be a virus, so best to let everyone know.

DONT use your computer for anything important (online banking, e-bay etc) as it may have grabbed all your passwords etc.

Use a clean computer and change all of your important account passwords.

Have your computer put through a complete virus check before you use it.

Personally I never open any attachments to an e-mail unless it is something I'm expecting, you also need to be careful with clicking on links in anyones e-mails.

Alberta_Rose

I ran the virus scan yesterday again, even though it gets done as routine each day, and it came up with some adware stuff, but no identified virus.

I already wrote to everyone with a disclaimer, but one person still wrote back asking me to remove her name from my contacts list. No worries as she was an acquaintance from aways back and doesn't even remember me apparently!

However, when I opened my contacts list to do that they have all been deleted. Every group and individual. All gone. Zero Zilch!

The whole list has been stolen, not just copied ..... weird!

I think I know what it's related to though...... bloody Facebook. I am just getting into this and went on the day before to find they could check which of my email contacts had Facebook accounts so I could select them as "friends" if I wanted to. Jolly idea, thought I, never considering the implications, I guess!

So I clicked to allow this, and indeed have remade contacts with a couple of old friends from England, which was nice.

This must be where my list has gone though. I can't think of any other explanation. Be warned if you are considering this option!

daft batty

I have done that on facebook and its been ok, though facebook is always dodgy as each application allows the developers access to your profile page.

What was the ad and the email title please?

Alberta_Rose

The title of the email was simply "hi", and it said it was from me <firstname, lastname>
hello friend,
how are you doing recently?i came across a online website,and had a nice talking with the sales manager,then i bought a few items from them,i feel very satisfied with their service,besides,she said when you buy from them and give my name,they will give you discount.
you can have a look when you have time. <deleted website address>
the sales manager is Tracy,you can contact with her directly by email. [email protected]
Best Regards.

I deleted the web address but will PM if anyone really wants it. I left in the email addy and hope it gets a ton of spam back! Even you guys know me well enough to know that I wouldn't write like that! :curse:

daft batty

I did some googling,

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...9020010AAQ6Fml

the domain name is also on the spam blacklist

http://www.joewein.de/sw/spam-bl-e.htm

So change your passwords and set up another email account with gmail.!

Scan your PC again with the free virus check at Trend, also check for spyware and so on.

Hope it gets sorted, maybe post again down in the Lab where the experts live.

Alberta_Rose

Thanks Batty. I already changed my passwords, it's such a fag changing my email, as I can't contact anyone to tell them!!!

My windows Live messenger has been blitzed too!

daft batty

Gosh yes, a catch 22 thing really. As you can tell I do recommend Gmail and your problem has made me realise that I should delete my contacts from my hotmail account.

Once you do get some e-friends again, Gmail tells you how to turn the contacts list into an excel file so you can save that separately.

re facebook. if you want to be my friend pm me an I will tell you my real name......

Alberta_Rose

LOL thanks for the kind offer .... I'm not desperate to have much to do with Facebook atm though, and we can always chat here!

I wrote to Facebook to tell them what had happened and to see if it's happened to anyone else there ......

Butch Cassidy

OI you cant use that word.

Alberta_Rose

I can and I will!

Fag (definition): A chore; an arduous and tiresome task

What's the plan for Tuesday then? or is there one? Mrs H can give us a call if you like.... we are in all evening.