[ WARNING ] Infected emails sent again

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
30/12/2011 13:49

YOU MAY KNOW THE SENDER OF THE EMAIL, BUT DO NOT CLICK ON A LINK STARTING WITH YOUR NAME IN THE MESSAGE BODY!

Like: "Hans Click to Read Message". You probably won't notice the 'invisible' extension (in white) 2344h7 - but the extension will work and may harm your hard drive badly if you click the link!



This wouldn't happen all the time if computer users would spend some money on good anti-virus software. Such software will intercept suspicious emails at once and warn you!

TRNCVaughan


Joined: 27/04/2008
Posts: 4578

Message Posted:
30/12/2011 14:28

Infected emails? That's a relief, I thought you meant infected females!

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
30/12/2011 14:58

And again two infected emails - and again from @hotmail.co.uk accounts!

It's spreading fast now!

If you have such an account - change your password!

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
30/12/2011 15:03

I'm sorry to say this is what happens when your "personal" email address is in the public domain.





Don't do it,... you know it makes sense.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
30/12/2011 15:11

@ msg 4, turtle: Not true. If your email address is in the ADDRESS BOOK of a friend/acquaintance you may receive an infected email (if your friend/acquaintance didn't take the basic precautions).

pammick


Joined: 09/07/2009
Posts: 722

Message Posted:
30/12/2011 15:39

I have also been getting these emails, exactly as you describe them Hans and always from a hotmail account. I send them straight to spam and inform the person, by seperate email that their address book has been hijacked.

Hotmail users should beware, I never use my own hotmail account because of this, it is not a safe domain.

Pam

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
30/12/2011 15:49

@ msg 6, pammick: You may want to try a far safer (and more sophisticated) free email address: subscribe to an @gmail.com account.

If you are interested, find it here:

▶ [ https://accounts.google.com/NewAccount?service=mail&continue= http://mail.google.com/mail/e-11-971afff1b5f1d741c4890f1baa125-f8a63e8325d933d48be72d4e4744ac639f075b74&type=2 ].



▶ Shortened URL in case the link above is broken: [ http://is.gd/UK9W98 ].

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
30/12/2011 17:28

Just for the record: after 160 views only one reader was interested to check the link I provided in msg 7 (so tell me the statistics)... Hmm.

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
30/12/2011 17:39

Hans maybe the members have seen the light and ditched the troublesome Hotmail.



Time and time again hotmail has proved to be a hotbed of spam scams and multiple ID posters,.... Im supprised you still use it.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
30/12/2011 17:55

@ msg 9, Turtle: (...) Im supprised you still use it. (...)

▶ Turtle I have never used an Hotmail account! I have my own domains (and as many email addresses as I want) on a dedicated server in Holland. I advised people to leave @hotmail.co.uk alone and try a (free) safer and better @gmail.com email address.

pammick


Joined: 09/07/2009
Posts: 722

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 09:06

thanks for the tip Hans, but I already have a gmail account which is why I don't need to use my hotmail anymore. I agree that hotmail is a really risky server judging from the number of junk emails I get from people who use it.

Pam

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 12:16

anybody know how you can repair your account if your address book has been hijacked without changing your e-mail address??? Thanks



Also is their any good free software in the domain that can help prevent this happening??

daisy dukes


Joined: 06/09/2008
Posts: 3815

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 13:31

msg 12...change your password.



DD

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 13:50

@ msg 12, Blackpoolfan: Password: if you have a free email account (and no professional anti-virus software running on your computer's hard drive): change your password MONTHLY (I know nobody will do it though... ).



Anti-virus software: there is free anti-virus software available for PC's with some Windows version - but there is NO EXCELLENT free software. Good anti-virus software will update the virus definitions on your hard drive at least daily (on line: you will hardly notice it).

PLUS: such software will update your virus definitions as soon as professionals all over the world spot a new (or a variety version of a) virus etc.

It's a VERY good investment. Most people only realise that when they have to spend hours or days restoring the content on their hard drive - i.e. IF they have made a daily back-up on an external drive.

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 14:00

DC



Time to invest then thanks for the info, is Norton any good???

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 14:06

@msg 15, Blackpoolfan: Norton is VERY good and one of the oldest companies in this field. Only one warning: make sure you run only ONE anti-virus piece of software (buy pro anti-virus software BUT FIRST REMOVE any free software from your hard drive before you install your new guard)! Two different brands may clash on your computer or make everything extremely slow.

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 14:11

Thanks again, time to dump AVG then??? I have also noticed recently that i get a message saying script error and a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark in it!!

I am a tech idiot and therefore bow to your superior knowledge,thanks for the help

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 14:28

@ msg 17, Blackpoolfan: Have a look here to compare what's on the market:

▶ [ http://www.google.com/search?q=pc+anti-virus+software&hl=en&num=10&lr=&ft=i&cr=&safe=images#q=pc+anti-virus+software&hl=en&lr=&prmd=imvns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=Wvz-Tv-oKKPU4QT1sNiNCA&ved=0CHEQrQQ&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=483154faee4a1d96&biw=1511&bih=895 ].

Shortened in case this long URL above is broken on C44: ▶ [ http://is.gd/b5wX2B ].



Or try Google for even more info with for instance this request: ( pc anti-virus software ). No brackets, case insensitive.

DutchCrusader



Joined: 19/05/2008
Posts: 11281

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 14:47

Blackpoolfan: Also check this URL ▶ [ http://www.pcantivirusreviews.com/ ] and especially read the review of "Vipre". I don't have a PC*, but if I had one I'd go or "Vipre"!



* It's scary to know that there are now more than 1 million (!) pieces of malware for PC's..!

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 14:47

Blackpoolfan, a mate of mine uses this,...



http://www.avast.com/en-gb/lp-ppc-06?cha=ppc&sen=google&ste=avast&var=8634377232&omcid=UK_Search_Brand&gclid=CPSOpcyrrK0CFUVTfAodMXfIig



He has used it for years and tells me he never has a problem.

Turtle


Joined: 28/05/2007
Posts: 2669

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 14:49

Ooops sorry try this one.



http://www.avast.com/free-antivirus-download

Blackpoolfan


Joined: 03/12/2008
Posts: 1568

Message Posted:
31/12/2011 15:23

Cheers Turtle,



much appreciated