E-mail hacked??

[blueonblack]

Twice recently a spam e-mail has been sent out to everyone in the address book of my primary Yahoo e-mail account. I haven't spoken to some of these people in years. Obviously I didn't send it, but it has my name and my yahoo e-mail in the From: line. ???

I've already e-mailed everyone an apology and an explanation and changed the password on the account, but I'm understandably concerned. Anyone have any other suggestions?

[BuzzKillington]

Worm? Keylogged?

I'd go on another computer and change all of your passwords. E-mail, ebay, paypal, online banking, and anything else that can be a source of hints or has a connection to anything of value.

If that happened to me I honestly wouldn't feel comfortable typing anything until I reformatted. I don't trust any antivirus to be honest.

[Luke122]

I've had really good luck with the Windows Live One Care online safety scanner, and Eset's online scanner. Also, Malwarebytes and Spybot. Do all 4, and you should be good to go.

Best of all, you can install/run all 4 from safe mode. :D Don't forget to disable your System Restore first, otherwise infections might be missed!

[Oneslowz28]

Congratulations you are member 200,437,861 of a botnet. Back up your stuff and format that computer. Its the only way to be sure. there is no doubt you were key logged so any info and password you use is compromised. Get on another computer (that you know 100% is virus free) and change all of your passwords and safety questions. Then wipe your drives and after you re install windows run malware bytes, avg, the microsoft virus thing, and spybot before moving anything over to the c partition / drive

[blueonblack]

All very encouraging comments, guys, thanks! (At least I got my own number.)



(For those who can't see it, there's a large puddle of sarcasm under that statement, careful not to slip in it.)

Looks like I've got a long weekend of backup, alteration and formatting coming. Oh, GOODIE!

[Drum Thumper]

Time to learn Linux...

[SgtM]

Time to learn Linux...

Truth!

[ownaginatious]

It could be that at one point in time your computer was scanned and your address book was lifted. As far as I know (from using PHP) a message can be from whoever the hell you want. That's what happened to my Dad's account. Some stoopid spambot got a hold of his address and started sending messages claiming to be from his address (as well as millions of others it gathered - does this to avoid getting blocked). His computer had no virus or anything.

Pretty dumb flaw with the entire mail system if you ask me :p

[billygoat333]

sometimes when I am on msn messenger one of the girls I know her account will randomly send me links with my email address in the link title even though she is offline the whole time. weird.

as far as the spam... I am sorry to hear about it. Def. do a spyware/malware/virus check and change your passwords, good advice :up:

[blueonblack]

It could be that at one point in time your computer was scanned and your address book was lifted. As far as I know (from using PHP) a message can be from whoever the hell you want. That's what happened to my Dad's account. Some stoopid spambot got a hold of his address and started sending messages claiming to be from his address (as well as millions of others it gathered - does this to avoid getting blocked). His computer had no virus or anything.

Pretty dumb flaw with the entire mail system if you ask me :p

This is sure more what it acts like. I mean, if they had my passwords etc why would they just send a couple of completely ridiculous spam e-mails to everyone in my address book? They weren't even *good* spam, like Nigerian money laundering. It was something like "Click this link to win $500!" It's almost got to be automated.

Not that I won't be taking all the above precautions, as tedious and time-consuming as they are. I'll even close that Yahoo account that I've had for like 13 years. After all that and a widespread explanation e-mail advising everyone to ignore that address I should be good. For the time being I'll assume this was an automated scan of some sort, can anyone suggest a method to keep this from happening again? Are these recognized by spyware blockers?

[Oneslowz28]

I keep malwarebytes and avg running at all times on all my machines. You would be surprised with the amount of crap they catch.

[Twigsoffury]

Nuke your Hard drive from orbit


It's the only way to be sure.