[annB]

I keep getting emails from my own address, spam things like sales ads from companies I haven't done business with. My email is in my address book. Does this mean someone has hijacked my address book?

annb

[VladTheImpaler1990]

Hey yes that could be what anti spy wear are you using, when was it last updated and the anti virus? I will help if you need to get a good anti spy as alot on the market are "HORRIBLE!!" But need to go to gym, but will be back and ready to help you, can you just give us the specs of your pc, and the operating system? and are you using outlook express or what program are you using for your emails?

[stevenh18]

yeah it is possible. I've heard it happen before. Try deleting yourself from your contacts.

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi Ann :



It is possible, but unlikely, that a Spammer stole your email address from your own Address Book,

even though in your Other Thread you mentioned having not the best security programs, like Norton .

To doublecheck that you do NOT have a "SpamBot" on your computer, I recommend you run the

Online Scan available at www.ewido.net . However, much more likely is that a Spammer stole

your email address from someone else's Address Book .

[LincolnSpector]

Hi, AnnB.

Most spam is sent from infected PCs, but the malware tries to hide what computer is infected. To do that, the Sender address is spoofed (forged). So your computer is probably not the infected one.

What happens is that the malware searches the infected PC's hard drive for email addresses and sends spam out to them. But it also uses some of these addresses for spoofing purposes. So if you get spam from yourself, that means someone with your email address has an infected computer.

Lincoln

[mphenterprises]

In addition to what everyone has stated, may I ask a question? Why do you have your own email address within your address book?

[VladTheImpaler1990]

Well he might forget his email so he puts it in there, i would do that, but i use my emails alot so i remember them.

[annB]

I use Norton 2008 & Ad Aware SE Personal(free)


Do I need something else in addition to these?

[annB]

Because occasionally, I copy myself to make sure the message is formated properly. For some reason, ever since I began using Thunderbird for email, it doesn't format emails quite right, such as links I include and photos I attach. Many forwarded emails don't go out appearing the same way as they came in. I can't figure out how to correct this. It drives me crazy, Tbird also won't allow me to format the text and background much. I'm about to go back to Explorer even though I've heard Mozilla and Thunderbird are more secure.

(No I don't forget my own address)

annb

[VladTheImpaler1990]

hey is that a bought norton 2008? I recommend super anti spy, and avg they both free and are great security tools. But lets see, so you using thunderbird right as a Email provider?

AVG

Super anti spy

[VladTheImpaler1990]

hey is that a bought norton 2008? I recommend super anti spy, and avg they both free and are great security tools. But lets see, so you using thunderbird right as a Email provider?

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi Ann :



Have been using Ad-Aware SE Personal ( FREE Ver ) for many yrs; even helped out on the Lavasoft

Support Forums for about 12 months several yrs ago . However recently, it was my 3rd Choice for an

antiSPYWARE/antiTROJAN program and recently saw Info that Lavasoft has discontinued "Updates"

for this particular program, so I uninstalled it . Not wise to have a security program unwilling to detect

the latest Malware floating around on the net . Will continue with my #1 Choice, namely the FREE Ver

of "SUPERAntiSpyware" from www.superantispyware.com/ AND my #2 Choice, namely the now

FREE Ver of AVG AntiSpyware, most easily downloaded from [http://www.ewido.net/] .

Which SPECIFIC Norton 2008 do you use ? Would encourage you to read the "Document" I created

for these Forums located at [http://forums.pcworld.com/docs/DOC-1141|d-1141] .

[annB]

I am using Norton Internet Security Suite 2008, read some reviews online and it came pretty highly recommended. I like the automatic updates, I don't like how the past Norton slowed down my computer, this is supposed to be better, can't tell.

I read your document, sounds interesting, my first question is do they update themselves or will I have to remember to do it myself every day? I've been doing it with Ad Aware (noticed the no updates lately too). One program to maintain is one thing 3 or 4 is getting cumbersome.

Second question is: can they run as supplements to Norton that I update once a week or so? Or will I have to remove Norton?

thanks, annb

[annB]

yes, Thunderbird for email, Mozilla for browser.

[annB]

I ran this scan, it found A LOT of medium risk things, so it must have helped. Thanks :-)

[SpiritWind]

:D Hi Ann :

I view the "Reviews" of "Security Suite(s)" with a grain of salt; most likely they are stressing a program's

"Detecting Rate", where Norton rates high and downplaying the equally important Factors of : 1) How

well does a program PREVENT malware from getting on a computer in the 1st place ; 2 ) The Quality

of its "Customer Service" . In these last 2 categories, Norton scores very poorly . I rely on

INDEPENDENT SOURCES for my Information and regarding antiVIRUS programs, that would be

www.av-comparatives.org ; in their Nov 07 Retrospective/ProActive Test ( PREVENTING malware

from getting ON a computer ), Norton scored 35% and the FREE Avast Antivirus scored 37%; the High

"Scorer" was NOD32 with 71% . Both of those Programs have EXCELLENT Online Support Forums .



As far as I know, ALL antiVIRUS programs have "Automatic Updates" UNLESS you change its

Default "Settings" and IF Norton does "it" once a wk that is very poor . As far as I know, ONLY

"real-time" antiSPYWARE/antiTROJAN programs that One pays for provide "Automatic Updates" .

I am willing to "sacrifice" having to get my "every weekday except holidays" Updates for the very

excellent FREE Version of "SUPERAntiSpyware" I mentioned earlier .

And the fact that the Online Scanner of AVG AntiSpyware at the Ewido Site I quoted found some

"Medium Risk Things" mean Norton was NOT protecting you from "Them" .

Some Forums will send you an Email that an "Update" has been released ; I signed up for that

"Service" at [http://www.landzdown.com] , so there is no need to "remember" .

IF you do decide to "Remove" your Norton Internet Security Suite, you will also have to use their

"Removal Tool" . ONLY the FREE ver of "SUPERAntiSpyware" can POSSIBLY run as a

"Supplement" ( security - oriented folks call it "not conflicting" ) to your Norton Suite .