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15 Replies Last post: Jan 17, 2008 8:19 PM by SpiritWind 1 2 Previous Next

annB

19 posts since
Jan 7, 2008

Jan 16, 2008 8:14 AM

getting email from myself

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

753 posts since
Jun 4, 2007

1. Jan 16, 2008 8:30 AM

in response to: annB

Re: getting email from myself

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

28 posts since
Aug 26, 2007

2. Jan 16, 2008 8:35 AM

in response to: annB

Re: getting email from myself

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

SpiritWind

1,286 posts since
Aug 19, 2006

3. Jan 16, 2008 10:19 AM

in response to: annB

Re: getting email from myself

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 http://www.ewido.net . However, much more likely is that a Spammer stole

your email address from someone else's Address Book .

For the BEST in what COUNTS in LIFE : http://www.tacf.org

LincolnSpector

312 posts since
Oct 16, 2006

4. Jan 16, 2008 11:16 AM

in response to: annB

Re: getting email from myself

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

9,119 posts since
Feb 19, 2007

5. Jan 16, 2008 11:26 AM

in response to: annB

Re: getting email from myself

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

This is my personal Dream PC: http://forums.pcworld.com/blogs/mphenterprises/2007/12/21/my-gift-to-myself

VladTheImpaler1990

753 posts since
Jun 4, 2007

6. Jan 16, 2008 11:36 AM

in response to: mphenterprises

Re: getting email from myself

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

19 posts since
Jan 7, 2008

7. Jan 17, 2008 6:48 AM

in response to: VladTheImpaler1990

Re: getting email from myself

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

Do I need something else in addition to these?

annB

19 posts since
Jan 7, 2008

8. Jan 17, 2008 7:07 AM

in response to: mphenterprises

Re: getting email from myself

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

753 posts since
Jun 4, 2007

9. Jan 17, 2008 9:38 AM

in response to: annB

Re: getting email from myself

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

753 posts since
Jun 4, 2007

10. Jan 17, 2008 9:34 AM

in response to: annB

Re: getting email from myself

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

1,286 posts since
Aug 19, 2006

11. Jan 17, 2008 12:05 PM

in response to: annB

Re: getting email from myself

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 http://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 .

For the BEST in what COUNTS in LIFE : http://www.tacf.org

annB

19 posts since
Jan 7, 2008

12. Jan 17, 2008 1:20 PM

in response to: SpiritWind

Re: getting email from myself

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