Gmail Compromised

[Sharkster]

Can anybody share some advice. Between 1351 and 1356 today, my gmail

account sent out an electronic shop spam mail to all my contacts (the

messages were in my sent file), changed my signature to the spam mail

and set my out of office reply to the spam mail. I have followed the

instructions on gmail (changed my password and security question) but I

am now paranoid. Is it likely it was hacked or could a bot or some type

of virus have done this? I use firefox with the gmail manager

extension, could that have been compromised? I should point out, about

3/4 days ago, I did click on a spam email which had the exact same

message about an electronics retailer (based in Asia) but did not open

any attachments or click any links. I am currently running Spybot and

will run AdAware. Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks.

[osie]

I would paste some of the spam email message in google and see what comes up.

[Ron Avery]

Seems like a bog standard worm has got into your Email system and address book and its done what they do best and sent out an Email to everyone in your address book. If you are lucky it may be a harmless message, but these messages may also contain the worm thereby spreading it to all your contacts.  In some cases the messages sent can be very embarassing as they can contain porn site links or terminology.  Spybot should find the worm or download AVG free  if its still available to get it out of the PC.

Anything you do now is shutting the stable door, unfortunately the creeps who send these worms out in the first place are getting more and more subtle with the messages that these worms contain, but they are unfortunately then spread on by innocent people clicking on Emails such as you did and your contacts will be seeing an Email from you with an innocent subject line but with a virus attached unless their virus protection deletes it first.

If in doubt delete any E mail with an attachment or link that comes from somebody that you don't know. Difficult in your business I know, but far safer.

[Sharkster]

Thanks for your replies. Neither SpyBot or AdAware picked up anything.  Just doing a scan with Panda online scan and it says there is one virus so far, so will see what that is when the scan finishes. 

[suein56]

If there is anything suspicious about Xoftspy should find it, will tell you where it is located but it will be up to you to delete it. It is brilliant, both fast and accurate.

Sue

[kathyg]

Just discovered this doesn't run with Vista![:@]

[Pierre ZFP]

Try Commodo  www.commodo.com for firwall and virus software, very good and it's free!

I know a lot of people here like AVG but I don't for all sorts of reasons.

Commodo does require a bit of computer savvy to get the best out of it though.

For your PC infection, you could also try Dr Alex   www.doctor-alex.com

[suein56]

duplicated reply, see below.

Sue

[suein56]

[quote user="kathyg"]Just discovered this doesn't run with Vista![:@][/quote]

Sorry about that, we have 2 x XP machines.

This is Vista compatible though, and very, very good!

Sue [:)]

[AnOther]

The trouble with this sort of programme is that one site will slate it - Xoftspy review - whilst another rates it at 9.1/10 and 2nd out of 5 tested - http://www.comparespywareremover.org

It's far from unknown for them to offer you a free scan which inevitably throws up problems many of which are false and shameless frighteners to make you buy the product, some are even Trojan or malware delivery programmes themselves !

Do your research carefully before inviting any of these into your computer [geek]