Sharkster Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Can anybody share some advice. Between 1351 and 1356 today, my gmailaccount sent out an electronic shop spam mail to all my contacts (themessages were in my sent file), changed my signature to the spam mailand set my out of office reply to the spam mail. I have followed theinstructions on gmail (changed my password and security question) but Iam now paranoid. Is it likely it was hacked or could a bot or some typeof virus have done this? I use firefox with the gmail managerextension, could that have been compromised? I should point out, about3/4 days ago, I did click on a spam email which had the exact samemessage about an electronics retailer (based in Asia) but did not openany attachments or click any links. I am currently running Spybot andwill run AdAware. Any suggestions appreciated.Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osie Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 I would paste some of the spam email message in google and see what comes up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Avery Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharkster Posted November 22, 2008 Author Share Posted November 22, 2008 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kathyg Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 Just discovered this doesn't run with Vista![:@] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 duplicated reply, see below.Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suein56 Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 [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 [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnOther Posted November 25, 2008 Share Posted November 25, 2008 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.orgIt'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] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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