This Spam Crap Is Getting Worse

[Steve Henry]

I just got spammed from Pete Schumacher! Now I know it's not Pete, but something has grabbed Pete's contact list or mine. As of now, I've not received anything from anyone else on my contact list (over 100), but am watching.

[Paul K.]

I also received a spam email from Pete today or yesterday, and one of two similar others from him previously.
Paul

I just got spammed from Pete Schumacher! Now I know it's not Pete, but something has grabbed Pete's contact list or mine. As of now, I've not received anything from anyone else on my contact list (over 100), but am watching.

[benchtester]

I once heard of a similar problem. The email owner lived with it for a while. But simply changing the email password solved her problem.

[billfitzmaurice]

But simply changing the email password solved her problem.

Viruses and trojans can get your email password and address book and then use your email address to spam everyone in your address book. If you change your password you can usually fix it, but sometimes a screen name change is required. They can even email you with your screen name showing up as the originating source on the cover page, but when you delve deeper you find that they pasted your address over the real one. So if you see an email from yourself don't open it, delete, as it may be carrying a virus or trojan.

[donradick]

Viruses and trojans can get your email password and address book and then use your email address to spam everyone in your address book. If you change your password you can usually fix it, but sometimes a screen name change is required. They can even email you with your screen name showing up as the originating source on the cover page, but when you delve deeper you find that they pasted your address over the real one. So if you see an email from yourself don't open it, delete, as it may be carrying a virus or trojan.

+100
I am an information security professional, I deal with this every day.
If you are on Windows, ALWAYS run AV. If you are on Windows 7, the free Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) is actually quite good. Try to stay current on your updates also. Never click on a link in an email from a person you don't know.

[bobbarkto]

It's quite likely it is someone that the "sender" knows whose machine is infected. The are a number of very active exploits out right now that will cull addresses from the infected computer and choose one to be the sender.

If you examine the email source you will likely find the true origin. Notifying that person (or their isp) is probably a friendly thing to do.

[czag]

I once heard of a similar problem. The email owner lived with it for a while. But simply changing the email password solved her problem.

Same thing happened to me last year. I just changed the password and problem solved.

Chris

[Pete Schumacher ®]

Sorry gang.

I got an email from someone, and stupid me, I opened the link. After that, the browser spammed my contact list.

Didn't find out until a couple hours ago.

PWD changed. I'm even thinking of deleting my contact list so it can't happen again.

[Wolf]

I knew it wasn't Pete, and I got one too.
I hit 'junk', checked the 'hacked' box, and 'keep contact'. Then, MS said that'd help identify spam.

Glad you got it fixed, Petey!
Wolf

[ROTECH]

I knew it wasn't Pete, and I got one too.
I hit 'junk', checked the 'hacked' box, and 'keep contact'. Then, MS said that'd help identify spam.

Glad you got it fixed, Petey!
Wolf

That makes me wonder, Ben.
Did you really PM me yesterday, or was that some Singaporean Hacker trying to steal my amazing crossover design skills and give them to you?

HaHa

[LouC]

It doesn't even need to be hacked from your machine. One of your friend's email list is just as possible. Typically targeted at Outlook/Outlook Express. I used to teach online classes. Now I get spectacular deals from the Emirates every day. Thunderbird has helped a lot with sorting and coding.

Once I bought a domain, I set up 7 different accounts that I use for various postings. The spam and AV filters at my ISP do pretty good. If one gets over loaded I shut it down. If you have to use gmail or yahoo or some other common carrier for your smart phone, you can usually have mail redirected or copied to another account.

[Wolf]

That makes me wonder, Ben.
Did you really PM me yesterday, or was that some Singaporean Hacker trying to steal my amazing crossover design skills and give them to you?

HaHa

No- that really was me.
Wolf