Has anyone been getting returned e-mail that they haven't sent? I'm getting e-mail from the server dude (I assume) stating that the e-mail was undeliverable due to fatal errors. Has someone stolen my e-mail address to fake out the origin of a virus or something? I'm getting at least a dozen of these a day. I always install the updates and patches from both Microsoft and McAfee and do a virus scan every morning. There aren't any problems on my computer so all I can figure is someone is using my address.
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
a virus will typically "harvest" all the address's on an infected computer. These will be used by the virus in attempts to replicate itself. Not only will mail be sent to these addresses, but the "sender" will be forged to show as having come from any one of the addresses in the contact list of the infected computer.
Someone who had been infected, also had your address in their contact list. Some of the other addresses in their contact list are either no longer valid, or have server level spam/virus blocking, or for some other reason these messages are bouncing "back" to the sender address, so due to the virus code driven "forgery" they are bouncing to you.
See the other recent related posts by doing a search on "Virus"
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
Some of the virii going around fake a return address. They got your return address from someone else's address list on an unprotected computer. When the mail bounced, it came back to you, even though you didn't send it.
I update my virus signatures daily and check the Windows update site every couple of days. I'm on about the 50th security update since I loaded W2000 Pro from the CD earlier this year.
Windows has more holes than a window screen. It is not a window pane, although window PAIN would be accurately descriptive.
Posted by Terry Baird (Member # 3495) on :
That explains a lot, thanks. I knew that it wasn't my computer because since an incident a few years back, I've been borderline anal about my virus protection.
Posted by Cheryl Lucas (Member # 1656) on :
Terry,
I've been experiencing the same thing. I have Norton Anti Virus protection and it updates everytime I sign online. After a number of these messages you've described, I did a scan of my computer and everything has checked out.
I guess I'm a bit anal too!
I'd suggest, to my Letterhead buddies; if ya want me to download somthing from you, make the subject line appropriate for the situation. Otherwise, I'm now in DELETE MODE!
Cher.
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Yep yep it's a faked return address.. I've been gettin slammed with those too!
(in my best StrongBad impersonation)..DELETED!!
Posted by Lotti Prokott (Member # 2684) on :
Since changing from Outlook Express to hotmail I figured that would protect me...I've been getting tons of these returned email notices and a notice from MSN with:
quote:ScanMail has detected a virus in an email you sent on 08/22/2003 at 05:30 AM. Infected file was wicked_scr.scr/Deleted , reciepient of the mail was.......
These 'recipients' being no one I've ever heard of.
I'm in CA right now, so can't check out my own computer till I get home...
A:)
Posted by Ian Stewart-Koster (Member # 3500) on :
Another bit of advice- simply do not use the Address Book at all. I keep a bit of paper beside the computer with 100s of email addresses on it and refer to it, or to an old email to cut & paste the address from it if I need one. Best wishes
Posted by Steve Manning (Member # 3947) on :
I read something off a tech bulletin a while back that you can keep a worm virus from replicating by adding a fake address to your address file. It is supposed to be like this: aaaaa@aaaa.stopped. Its called a wormbuster I really don't know if it works but I've put it on my computers just in case it does.
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