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spam email....from my address

16 years ago

I just noticed a spam email in my bulk folder with my own email address as the sender.

What sort of hijack is this? Am I likely spamming others, or is something else going on? I hate to give up my email address, but what needs to be done here?

Thanks much.

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Comments (12)

owbist
16 years ago
Do a full scan with your anti virus and another with your anti malware program. Malwarebytes, Superantispyware, AdAware or your favourite and you should be good to go. Be sure to look for updates first. Check too that your firewall has not been turned off.

No need to lose the email address, just be sure your computer is clean
DA_Mccoy
16 years ago
If this an on-board mail client there have historically been viruses and such which have contaminated a user's addressbook doing as you describe. It would be time to do a complete system scan with your AV and another competent malware detection application such as Malwarebytes. If you do locate a bug it would be polite to notifiy all listings in your addressbook.

If this an Internet based account don't worry about it as it happens regularly with you users name or variations of the same. Just don't open it or answer it.

DA
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Ravencajun, Last night I did another scan, It was very slow. I use Charter's High speed internet Security Suiet. It comes with my internet service. This trojan is not listed in their definitions. To be honest I have run into it previously and thought if they didn't do anything with it, it must not be serious. It was the email that allerted me to a possible connection. I also get some notices that say something that is acting as a server wants access. I always click deny! The following is the report after last night's scan. I really apperciate your concern and helpfulness! _________________________________________ Scanning Report 25 August 2009 20:30:53 - 21:55:14 Computer name: D2JGNZB1 Scanning type: Scan target Target: C:\ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Result No malware found -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Riskware found Downloader.Win32.Agent.q (Riskware) C:\14B5.tmp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Statistics Scanned: Files: 132306 Not scanned: 21 Result: Viruses: 0 Spyware: 0 Suspicious items: 0 Riskware: 1 Actions: Disinfected: 0 Renamed: 0 Deleted: 0 Quarantined: 0 Failed: 0 Boot Sectors: Scanned: 2 Infected: 0 Suspicious items: 0 Disinfected: 0 Files not scanned: Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\PAGEFILE.SYS Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\AVP427.TMP Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\AVP428.TMP Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\DEFAULT Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SAM.LOG Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\DEFAULT.LOG Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SAM Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SECURITY Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SECURITY.LOG Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SOFTWARE.LOG Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM Cannot open file (click here for more info) C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.LOG Scanning of C:\WINDOWS\Installer\149cc.msp\stream 574 was aborted [F-Secure AVP] Scanning of C:\Program Files\Charter High-Speed Security Suite\FSAUA\content\70Software_PSC800\34\program\inst\fsma_7.80-127260.windows.fip\fsma\x86-windows\ILAUNCHR.EXE was aborted [F-Secure AVP] Scanning of C:\i386\DRIVER.CAB was aborted [F-Secure AVP] Cannot open a file in archive C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\JUDITH HOESCHEN\LOCAL SETTINGS\APPLICATION DATA\IDENTITIES\(4E3254D7-522A-412A-9296-3F4767B3A2CB)\MICROSOFT\OUTLOOK EXPRESS\ANGUSHIRE MEDOWS.DBX Cannot open a file in archive C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\JUDITH HOESCHEN\LOCAL SETTINGS\APPLICATION DATA\IDENTITIES\(4E3254D7-522A-412A-9296-3F4767B3A2CB)\MICROSOFT\OUTLOOK EXPRESS\COMPUTER HELPS AND TIPS.DBX Cannot open a file in archive C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\JUDITH HOESCHEN\LOCAL SETTINGS\APPLICATION DATA\IDENTITIES\(4E3254D7-522A-412A-9296-3F4767B3A2CB)\MICROSOFT\OUTLOOK EXPRESS\INBOX.DBX Cannot open a file in archive C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\JUDITH HOESCHEN\LOCAL SETTINGS\APPLICATION DATA\IDENTITIES\(4E3254D7-522A-412A-9296-3F4767B3A2CB)\MICROSOFT\OUTLOOK EXPRESS\HAYJUDO50.DBX Cannot open a file in archive C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\JUDITH HOESCHEN\LOCAL SETTINGS\APPLICATION DATA\IDENTITIES\(2C545ACC-8A17-4851-B0AB-238D63125F07)\MICROSOFT\OUTLOOK EXPRESS\INBOX.DBX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Options Definitions version: Viruses: 2009-08-25_08 Spyware: 2009-08-25_08 Scanning Engines: F-Secure AVP: 7.00.171, 2009-08-25 F-Secure Hydra: 4.00.9271, 2009-08-25 Scanning options: Scan all files Scan inside archives Actions: Viruses: Ask after scan Spyware: Ask after scan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Error information "Cannot open file" error occurred: The "Cannot open file" error message means that the scanner was unable to open a file and that this file was not scanned. You can normally ignore this error message as there are many reasons for this message that do not imply a security threat, including: The file was a system file. System files are protected by the operation system by design. You can ignore this message in this case. You do not have permission to read the file. To scan the file, log in with a user account with sufficient permissions (for example the computer's administrator account) and rescan. The file was in use by an application when the scan was performed. To scan this file, close all applications and rescan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1998-2008 Product support : Send virus sample to F-Secure
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DA_Mccoy
16 years ago
Sorry Owbist as I kind of stepped on you. I was distracted by my granddaughter for a minute or two.

DA
fruitjarfla
16 years ago
I use a very old AOL email address and infrequently received mail from my own user id. I changed my email settings to block that. Settings:Spam Settings:Sender Filter:Block mail from addresses:then enter the user or addresses (of yourself). If you do not have AOL email you probably can find similar filtering in yours.
owbist
16 years ago
DA, no worries. Done the procrastinating thing myself before posting then find I am behind. Always better to have multiple answers as it helps give the original poster confidence perhaps.

Fruitjarfla, I am not at all sure you are gaining anything by that action - assuming you rarely view the Spam box. Homebound was placed on alert as soon as the self addressed email arrived. Your method eliminates that advantage I would think.
ravencajun Zone 8b TX
16 years ago
also it could be someone you know that has your email address in their address book that is the one with the infection, often times these infections spoof an address which it selects at random from the persons address book to use as the sender, so seeing your name is not a dead assurance that you are the one infected.
homebound
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks all.

I'll run some scans, although I do have avast running all the time, and also a firewall (that's turned on) at home. This is a yahoo account, and all the emails (getting a handful/day for the last couple days for some sort of b.s. online pharmacy/ies.

Also, I don't see anything in my out box, nor have my friends reported anything yet.

I'll run some stuff tomorrow and let you know how it turns out.
jane__ny
16 years ago
I've been getting those also for the past few months. Only AOL. They use your username to get into your mailbox and bypass the spam folder. I just delete them. They are mostly viagra/drug addresses. This not your address, just your username which is probably easy for them to get.

Jane
bpgreen
16 years ago
One possibility is an infection of some sort, so you should check for that.

However, it's pretty easy to send an email and falsify the "from" address and many spammers do that to get past filters.

If you really want to trace it down, you need to examine the email headers, but it's easier to just delete the emails (and make sure you're not infected).
DA_Mccoy
16 years ago
If its a web based Yahoo account don't be concerned unless it goes crazy. This conduct has been going on forever and will continue by the less sophisticated spammers. You would have no data on your system that would promote a replicating virus.

DA
fruitjarfla
16 years ago
owlbist, my spam gets deleted about 3 or 4 times per day and those spam-mails are almost never opened. But I am interested in the "Homebound was placed on alert" phrase you wrote. Can you tell me what that is, please.
owbist
16 years ago
Fruitjarfla, the alert I was referring to was the fact that this email came into Homebound's "inbox" and was therefore visible. In your case it goes to the Spam filter and you may not know it has arrived so cannot take any precautionary action.

As you noted:-
my spam gets deleted about 3 or 4 times per day and those spam-mails are almost never opened.
so you would not know about it at all.

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