Delivery Status Notification (Failure)

[Apota]

I'm using Windows Live Mail with Windows Vista and a Hotmail account. I'm
getting these emails from (e-mail address removed) and they are driving me
crazy because I'm getting hundreds of them. I never even tried to send an
email to these people, so I have no idea why I'm getting these emails. I
thought I might have a virus or something, but I ran Mcafee, Spybot and
Ad-aware and come up with nothing. It seems to only happy when I'm running
Windows Live Mail and I don't get the emails when I'm not running it. Does
anyone have any idea? Here is a copy of the email Thanks..

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Delivery to the following recipients failed.

(e-mail address removed)

 

[Apota]

I'm also getting these too!!

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Delivery to the following recipients failed.

(e-mail address removed)

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

I'm also getting these too!!

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Delivery to the following recipients failed.

(e-mail address removed)

Yes. They're spam and there's nothing much you can do about them.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Some spammer is using your email address as his return address.
I suggest you put (e-mail address removed) on your Blocked
Senders list, at least until this episode subsides.

 

[Apota]

Well, if that's the case I would get the emails all of the time, but I don't.
I'm checking my emails from my Windows Mobile Cell phone and I don't get
them at all. I only get them when I run Windows Live Mail. So, it has
something to do with Windows Live Mail that's causing it to happen. I don't
even see any Sent Emails, so I know it's not sending any emails. It only
seems to happen everytime I press the Send/Receive mail button on Windows
Live Mail. If I press Send / Recieve on my Windows Mobile phone I just get
my normal email and not these types of messages. So, I know it's something
to do with Windows Live Mail, and there should be something I can do to fix
it. Right?

 

[Fed Up!]

I am getting these too for the last week or so...if we block the postmaster
addy, how will we know if one of our emails we actually sent failed?

This is the link I was supposed to have sent email to (but didn't):
mailto:[email protected]

It is not in any of my outboxes for me to delete.

Is there any other way to resolve this?

Thank you

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Adding the postmaster addy to Blocked Senders is the best solution.
That will deposit the unwanted messages in the Junk E-mail folder.
Prudence dictates that (before emptying) you review the contents of the
Junk E-mail folder periodically, so as to rescue any false positives.
That way, if the postmaster ever sends you a legitimate notice, you will
hopefully see it at some point.

 

[Apota]

Well, I emailed Microsoft and this was there reply to my problem and there
solution:

Thank you for writing to Windows Live Hotmail Customer Support. This is Paul
and I gather that you received failed mail delivery notifications from e-mail
messages you have not sent. I understand how important it is for you to have
your issue addressed immediately.

We apologize for the delay in answering your e-mail. We appreciate your
patience as we handle every customer request as quickly as possible.

Someone has forged your e-mail address as the "reply-to" or "from" field on
a piece of unsolicited e-mail. This does not require the person to log into
the account. For security, do not open the notification message or any
attachment that came with the notification message. Some malicious computer
users use fake failed-delivery notifications to spread computer viruses. Make
sure your virus-scanning software is up to date and scheduled to run daily to
help prevent computer virus infections.

Sometimes, individuals forge message headers to suggest that the messages
originated with Windows Live or Hotmail e-mail. Additionally, these
"spammers" may use similar fake "reply-to" accounts, "remove me" accounts,
and other types of drop boxes in the headers, in the body of messages, on Web
pages, in Web forms, or in postings such as newsgroups. This is a very
difficult practice to guard against, but it is one that we will continue to
prevent.

Some individuals sending unsolicited e-mail use bulk e-mail programs that
forge headers onto the e-mail message. Some of these programs combine the
sender's account name or e-mail address with another domain name to try and
make it appear more authentic. This bypasses the filters because the message
appears to originate from the recipient's own account. They also try to
trick people by taking the name of the recipient's account and forging it
into the header with another domain name to try and make it appear more
authentic.

I would like to assure you that this is what happened to you and that the
sender did not break into your account. Your account name is unique and no
two Windows Live Hotmail users have the same account name.

If you continue to receive messages from the (e-mail address removed) about
e-mail that you did not send, I recommend that you disregard the message. If
you receive other bounce messages, I suggest that you filter them by doing
the following steps:

1. Sign in to your Windows Live Hotmail account.
2. Click on "Options" then select "More Options."
3. Click on "Automatically sort e-mail into folders."
4. Click "New filter."
5. Under step 1: Which messages are you looking for?
6. From the first drop-down box select "Subject."
7. From the second drop-down list, choose "Contains."
8. In the third text box, type the subject of the bounce message.
9. Under "Step 2: Where do you want to put these messages?" Select a
folder to which you want your messages delivered. You can also choose to
delete incoming messages.
10. Click "Save" to save your settings.

You can add more filters to increase the Custom Filter's effectiveness. Type
a different word in the text box (step 8) so that unsolicited e-mail with
various subjects will be captured.

Windows Live Hotmail recognizes the sensitivity, security and privacy of
your account information. I have outlined several ways to help you enhance
your account's protection:

I. I recommend that you change your password as well as your secret
question and answer regularly to increase the privacy of your account. You
can use several combinations of letter cases and numbers to make your
password harder to decode.

II. Properly log out of your account after your Windows Live Hotmail
session by clicking the "Sign Out" button above your screen.

III. If you are using a public terminal, I suggest that you clear your
temporary Internet files (cache) and close the browser that you are using
when you are ready to end your Internet session.

For Internet Explorer:

1. From the "Tools" menu, select "Internet Options".
2. On the "General" tab, under "Temporary Internet Files," click on "Delete
Cookies" then click on "OK."
3. Click on "Delete Files." Put a checkmark on the "Delete all offline
content" radio button, and then click on "OK."

For other browsers, please refer to the Help files of your browser.

IV. Be sure not to click "Remember me on this computer (?)" and "Remember
my password (?)" at the Windows Live Hotmail Sign-in page if you are using a
public computer or if there are other people using your computer. Enabling
this feature will allow users to automatically sign in to their account and
bypass the username and password authentication portion.

We appreciate your continued support as we strive to provide you with the
highest quality service available. Thank you for using Windows Live Hotmail.


Sincerely,


Paul F.
Windows Live Hotmail Customer Support

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

I am getting these too for the last week or so...if we block the postmaster
addy, how will we know if one of our emails we actually sent failed?

This is the link I was supposed to have sent email to (but didn't):
mailto:[email protected]

It is not in any of my outboxes for me to delete.

Is there any other way to resolve this?

Thank you

They aren't in any of you outboxes because you didn't send the message.
They often include the 'unsent message' as a attachment and if you open the
attachment you get a virus. There is nothing to do with these messages
except to delete them. There is no magic program that will catch all of
them and "protect" you.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

They're not telling you anything different than what we've already told you.
They suggest filtering on the Subject line, which is an alternative to
filtering on the From address.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

Well, I emailed Microsoft and this was there reply to my problem and there
solution:

Thank you for writing to Windows Live Hotmail Customer Support. This is Paul
and I gather that you received failed mail delivery notifications from e-mail
messages you have not sent. I understand how important it is for you to have
your issue addressed immediately.

We apologize for the delay in answering your e-mail. We appreciate your
patience as we handle every customer request as quickly as possible.

Someone has forged your e-mail address as the "reply-to" or "from" field on
a piece of unsolicited e-mail. This does not require the person to log into
the account. For security, do not open the notification message or any
attachment that came with the notification message. Some malicious computer
users use fake failed-delivery notifications to spread computer viruses. Make
sure your virus-scanning software is up to date and scheduled to run daily to
help prevent computer virus infections.

Sometimes, individuals forge message headers to suggest that the messages
originated with Windows Live or Hotmail e-mail. Additionally, these
"spammers" may use similar fake "reply-to" accounts, "remove me" accounts,
and other types of drop boxes in the headers, in the body of messages, on Web
pages, in Web forms, or in postings such as newsgroups. This is a very
difficult practice to guard against, but it is one that we will continue to
prevent.

Some individuals sending unsolicited e-mail use bulk e-mail programs that
forge headers onto the e-mail message. Some of these programs combine the
sender's account name or e-mail address with another domain name to try and
make it appear more authentic. This bypasses the filters because the message
appears to originate from the recipient's own account. They also try to
trick people by taking the name of the recipient's account and forging it
into the header with another domain name to try and make it appear more
authentic.

I would like to assure you that this is what happened to you and that the
sender did not break into your account. Your account name is unique and no
two Windows Live Hotmail users have the same account name.

If you continue to receive messages from the (e-mail address removed) about
e-mail that you did not send, I recommend that you disregard the message. If
you receive other bounce messages, I suggest that you filter them by doing
the following steps:

1. Sign in to your Windows Live Hotmail account.
2. Click on "Options" then select "More Options."
3. Click on "Automatically sort e-mail into folders."
4. Click "New filter."
5. Under step 1: Which messages are you looking for?
6. From the first drop-down box select "Subject."
7. From the second drop-down list, choose "Contains."
8. In the third text box, type the subject of the bounce message.
9. Under "Step 2: Where do you want to put these messages?" Select a
folder to which you want your messages delivered. You can also choose to
delete incoming messages.
10. Click "Save" to save your settings.

You can add more filters to increase the Custom Filter's effectiveness. Type
a different word in the text box (step 8) so that unsolicited e-mail with
various subjects will be captured.

Windows Live Hotmail recognizes the sensitivity, security and privacy of
your account information. I have outlined several ways to help you enhance
your account's protection:

I. I recommend that you change your password as well as your secret
question and answer regularly to increase the privacy of your account. You
can use several combinations of letter cases and numbers to make your
password harder to decode.

II. Properly log out of your account after your Windows Live Hotmail
session by clicking the "Sign Out" button above your screen.

III. If you are using a public terminal, I suggest that you clear your
temporary Internet files (cache) and close the browser that you are using
when you are ready to end your Internet session.

For Internet Explorer:

1. From the "Tools" menu, select "Internet Options".
2. On the "General" tab, under "Temporary Internet Files," click on "Delete
Cookies" then click on "OK."
3. Click on "Delete Files." Put a checkmark on the "Delete all offline
content" radio button, and then click on "OK."

For other browsers, please refer to the Help files of your browser.

IV. Be sure not to click "Remember me on this computer (?)" and "Remember
my password (?)" at the Windows Live Hotmail Sign-in page if you are using a
public computer or if there are other people using your computer. Enabling
this feature will allow users to automatically sign in to their account and
bypass the username and password authentication portion.

We appreciate your continued support as we strive to provide you with the
highest quality service available. Thank you for using Windows Live Hotmail.


Sincerely,


Paul F.
Windows Live Hotmail Customer Support

 

[Apota]

Yes, I agree. It wasn't very helpful at all. I'm still getting them but not
as many as before, but it's still a pain. If I could filter what's in the
body of the message that would be very helpful and block the messages, but it
doesn't look like I can't. If I block the subject or sender then if I get a
real delivery failure I won't know about it. So, I'm not sure what to do at
this point. It seems like there is nothing I can do and this will go on for
an eternity? Thanks...

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

The bounce notices won't go on much longer. Spammers tend to change
the return address they use on spam emails fairly frequently.

If it was me, I would add that Postmaster email address to Blocked Senders
for just a week or two, then take it off again.

 

[Apota]

OK, that sounds like a good idea. I'm having another problem. I'm using
Windows Live Mail with Vista and my Hotmail email address. When I get Junk
Mail and using the option to, "Delete and Block" the messages. The option
deletes them, but I'm not sure if the blocking is working because I seem to
still be getting the same messages from the same email addresses. I can't
confirm it because they are deleted. Is it possible the blocking isn't
working and if not, is there a simple way to block them besides having to go
onto the hotmail website to do it? Thanks..

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

I will let someone else who is more familiar with the Hotmail integration
answer that question.

WLM has a Safety Options setting, "Report junk e-mail to Microsoft and
its partners", but I'm not familiar with what that actually does.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

[Cross-posted to microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop ]

 

[...winston]

As mentioned previously, spam from/to/reply addresses are changed quite often.
Much spam may be spoofed to appear from one's own address, thus caution is warranted to avoid blocking mail from one's own domain
in either WLM or the Hotmail Web interface(UI)

WLM's 'Safety Options' for Blocked Senders moves incoming to the junk mail folder for both http and pop3 accounts. Delete a
message in WLM is only possible via rules and only for pop3 accounts.

WLM has a check box on its Safety Options page for bouncing messages back to the sender. Its header states the bounce is applicable
'When I click Delete and Block'. That wording(note it's a compound 'and' )seems to imply there is a single context option to do
both at once 'Delete and Block. That single context option does not appear to exist, thus no clue on how this is supposed to
function(mark as junk then manually delete from junk folder) or a future feature or a poorly worded option.

The only method to modify hotmail web based filters is via the web interface via an individual address or a domain.
Hotmail web ui provides:
- a Delete Junk Mail options(immediately or move to Junk Folder).
- a report junk mail option(Note: 'report' junk does not mean immediate enforcement of a reported address or domain)
- provides individual block senders(address and/or domain) - blocked messages are automatically are deleted

The only way to determine if a Hotmail web ui filter that deletes something is working is to turn the delete option off and monitor
the junk mail folder in WLM or via the Hotmail UI.
--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

[Cross-posted to microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop ]

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

I will let someone else who is more familiar with the Hotmail integration
answer that question.

WLM has a Safety Options setting, "Report junk e-mail to Microsoft and
its partners", but I'm not familiar with what that actually does.

 

[Apota]

OK, well, I'm using both, "Delete and Block" and I'm using Filters, but it's
a real big pain. I'll see how it goes. I have one last problem and I'm not
sure if this is where to post it or not.

When I'm creating a new message in WLM and I want to add a picture I want to
sort the pictures by the date. Because I'm adding pictures I just copied
into my Pictures Folder. When I go into the Pictures folder from Windows
Explorer I can sort by , "Date Modified" because I changed the folder type to
Documents. When I try to insert the picture in the new message the files are
sorted as, "Date Taken" and it makes it hard to find the pictures I want to
insert because I know the date modified but not the file names. So, for some
reason when I use WLM it reverts the folder to a, "Picture and Video" type.
When I go back into File Exploer it's back to Document type. So, I"m not
sure what's going on. Thanks..

As mentioned previously, spam from/to/reply addresses are changed quite often.
Much spam may be spoofed to appear from one's own address, thus caution is warranted to avoid blocking mail from one's own domain
in either WLM or the Hotmail Web interface(UI)

WLM's 'Safety Options' for Blocked Senders moves incoming to the junk mail folder for both http and pop3 accounts. Delete a
message in WLM is only possible via rules and only for pop3 accounts.

WLM has a check box on its Safety Options page for bouncing messages back to the sender. Its header states the bounce is applicable
'When I click Delete and Block'. That wording(note it's a compound 'and' )seems to imply there is a single context option to do
both at once 'Delete and Block. That single context option does not appear to exist, thus no clue on how this is supposed to
function(mark as junk then manually delete from junk folder) or a future feature or a poorly worded option.

The only method to modify hotmail web based filters is via the web interface via an individual address or a domain.
Hotmail web ui provides:
- a Delete Junk Mail options(immediately or move to Junk Folder).
- a report junk mail option(Note: 'report' junk does not mean immediate enforcement of a reported address or domain)
- provides individual block senders(address and/or domain) - blocked messages are automatically are deleted

The only way to determine if a Hotmail web ui filter that deletes something is working is to turn the delete option off and monitor
the junk mail folder in WLM or via the Hotmail UI.
--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

[Cross-posted to microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop ]

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

I will let someone else who is more familiar with the Hotmail integration
answer that question.

WLM has a Safety Options setting, "Report junk e-mail to Microsoft and
its partners", but I'm not familiar with what that actually does.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)


OK, that sounds like a good idea. I'm having another problem. I'm using
Windows Live Mail with Vista and my Hotmail email address. When I get Junk
Mail and using the option to, "Delete and Block" the messages. The option
deletes them, but I'm not sure if the blocking is working because I seem to
still be getting the same messages from the same email addresses. I can't
confirm it because they are deleted. Is it possible the blocking isn't
working and if not, is there a simple way to block them besides having to go
onto the hotmail website to do it? Thanks..

 

[...winston]

Picture and Video is a type of icon used for the folder, not the view applied to the contents within the folder.
When inserting a picture in a WLM message(inline or photo) rt click on the column headers and ensure date modified is checked and
viewable in the WLM dialog window used for the picture selection. Uncheck Date Taken, then drag any column header to whatever
position your desire. Finally, you might also wish to ensure 'Details is chosen on the 'Views' tab/button.

 

[Apota]

OK, I don't have a Pop3 account. I have hotmail. All I need is information
about is using my Hotmail Email with WLM. Getting into all this other stuff
that has nothing to do with my situation is really confusing me. In simple
language it sounds like you are saying that there is nothing I can do and
that the "Delete and Block" function isn't going to help me. I guess it
obviously isn't since I've been using it for like a year and it doesn't seem
to be helping much, if at all.

I was using the Hotmail Filter Feature and every peice of spam I was making
a filter for the whole email address to delete it. I quickly found out that
wasn't going to work because in two days I used up all my filters. I had no
idea there was a limited number of filters.

Thanks again for your time and help!

As mentioned previously, spam from/to/reply addresses are changed quite often.
Much spam may be spoofed to appear from one's own address, thus caution is warranted to avoid blocking mail from one's own domain
in either WLM or the Hotmail Web interface(UI)

WLM's 'Safety Options' for Blocked Senders moves incoming to the junk mail folder for both http and pop3 accounts. Delete a
message in WLM is only possible via rules and only for pop3 accounts.

WLM has a check box on its Safety Options page for bouncing messages back to the sender. Its header states the bounce is applicable
'When I click Delete and Block'. That wording(note it's a compound 'and' )seems to imply there is a single context option to do
both at once 'Delete and Block. That single context option does not appear to exist, thus no clue on how this is supposed to
function(mark as junk then manually delete from junk folder) or a future feature or a poorly worded option.

The only method to modify hotmail web based filters is via the web interface via an individual address or a domain.
Hotmail web ui provides:
- a Delete Junk Mail options(immediately or move to Junk Folder).
- a report junk mail option(Note: 'report' junk does not mean immediate enforcement of a reported address or domain)
- provides individual block senders(address and/or domain) - blocked messages are automatically are deleted

The only way to determine if a Hotmail web ui filter that deletes something is working is to turn the delete option off and monitor
the junk mail folder in WLM or via the Hotmail UI.
--
...winston
ms-mvp mail

[Cross-posted to microsoft.public.windows.live.mail.desktop ]

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

I will let someone else who is more familiar with the Hotmail integration
answer that question.

WLM has a Safety Options setting, "Report junk e-mail to Microsoft and
its partners", but I'm not familiar with what that actually does.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)


OK, that sounds like a good idea. I'm having another problem. I'm using
Windows Live Mail with Vista and my Hotmail email address. When I get Junk
Mail and using the option to, "Delete and Block" the messages. The option
deletes them, but I'm not sure if the blocking is working because I seem to
still be getting the same messages from the same email addresses. I can't
confirm it because they are deleted. Is it possible the blocking isn't
working and if not, is there a simple way to block them besides having to go
onto the hotmail website to do it? Thanks..

 

[Apota]

OK, I got a reply from Microsoft that was very helpful. I don't have to
block the (e-mail address removed), I can just create a rule for the
information in the body of the message. They say that Hotmail has Pop access
and I can create rules in WLM for hotmail and I don't have to log onto
hotmail.com which is very limited in the rules. So, I'm going to try that.
I'm just going to have to figure out how to use it with all the spam, but it
should be easier to do then the other way with alot more options. I wonder
if there is a limit to the amount of rules you can create in WLM, but I guess
I'll find out. Here is a copy of the email from Microsoft.

Thank you for writing back to Windows Live Mail Technical Support. My name
is Roland and I apologize for the delay in answering your e-mail. We
appreciate your patience as we handle every customer request as quickly as
possible.

I read that you are getting bounced messages when using Windows Live Mail.
You want to know if there is a way to block messages that contains a specific
word in the body of the message. I apologize for the inconvenience this has
caused you. I am glad to be of assistance.

In Windows Live Mail, you can create a message rule that can delete a
message right away. You can only create message rules if you are using a POP
e-mail account. Since your (e-mail address removed) account has POP access, you may
create message rules. To do this, perform the following steps:

1. Press Alt and T simultaneously
2. Hover your mouse pointer over "Message rules"
3. Click on "Mail."

If you need urgent help about Windows Live Mail's basic functionality,
comprehensive online information is available. You may visit the "Help"
section of Windows Live Mail located at the upper-right corner beside the
"Windows Live sign-in" button.

We appreciate your continued support as we strive to provide you with the
highest quality service available. Thank you for using Windows Live Mail.
Have a nice day!

Sincerely,

Roland R.

Windows Live Mail Technical Support