spam virus problem

[Ange1o DePa1ma]

Over the last week I have received 50-80 "message undeliverable" messages
per day, mostly from foreign countries. The messages either say my message
was undeliverable or, in some cases, that the recipient is on vacation. I do
not know any of these recipients.

I have the feeling a virus has taken over my computer and is spamming from
my address. Does anyone have any idea what this is, or how I can fix it?

Thanks,

Angelo

 

[Ernie B.]

Over the last week I have received 50-80 "message undeliverable" messages
per day, mostly from foreign countries. The messages either say my message
was undeliverable or, in some cases, that the recipient is on vacation. I do
not know any of these recipients.

This is usually the result of a spammer using your return address in the From:
field of his spam. You are seeing the bounces from invalid addresses. There
isn't anything you can do to prevent it, just delete the bounces and wait it
out.

I have the feeling a virus has taken over my computer and is spamming from
my address. Does anyone have any idea what this is, or how I can fix it?

Probably not but it would do no harm to scan your computer with good anti-
Trojan software and an anti-virus. Two good, free for personal use, A-T
programs are:

Spybot Search & Destroy, <http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html>
a-squared <http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/>

Download, install, update and run them.

 

[Beauregard T. Shagnasty]

Over the last week I have received 50-80 "message undeliverable"
messages per day, mostly from foreign countries. The messages either
say my message was undeliverable or, in some cases, that the
recipient is on vacation. I do not know any of these recipients.

Typical response from a mail server when the TO: address was invalid, no
longer used, etc.

I have the feeling a virus has taken over my computer and is spamming
from my address. Does anyone have any idea what this is, or how I can
fix it?

It is unlikely that they are being *sent* from your computer (assuming
you do have an up-to-date anti-virus program). What has happened is a
spammer has used *your* address in the FROM: field of his spew. You are
now getting the bounces to bad addresses. Chances are this will pass in
a day or two, when that particular run/batch of spam has run its course.

Your mail account is not compromised. The FROM: address is easily
forged. This situation is fairly common, as spammers oft use a victim's
address, because they certainly don't want to be identified.

If they continue relentlessly, then you could be the victim of a Joe
Job.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_job

 

[Ange1o DePa1ma]

Typical response from a mail server when the TO: address was invalid, no
longer used, etc.


It is unlikely that they are being *sent* from your computer (assuming
you do have an up-to-date anti-virus program). What has happened is a
spammer has used *your* address in the FROM: field of his spew. You are
now getting the bounces to bad addresses. Chances are this will pass in
a day or two, when that particular run/batch of spam has run its course.

Your mail account is not compromised. The FROM: address is easily
forged. This situation is fairly common, as spammers oft use a victim's
address, because they certainly don't want to be identified.

If they continue relentlessly, then you could be the victim of a Joe
Job.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_job

Thanks to you and Ernie. It's reassuring to know it's not something that got
onto my computer.

adp

 

[Duh_OZ]

Over the last week I have received 50-80 "message undeliverable" messages
per day, mostly from foreign countries. The messages either say my message
was undeliverable or, in some cases, that the recipient is on vacation. I do
not know any of these recipients.

I have the feeling a virus has taken over my computer and is spamming from
my address. Does anyone have any idea what this is, or how I can fix it?

Thanks,

Angelo

============
On Tuesday I had to change my password as my provider *thought* I was
sending massive SPAM, or someone had my password. I can assure you
neither is the case (ran just about everything including rootkit
revealers) as my computer was clean. One of my managers (different
provider) had the same thing happen. Heaven forbid the ISP request
headers to see who is actually sending them *geesh*.

 

[Ernie B.]

Heaven forbid the ISP request
headers to see who is actually sending them *geesh*.

Headers usually don't reveal much since most of this stuph is routed through
compromised (zombied) computers owned by clueless broadband users.

 

[Duh_OZ]

Headers usually don't reveal much since most of this stuph is routed through
compromised (zombied) computers owned by clueless broadband users.
--
Ernie B.

Communication: The art of moving an idea from one mind to another, hopefully
without distortion.

============
Yes, but it *should* rule out I am sending them, at least to the ISP.
BTW - didn't have a single bounced back e-mail in my SPAM or any other
folder either.

OZ, still seeing those fake codec sites being posted here and there.