Is my E-mail account hijacked or is it a virus?

treitz3
treitz3 Posts: 19,004
edited February 2011 in The Clubhouse
OK, I just found out a couple of minutes ago that my e-mail account has apparently been sending multiple e-mails today to all of my online acquaintances. F'n great. Now I'll be marked as SPAM to folks whom I would like to get in touch with again sometime down the road.

How in the hell do you stop this?

Just to let you know, I am maxed out on finances right now so please do not tell me I need to spend $300.00 for some damned anti-virus thing that [given the past history] won't work.

My apologies in advance to all whom have rec'd the Viagra e-mail(s) from me today.
~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
Post edited by treitz3 on
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  • mrbigbluelight
    mrbigbluelight Posts: 9,713
    edited February 2011
    Wish you had said something earlier. Bought a couple of cases of FDS (in new "Wintergreen Supreme") based on your high recommendations in email. :frown:
    Sal Palooza
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,494
    edited February 2011
    mrbigbluelight wrote: »
    Wish you had said something earlier. Bought a couple of cases of FDS (in new "Wintergreen Supreme") based on your high recommendations in email. :frown:

    LOL.....having them shipped to juju I presume.






    Tom, get a hold of Scott as he has dealt with the same issue.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2011
    Yahoo email?

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  • blueboxer
    blueboxer Posts: 621
    edited February 2011
    Change your password and do so frequently, that cut most of it out in the past.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,004
    edited February 2011
    Yes, yahoo e-mail.

    So, if I do something as simple as change the password then my contacts will not get any more SPAM? That is the one thing I'd like to stop first and foremost. I'll deal with the hack or virus when I learn how.

    10-4 Jesse.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • disneyjoe7
    disneyjoe7 Posts: 11,435
    edited February 2011
    I thought heard you needed to remove your email contacts, but not sure use Google emails and not Yahoo.

    Speakers
    Carver Amazing Fronts
    CS400i Center
    RT800i's Rears
    Sub Paradigm Servo 15

    Electronics
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 pre-amp
    Parasound Halo A23
    Pioneer 84TXSi AVR
    Pioneer 79Avi DVD
    Sony CX400 CD changer
    Panasonic 42-PX60U Plasma
    WMC Win7 32bit HD DVR


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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,004
    edited February 2011
    Everybody I have known online for the past decade only knows this e-mail account. This is my account and every damned one of my online accounts, whether financial or not has this e-mail address. You know how long it would take me to update each and every account I have? No way. I'd never find all of the accounts I have online to update anyway.

    Just remembering all of the different passwords is hard enough.

    I went in to Yahoo to change my password and I could not figure out how. Anybody out there know?
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • TNRabbit
    TNRabbit Posts: 2,168
    edited February 2011
    Tom, I've had the same yahoo email & password for YEARS and never had this issue. You're not the first I've seen with this issue, though. Not sure what causes it. I use MicroSoft Security Essentials (free on MS.com) & it is free & works great.
    TNRabbit
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  • SCompRacer
    SCompRacer Posts: 8,491
    edited February 2011
    treitz3 wrote: »
    I went in to Yahoo to change my password and I could not figure out how. Anybody out there know?

    You have to log in and get to the Member Center.....off the My Yahoo page IIRC.
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  • blueboxer
    blueboxer Posts: 621
    edited February 2011
    treitz3 wrote: »
    Yes, yahoo e-mail.

    So, if I do something as simple as change the password then my contacts will not get any more SPAM? That is the one thing I'd like to stop first and foremost. I'll deal with the hack or virus when I learn how.

    10-4 Jesse.

    They still have to access your account to send spam from your account to your contacts, if they did save your contact information it would still stop it from coming from your account. I am by no means an expert, but those of my friends who were hacked did change their password and it stopped future spam from being mailed out.
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  • dee1949
    dee1949 Posts: 1,425
    edited February 2011
    ...might be this

    http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9184438/_Here_you_have_e_mail_worm_spreads_quickly
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  • greg2350
    greg2350 Posts: 544
    edited February 2011
    Run these 2 apps and change your password should rectify the problem. I clean pc's everyday with these 2 apps havent had one yet I couldnt clean. Both are free run combofix first. Forget AVG,mcafee,norton and all the others combofix will clean any infected computer. Ive had it clean some really bad infections one pc it found 365 virus's. Hope this helps:smile:

    http://combofix.org/download.php

    http://superantispyware.com/
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  • stuwee
    stuwee Posts: 1,508
    edited February 2011
    I wish ya luck, never had a problem with mine, knock, knock!
    Thorens TD125MKII, SME3009,Shure V15/ Teac V-8000S, Denon DN-790R cass, Teac 3340 RtR decks, Onix CD2...Sumo Electra Plus pre>SAE A1001 amp>Martin Logan Summit's
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  • JimKellyfan
    JimKellyfan Posts: 696
    edited February 2011
    Major geeks and Cnet have a bunch of freebie programs
    Try top freeware picks
    http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=20

    My machines, I have about the same on all:
    CCleaner, Advanced Care 3, MalwareBytes Advanced (not free anymore 24.99), Threatfire, Spyware Blaster, Norton 360 (Newegg sale) and Smart Defrag

    These are not all spy or malware, but cleaners too.
    When I didn't have N360 on all machines, the 7 machine had Microsoft Essentials, and XP laptop had AVG.

    Too, like someone else said, change passwords every so often. Someone found it or figured it out. Too, any online banking or otherwise, change all passwords to everything and write them down somewhere, you may even have to go as far as a credit freeze and fraud alert on your credit reports. Depends how many passwords they now have or not. Make sure you are on a secure machine first.

    Gmail was also a highly rated email program.
    Me, I would change to a new email program and lose the other.

    I have two email accounts, one for the unkown (hotmail) and my gmail.

    Good luck, and treitz3, if I remember right, you are close to me, so I can come over and help if you have any issue.
    But too, this and next week my scheduling is a bit tight, but do have some windows of time.
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  • mrbiron
    mrbiron Posts: 5,711
    edited February 2011
    treitz3, i'm currently having the same problem with my MAIN yahoo account. I panicked and immediately deleted 359 contacts so it would stop shipping them...followed by hours of crying.

    When i went to log onto yahoo this morning, i got a screen that told me my email was compromised and had me change the password on it...like that's going to help.

    Going to run those free programs greg suggested for $hits and giggles. Quite frustrated this morning. :mad:
    Where’s the KABOOM?!?! There’s supposed to be an Earth shattering KABOOM!!!
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2011
    I have used Yahoo for over 10 years with no issues. Change your email password, and change any other accounts passwords now too if they use the same password as your Yahoo password. I use my yahoo password for only my email account, and no other accounts.

    PS. Don't delete your contacts. If they have them they have them. If you delete them they will most likely still have them, and you won't.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2011
    I wanted to thank you for the Viagra email, I've been pokin holes in the dry wall all night!
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2011
    ..but seriously, the same thing happen to me (yahoo account) about 3 months ago. Pissed me off, I've had that email address for 10 years!
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • ohskigod
    ohskigod Posts: 6,502
    edited February 2011
    must be a rash, this hapenned to me too. I changed my password, I dont think this is at your personal PC level, this seems to be a hack into Yahoo.

    hoping the change of password works.
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,601
    edited February 2011
    If you use windows to manage your email, most likely it's your pc that's
    sick. Or they stuffed a keylogger in your pc and got it that way.
    It's not likely they got your password any other way. Clean it up, or you'll be doing this again. Then change ALL your passwords. If they control your email,
    they can get into just about anything else you own.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • edbert
    edbert Posts: 1,041
    edited February 2011
    I had my yahoo account hacked about a week and a half ago. Change your password immediately and that will stop the emails from going out. Then send out an email asking people not to open the previous email or at least click the link. I have had a handful of friends who have had their yahoo accounts hacked recently. This was not the result of any virus, just someone hacking emails, sucks but it is an easy fix.
    I know just enough to be dangerous, but don't tell my wife, she thinks I'm a genius. :D

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  • greg2350
    greg2350 Posts: 544
    edited February 2011
    JimKellyfan wrote: »
    Major geeks and Cnet have a bunch of freebie programs
    Try top freeware picks
    http://majorgeeks.com/page.php?id=20

    My machines, I have about the same on all:
    CCleaner, Advanced Care 3, MalwareBytes Advanced (not free anymore 24.99), Threatfire, Spyware Blaster, Norton 360 (Newegg sale) and Smart Defrag

    These are not all spy or malware, but cleaners too.
    When I didn't have N360 on all machines, the 7 machine had Microsoft Essentials, and XP laptop had AVG.

    Too, like someone else said, change passwords every so often. Someone found it or figured it out. Too, any online banking or otherwise, change all passwords to everything and write them down somewhere, you may even have to go as far as a credit freeze and fraud alert on your credit reports. Depends how many passwords they now have or not. Make sure you are on a secure machine first.

    Gmail was also a highly rated email program.
    Me, I would change to a new email program and lose the other.

    I have two email accounts, one for the unkown (hotmail) and my gmail.

    Good luck, and treitz3, if I remember right, you are close to me, so I can come over and help if you have any issue.
    But too, this and next week my scheduling is a bit tight, but do have some windows of time.

    All those are good but in my experience combofix is the be all end all of cleaning pc's:smile:
    TV: Philips 42" LCD 1080p
    Front Speakers: Polk Audio RT800i
    Center Speaker: Polk Audio CS1
    Surround Speakers: Polk Audio R50's powered of Denon AVR
    Subwoofer: Polk Audio DSW pro500
    AVR: Denon 3801
    DVD Player: Denon DVM 745 upscale 1080p
    Sat: Directtv HD 10
    Front Speakers Amp: Rotel RB 890
    Center Speaker amp: Rotel 970 BX
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited February 2011
    mrbiron wrote: »
    When i went to log onto yahoo this morning, i got a screen that told me my email was compromised and had me change the password on it...like that's going to help.

    That in itself sounds fishy... Are you positive that was an actual Yahoo page? Scammers have lots of tricks like that to get you to "give" them your password.
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  • ryanjoachim
    ryanjoachim Posts: 2,046
    edited February 2011
    mdaudioguy wrote: »
    That in itself sounds fishy... Are you positive that was an actual Yahoo page? Scammers have lots of tricks like that to get you to "give" them your password.

    He hit it on the head.

    No legit website nowadays is going to do something like that. No website will ever ask you for your old password, without confirming your security questions and such first.
    MrNightly wrote: »
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  • Rivrrat
    Rivrrat Posts: 2,101
    edited February 2011
    greg2350 wrote: »
    Run these 2 apps and change your password should rectify the problem. I clean pc's everyday with these 2 apps havent had one yet I couldnt clean. Both are free run combofix first. Forget AVG,mcafee,norton and all the others combofix will clean any infected computer. Ive had it clean some really bad infections one pc it found 365 virus's. Hope this helps:smile:

    http://combofix.org/download.php

    http://superantispyware.com/

    Combofix will kill just about anything, but it doesn't have a nice graphics inteface, and it's my last solution.

    The program I run before Combofix is Malwarebites, and it's gotten rid of everything except a google search virus

    http://shop.malwarebytes.org/lpa/342/3/7268/index_b.html?_kk=malwarebytes&_kt=77dafa20-d875-4e0a-b98a-54dc2c93bd02&gclid=CJqzqZjSgacCFRtqgwod0Uj1dQ

    The freeware version works great.
    My equipment sig felt inadequate and deleted itself.
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  • greyford1979
    greyford1979 Posts: 749
    edited February 2011
    I had this problem a few months ago as well...changed the password and no problems since:biggrin: Good luck!
    I love animals, they're delicious!
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