E-Mail Security, have they REALLY got my password?
Discussion
I just had an e-mail through Yahoo. It was from 3000.mta06-svc.ntlworld.com@luxlist.org and it contained an attachment named "swimmingpool.zip" which I did NOT open, and the text was just four words: "I've got your password" 
What's this about, then?
Needless to say I have now changed my password!
What's this about, then?
Needless to say I have now changed my password!
Don't worry,
Some one has got your email address and is spamming using your address as the source for the mail.
As Ted has pointed out one of your friends has got a virus that is sending out emails pretending to be you.
Not alot you can do unless you investigate the path the email was transmitted from - possible but not easy for a non-techy.
Don't worry about it unless you start getting hundreds of them in which case get back here and we'll take you though contacting the relevent ISP to get it sorted.
best
Ex
Some one has got your email address and is spamming using your address as the source for the mail.
As Ted has pointed out one of your friends has got a virus that is sending out emails pretending to be you.
Not alot you can do unless you investigate the path the email was transmitted from - possible but not easy for a non-techy.
Don't worry about it unless you start getting hundreds of them in which case get back here and we'll take you though contacting the relevent ISP to get it sorted.
best
Ex
motco said:
I just had an e-mail through Yahoo. It was from 3000.mta06-svc.ntlworld.com@luxlist.org and it contained an attachment named "swimmingpool.zip" which I did NOT open, and the text was just four words: "I've got your password"
What's this about, then?
Needless to say I have now changed my password!
Actually I have your password and I've emailed everyone in your address book and told them that you're gay.
But remember that virus checking is a race between the virus labs and the script kiddies writing them.
You're only safe if the virus is in your updated software.
So, to be safe, don't use MS Outlook (especially that awful preview pane) or IE. Use Mozilla.
The aim of virus writers is to get to the most people in one hit, so they tend to target most-used software.
They're not smart yet. Most use attachments to get into your machine. So download your files to a text editor and you can see what they contain. If you don't know the sender and you don't know what the file is, delete it.
Antispam systems are coming. So virus writers will have to get cleverer.
And if you're really paranoid, encrypt your mail (e.g. PGP, X.509).
Shadrach
You're only safe if the virus is in your updated software.
So, to be safe, don't use MS Outlook (especially that awful preview pane) or IE. Use Mozilla.
The aim of virus writers is to get to the most people in one hit, so they tend to target most-used software.
They're not smart yet. Most use attachments to get into your machine. So download your files to a text editor and you can see what they contain. If you don't know the sender and you don't know what the file is, delete it.
Antispam systems are coming. So virus writers will have to get cleverer.
And if you're really paranoid, encrypt your mail (e.g. PGP, X.509).
Shadrach
motco said:
I just had an e-mail through Yahoo. It was from 3000.mta06-svc.ntlworld.com@luxlist.org and it contained an attachment named "swimmingpool.zip" which I did NOT open, and the text was just four words: "I've got your password"
What's this about, then?
Needless to say I have now changed my password!
Dont worry I got the same one, its the usuall b0llox.
See my other thread on latest virus craze.
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