dddave Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 For the 2nd time this month, my HOTMAIL account has been hacked and the contact list hi-jacked and used to distribute spam. Fortunately, this is not the account I use for important correspondence. I use it mostly for when I sign up for an Internet forum or some media accounts. Though I don't use social networking sites, people have sent me messages from TAGGED and several others that have resulted on me being on their distribution lists. I have no idea if this is the source of the hack. I've had this account for years and hate to close it out. Is there any way I can protect it in the future or is HOTMAIL hopelessly vulnerable? I guess I should start by deleting all unnecessary contacts. Am I correct in assuming that now that they have the list, they can continue to use it even though I delete the contacts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faustian Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 Were you using a home PC, if so you must have a virus on board I'd think. A keylogger or some such lovely. Change your password to something long and difficult, check for viruses and you should be okay. If you use internet cafes, then I'd suggest that may be the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dexi Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 Several news items here advising people to upgrade to internet explorer 8 or use Google Chrome because of hacking/security issues . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 Bad passwords Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 The same thing has been happening to me, three times now, and everyone on my contact list has been receiving emails advertising various things. I believe it's called a phishing scam. If changing ones hotmail password will fix it then I'll try that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unit731 Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 Is your anti-virus current and up to date? Which anti-virus do you use and which version? Do you have wireless internet? Any chance a close dear friend has borrowed your passwords? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Munchmaster Posted January 22, 2010 Report Share Posted January 22, 2010 I've done a full scan and no viruses. I've also changed my hotmail password so let's see if the phishing thingy stops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WorldFun Posted January 23, 2010 Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 changing passwords & reinstalling OS on laptop does NOT seem to stop those phishing/fake email spam appearing to come from ones 'personal email', while in fact it's not in the sent items... so how do they do it? once hacked/phished an email (hotmail) account it's 'lost' for good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khunsanuk Posted January 23, 2010 Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 Hi, It is quite easy to show an email coming from one address while it is in fact coming from a totally different one. Would not be surprised if when these are being sent out both To and From field email addresses are being pulled from the same database. And the email is being sent from neither. Sanuk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doxx Posted January 23, 2010 Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 Are you reading email at Internet cafes? They may have keyloggers installed to monitor key strokes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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