Malware/Virus (Hey clevalley)

[Dymphna]

Ok, so Huntr gets this malware/virus thingy in his hotmail account that sent emails to all of his email contacts....took 4 emails to cover them all.

So, my question is, would this virus be on the computer or somehow in the email account. The reason I ask is that Huntr uses 3 different computers to access this account.

If the problem is in the computer, would the computer need to be connected to the internet at the time the evil emails were sent?

Of the 3 computers, one is mine, which supposedly has it's virus definitions up to date, but I'll run a scan anyway. One is Huntr's government computer, which could potentially cause bigger problems if the virus can get into the network. And the third, most likely problem computer is Huntr's laptop, which has so many issues, if it has anti-virus software, it's probably seriously out of date, however, it isn't online right now.

 

[kwillia]

Ok, so Huntr gets this malware/virus thingy in his hotmail account that sent emails to all of his email contacts....took 4 emails to cover them all.

So, my question is, would this virus be on the computer or somehow in the email account. The reason I ask is that Huntr uses 3 different computers to access this account.

If the problem is in the computer, would the computer need to be connected to the internet at the time the evil emails were sent?

Of the 3 computers, one is mine, which supposedly has it's virus definitions up to date, but I'll run a scan anyway. One is Huntr's government computer, which could potentially cause bigger problems if the virus can get into the network. And the third, most likely problem computer is Huntr's laptop, which has so many issues, if it has anti-virus software, it's probably seriously out of date, however, it isn't online right now.

You really should consider limiting Huntr's computer access to an Etch-A-Sketch.

 

[Dymphna]

You really should consider limiting Huntr's computer access to an Etch-A-Sketch.

That's a thought.

 

[LateApex]

Ok, so Huntr gets this malware/virus thingy in his hotmail account that sent emails to all of his email contacts....took 4 emails to cover them all.

So, my question is, would this virus be on the computer or somehow in the email account. The reason I ask is that Huntr uses 3 different computers to access this account.

If the problem is in the computer, would the computer need to be connected to the internet at the time the evil emails were sent?

Of the 3 computers, one is mine, which supposedly has it's virus definitions up to date, but I'll run a scan anyway. One is Huntr's government computer, which could potentially cause bigger problems if the virus can get into the network. And the third, most likely problem computer is Huntr's laptop, which has so many issues, if it has anti-virus software, it's probably seriously out of date, however, it isn't online right now.

Are you sure it was sending email through the hotmail account?

All web based email services i.e. hotmail/gmail etc keeps all info server side.

Basically this is what allows you to access your web based email from any computer.

If it is through hotmail I would have to say it's compromised on their side.

Unless of course you got key logged. This would enable the hacker to get your username/password and then access your account. If you were keylogged then the malicious program resides on the computer that was compromised.

 

[huntr1]

Found out what happened. I got the email originally from a list I am on for the 2010 Boy Scout Jamboree. I use(d) the same password there as most places. That list got hacked. It picked up my email address and password there and then the program switched me to "on vacation" on my hotmail account and sent the mass email. I have switched passwords and un-"on vacation"ed my account.

 

[LateApex]

Found out what happened. I got the email originally from a list I am on for the 2010 Boy Scout Jamboree. I use(d) the same password there as most places. That list got hacked. It picked up my email address and password there and then the program switched me to "on vacation" on my hotmail account and sent the mass email. I have switched passwords and un-"on vacation"ed my account.

Sounds about right.

 

[clevalley]

Ok, so Huntr gets this malware/virus thingy in his hotmail account that sent emails to all of his email contacts....took 4 emails to cover them all.

So, my question is, would this virus be on the computer or somehow in the email account. The reason I ask is that Huntr uses 3 different computers to access this account.

If the problem is in the computer, would the computer need to be connected to the internet at the time the evil emails were sent?

Of the 3 computers, one is mine, which supposedly has it's virus definitions up to date, but I'll run a scan anyway. One is Huntr's government computer, which could potentially cause bigger problems if the virus can get into the network. And the third, most likely problem computer is Huntr's laptop, which has so many issues, if it has anti-virus software, it's probably seriously out of date, however, it isn't online right now.

If he had opened the attachment it is quite possible if the computers in question do not have an updated virus scanner with updated definitions.

Found out what happened. I got the email originally from a list I am on for the 2010 Boy Scout Jamboree. I use(d) the same password there as most places. That list got hacked. It picked up my email address and password there and then the program switched me to "on vacation" on my hotmail account and sent the mass email. I have switched passwords and un-"on vacation"ed my account.

Wow - you DID get hacked.

Either way, scan all of your machines to be safe.

 

[huntr1]

If he had opened the attachment it is quite possible if the computers in question do not have an updated virus scanner with updated definitions.



Wow - you DID get hacked.

Either way, scan all of your machines to be safe.

It deleted ALL my contacts!

 

[turd_ferguson]

Are you sure it was sending email through the hotmail account?

All web based email services i.e. hotmail/gmail etc keeps all info server side.

Basically this is what allows you to access your web based email from any computer.

If it is through hotmail I would have to say it's compromised on their side.

Unless of course you got key logged. This would enable the hacker to get your username/password and then access your account. If you were keylogged then the malicious program resides on the computer that was compromised.

Cannot Hotmail be accessed through Outlook via POP/SMTP? I access Yahoo through Outlook that way. If that is the scenario then it is possible the virus is on the users desktop.

 

[GWguy]

Cannot Hotmail be accessed through Outlook via POP/SMTP? I access Yahoo through Outlook that way. If that is the scenario then it is possible the virus is on the users desktop.

I thought you could only do that if you had a premium account. At least that the way it was, 'cause I looked into setting up a POP account for a friend on his Yahoo email. He did not have a premium account, so POP access wasn't available.

 

[Dymphna]

It deleted ALL my contacts!

Close to half of them were outdated anyway. :shrug: Should be easy enough to repopulate the contacts. You said the "sent" folder was intact, all those email addresses are showing up in the emails the malware/virus/hacker sent.

 

[turd_ferguson]

I thought you could only do that if you had a premium account. At least that the way it was, 'cause I looked into setting up a POP account for a friend on his Yahoo email. He did not have a premium account, so POP access wasn't available.

Yea, at least with Yahoo it is premium account. Just suggesting it could be the user's computer with the virus, even if using hotmail.

 

[RadioPatrol]

wife lost control of her yahoo email and ebay for a month last yr from a Trojan that brought along a Keylogger for giggles .........